dfee 1 Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 hi all,i have been very interested in falconry and bop's since i was young,but never been in a position to own one,but now i am i was wondering which bird would be best i have always wanted a male red tail,but am unsure whether it would be suitable as a first bird,i would like to fly it on mainly feather but the odd rabbit and squirrels(i know alot of you dnt like to fly on squirrels)or would a harris be more suitable,cheers danny. Quote Link to post
kevo_1 0 Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 hi mate i would go with the harris there easy to train more lad back and better on feather and can take rabbit all day Quote Link to post
adeyhawk1970 0 Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 Harris hawks seem to be better on feather than redtails.For rabbits either is good but for squirrels the redtail is king Quote Link to post
bignoel 14 Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 harris all day long for a beginner easy to train and brill on squirriel but injuries do happen touch wood has.nt happend to me real good fun ferreting and lamping good all round bird . Quote Link to post
Blakloks 5 Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 Whats up with the redtail Quote Link to post
dfee 1 Posted March 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 thanks for the advice,i would really like a red tail but might a harris for a first bird,and move up to a red in a few year,i won't be doing anything until i've learned alot more about bop's anyway theres point in rushing into it and ruining a bird,cheers again. Quote Link to post
adeyhawk1970 0 Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 I started with a redtail before i flew a hh and im glad i did.You will learn a lot more from a redtail and then when and if you decide to fly a hh you will find they truly are exellent hawks Quote Link to post
jasper65 6 Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 thanks for the advice,i would really like a red tail but might a harris for a first bird,and move up to a red in a few year,i won't be doing anything until i've learned alot more about bop's anyway theres point in rushing into it and ruining a bird,cheers again. cracking way to start dfee! like ade said a redtail will learn you alot more in conditioning a hawk than if you take up a Harrishawk as your first bird, some redtails can gicve you the odd footing and nip when first being handled plus the manning will need to be more intense, once you get there though mate and get it in condition at the weight that suits the bird it will be all systems go .... By the way they're lovely looking dogs in the aviatar ... Jasper Quote Link to post
dfee 1 Posted March 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 (edited) thanks for the advice,i would really like a red tail but might a harris for a first bird,and move up to a red in a few year,i won't be doing anything until i've learned alot more about bop's anyway theres point in rushing into it and ruining a bird,cheers again. cracking way to start dfee! like ade said a redtail will learn you alot more in conditioning a hawk than if you take up a Harrishawk as your first bird, some redtails can gicve you the odd footing and nip when first being handled plus the manning will need to be more intense, once you get there though mate and get it in condition at the weight that suits the bird it will be all systems go .... By the way they're lovely looking dogs in the aviatar ... Jasper thanks for the advice,i was thinking of a male bird, were i live there would be more opportunity to fly at feather and squirrel,i only have the dog at the back on the avatar pic lost the other one Edited March 16, 2009 by dfee Quote Link to post
Mr Robertson 0 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Do not believe people when they say that a male red will struggle to take feather. They can and regularly take feather if you get them seriously fit. Ive started after 14months with a 3 year old male redtail and Im glad I did. You have to be thinking all the time when handling a red or you will soo see how painful a mistake can be. Without wanting to put you off , this is a good thing though. Far too many people become complacent. Don't get me wrong thought, I love harris hawks, in fact i was looking at a harris before I got my redtail, but you will gain so much more with a redtail than a harris hawk. I believe Hyperion should be posting a pic of my bird up soon after i bumped into him today whilst out hawking. Good luck! Adam Quote Link to post
Blakloks 5 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Is a male red tail about the same size as a female hh? I guy on another forum had a male red tail and he said it was the best bird he had took duck pheasant and the odd asylum seeker!! Quote Link to post
jasper65 6 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Is a male red tail about the same size as a female hh? I guy on another forum had a male red tail and he said it was the best bird he had took duck pheasant and the odd asylum seeker!! I had a male when I was alot younger and fitter which flew on average around the 2lb 2oz's mark. you're right Blakloks its not far off the average female Harris... He lacked the length of toe with the female Harris but seemed thicker and more Knotty with a good powerful grip, he took a while to get fit but when he was would take on the most extra ordanary long slips from the tops of trees! you could see him looking in the distance with his head up glued on a target and off he would go way across the field followed by a quick barrel roll on bang!! straight onto his quarry, I also witnessed him slop soar on a good few occasions! one went way across some pits to nail a Moorhen a good few hundred yards away below us. this bird also seemed to suffer from suicidal tendancies and would crash in near on virtically from the highest trees, this bird would crash into the thickest cover with one hell of a thump and emerge none the worse for it.... the one thing I didn't like was a tad off aggresion he vented towards me and others! plus the way he resembled a small Eagle while on a kill looking pretty mean when you put your hand in to dispatch. after 6 stitches under the left eye and a good wound to my lip and neck he ended up in a breeding chamber and succesfully bred earley 90's, why he did me in the face I still have no idea! the bird was recalled to the fist as usual and the next thing he was hanging off my face, just another wound added to the many .... cheers Jasper Quote Link to post
