Total Beginner

[pointer 543]

As with ALL hunting EVERYTHING ultimately rests on having enough quarry to hunt.

There were times last season when I was out with my hawk plenty but on land with little to nothing to actually hunt. My bird was ready, I was keen, the dog was trying to find stuff but on many occasions I might as well of been walking around with a parrot. It's easy with young daft rabbits around but harder after Christmas with much lower quarry numbers and what's left is wiser and around here will have survived encounters from countless dogs and hawks and shooting men. Also hunting on the same land day after day even when you are getting some flights and kills gets repetitive.

 

I was lucky that mates helped me out when they knew I was struggling and we got to have some good days before injury stopped our season a few weeks early. A lot depends on rabbit numbers for me, they are there now but mixy and probably VHD will hit them again. How badly only time will tell.

[Rowan 308]

All of the above and join The British Falconers' club.

[pointer 543]

All of the above and join The British Falconers' club.

What do they offer the person who only wants to hunt with hawks, my experience of them wasn't positive.

[fitchet 788]

I think a lot of people like to think getting a hawk takes up loads of time and you have to dedicate your whole life to it used to know someone who had 2 Harris and a kestrel aswell as lurchers terriers ect. I was chatting to someone at a show who reckons the care for one hawk is about the same as owning 8 dogs ? I don't see the point in lying if someone irresponsible decides to get a hawk they will do it especially with the amount about. I've been offered a male Finnish goshawk taking fur last season for £150 and you can pick up harrises for £70. I was told of someone keeping a bird in a Kids playhouse and another kid keeping his in a rabbit hutch.

 

I've no interest in owning hawks or falcons but do enjoy a day out with them through the season but I do feel sorry for the genuine lads who just enjoy hunting them as there are far too many kept as pets or as a talking point. There's one on an estate near me I don't even know what it is but it's screaming non stop until it's owner chucks a rabbit to it from the back door. It's people like these who shouldn't have a canary let alone bird of prey.

[spar123 24]

 

All of the above and join The British Falconers' club.

What do they offer the person who only wants to hunt with hawks, my experience of them wasn't positive.

 

bfc crap.read books.go out with someone.when you think you are ready get a redtail look after it &it will look after you .