Could some one show us the way please.

[fraggle 4]

Hi my wife and i have been talking about falconry and realy like the idea, she knows how much i like going out hunting and would like to join in, she has always wanted to have a bird of prey and i have always wanted to have a good working dog to retrieve,

 

Thing is we know nothing about it. We where wondering if any one here would mind showing us it in action and give some help in where to start. First off i think she needs to see it in action to see if she could actulay handle the bird.

 

i hope some one could help us out.

We live in wiltshire but could travel to.

 

Thanks all

 

Steve and Kamila.

[D.A.Z 0]

Hi my wife and i have been talking about falconry and realy like the idea, she knows how much i like going out hunting and would like to join in, she has always wanted to have a bird of prey and i have always wanted to have a good working dog to retrieve,

 

Thing is we know nothing about it. We where wondering if any one here would mind showing us it in action and give some help in where to start. First off i think she needs to see it in action to see if she could actulay handle the bird.

 

i hope some one could help us out.

We live in wiltshire but could travel to.

 

Thanks all

 

Steve and Kamila.

 

i am sure someone close to you will come along soon steve,if not you could try your local falconry centres.one thing mate, you wont need a dog to retreive. point and flush is what your after.

books are always good too,dvds etc.but if you decide to go forward with this, i would suggest trying to find yourself a mentor,a good one will be worth his weight in gold.atb

thanks daz

[fraggle 4]

thanks daz, the dog side is more for me, i have alwas wanted a working dog and this seems like a dam good excuse to get one. plus will be used for shooting to, (well maybe if i can get my fac when i get home from afghan).

 

plus i nice companion to, keep me company on all the walks i do.

[Rentomski 0]

Good advice already given here, i.e. get a local mentor. If you can't find one, then as has already been said, get yourself known to your local bird of prey centre. A 3-5 day training course can be useful and most reputable centres will give you unlimited "technical support" when you get a bird, provided you have already done a course with them. I posted this reading list on another recent thread, work your way through this lot and you will have a better understanding of just what is required to keep/hunt a BOP. Falconry birds are very high maintenance, involve high intital capital costs, time, commitment, patience and it must be appreciated that they will live for 20+ years. At least with kids, you can sling 'em out when they are 18! Doesn't work that way with birds!

 

Reading list:

Understanding the Bird of Prey, Nick Fox. Falconry; Art and Practice, Emma Ford. The Complete Rabbit and Hare Hawk, Martin Hollinshead.

Training Birds of Prey, Jemima Parry-Jones ( not that I agree with everything she says).