dfee 1 Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Is a male red tail about the same size as a female hh? I guy on another forum had a male red tail and he said it was the best bird he had took duck pheasant and the odd asylum seeker!! I had a male when I was alot younger and fitter which flew on average around the 2lb 2oz's mark. you're right Blakloks its not far off the average female Harris... He lacked the length of toe with the female Harris but seemed thicker and more Knotty with a good powerful grip, he took a while to get fit but when he was would take on the most extra ordanary long slips from the tops of trees! you could see him looking in the distance with his head up glued on a target and off he would go way across the field followed by a quick barrel roll on bang!! straight onto his quarry, I also witnessed him slop soar on a good few occasions! one went way across some pits to nail a Moorhen a good few hundred yards away below us. this bird also seemed to suffer from suicidal tendancies and would crash in near on virtically from the highest trees, this bird would crash into the thickest cover with one hell of a thump and emerge none the worse for it.... the one thing I didn't like was a tad off aggresion he vented towards me and others! plus the way he resembled a small Eagle while on a kill looking pretty mean when you put your hand in to dispatch. after 6 stitches under the left eye and a good wound to my lip and neck he ended up in a breeding chamber and succesfully bred earley 90's, why he did me in the face I still have no idea! the bird was recalled to the fist as usual and the next thing he was hanging off my face, just another wound added to the many .... cheers Jasper they certainly sound like feisty birds my main concern was that a red would'nt be as good on feather which i would get more chance to fly on,but i really like the red would be good to see both birds fly before making a choice,but like said a red would teach me more about hawking and training which would probally stand me in better stead if i wanted to move onto something like a gos in years to come.cheers for all the advice. Quote Link to post
Blakloks 5 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) Is a male red tail about the same size as a female hh? I guy on another forum had a male red tail and he said it was the best bird he had took duck pheasant and the odd asylum seeker!! I had a male when I was alot younger and fitter which flew on average around the 2lb 2oz's mark. you're right Blakloks its not far off the average female Harris... He lacked the length of toe with the female Harris but seemed thicker and more Knotty with a good powerful grip, he took a while to get fit but when he was would take on the most extra ordanary long slips from the tops of trees! you could see him looking in the distance with his head up glued on a target and off he would go way across the field followed by a quick barrel roll on bang!! straight onto his quarry, I also witnessed him slop soar on a good few occasions! one went way across some pits to nail a Moorhen a good few hundred yards away below us. this bird also seemed to suffer from suicidal tendancies and would crash in near on virtically from the highest trees, this bird would crash into the thickest cover with one hell of a thump and emerge none the worse for it.... the one thing I didn't like was a tad off aggresion he vented towards me and others! plus the way he resembled a small Eagle while on a kill looking pretty mean when you put your hand in to dispatch. after 6 stitches under the left eye and a good wound to my lip and neck he ended up in a breeding chamber and succesfully bred earley 90's, why he did me in the face I still have no idea! the bird was recalled to the fist as usual and the next thing he was hanging off my face, just another wound added to the many .... cheers Jasper they certainly sound like feisty birds my main concern was that a red would'nt be as good on feather which i would get more chance to fly on,but i really like the red would be good to see both birds fly before making a choice,but like said a red would teach me more about hawking and training which would probally stand me in better stead if i wanted to move onto something like a gos in years to come.cheers for all the advice. It would also teach you how to dislodge a hawk from your cheek bone!! I still cant decide i read 1 thread about a harris then another about a red tail and they both sound real good!! Edited March 18, 2009 by Blakloks Quote Link to post
adeyhawk1970 0 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 The male redtail i flew was 2lb 2oz and like Jasper said they seem to take a little longer to get fit than a harris.Mine didnt seem bothered about flying at fur or feather if it moved he was after it.For serious feather hawking a gos or a spar when you get the experience is your ultimate goal.I dont hawk for anything more than fun so a male harris will do me Quote Link to post
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