Falconry Video : Red_tail hunting

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Originally Posted by Sevo

I will be moving to Texas in about 3 years. That is a falconers dream, as the game is endless. Quail, dove, ducks, rabbits, bushy-tails, jacks, pheasants..it is endless.

.. tyhe best falconry and be near VPI.. i think i would be in heaven

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Cool.. sounds good because that's what I'm planning on doing too.. lol

What bird(s) do you fly now? I'd love to take up falconry when I move to Texas.. how much time do you spend a week with your birds? (I work full time.. not sure I'd be able to do it..)

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Cool.. sounds good because that's what I'm planning on doing too.. lol

What bird(s) do you fly now? I'd love to take up falconry when I move to Texas.. how much time do you spend a week with your birds? (I work full time.. not sure I'd be able to do it..)

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Shelby,
Where about in Texas were you thinking of living? I need to head out there to see what are I like best. I would like around 500 acres. Land is not to expensive, we will see.

This year I will fly a harris hawk or maybe a cast of them and one of my gos hawks. Kind of depends on what i feel like. Hrris hawks are so easy to fly. My North American Gos is tempermental.

In the off season (the moult/breeding) I dont spend much time at all. Just feeding and amking sure they are healthy. I inspect them about once a week. Now during hunting season it is different. any free time I get I am hunting with them or just taking them for some free flights ( but i am not married nor do I have children)

It is ok if you work a full time job. Most of us do. You just have to find a balance... What you can do is try it. If you feel like you cant devote the time then release the bird and put falconry on the back burner until you have more time. Many of us have had to do that a time or two. Then when you feel you have time get back into it. Falconry does take a a lot of time, but the reward is worth any sacrifice I have ever made for it.

Contact your local falconry club and go on a few outings with. See what you think of it.

Evan, whats your take on it?

Dont hesitate to contact me if you have any questions...

Well said Chris! During the hunting season, consistent hunting, exercise, and close weight management (more so with the smaller birds) can take a fair amount of time. I am lucky enough to be able to drive about 5 minutes from my house to hunt rabbits, and even hunted sparrows and starlings in my back yard with my kestrel, but some falconers drive for hours every weekend to hunt certain game. I think the time factor depends highly on what bird(s) you are flying at the time, and what game you are going for. I am married, and have a lot of other stuff going on, and I still found time to go out almost every day and fly my bird this past season. To give you an idea, I spent more time with my bird last winter than with caring for all my snakes and rodents combined, but it is time well spent!! :D

-Evan

Thanks for the info Chris.

I'm planning on moving to the general vicinity of San Antonio.. or maybe Austin.

How many years have you been doing falconry? Are you a general or master class falconer? (you mention possibly flying three birds which if I remember correctly is only allowed for master class falconers..?)

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

To give you an idea, I spent more time with my bird last winter than with caring for all my snakes and rodents combined, but it is time well spent!! :D

-Evan

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Evan, that is spot on.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Thanks for the info Chris.

I'm planning on moving to the general vicinity of San Antonio.. or maybe Austin.

How many years have you been doing falconry? Are you a general or master class falconer? (you mention possibly flying three birds which if I remember correctly is only allowed for master class falconers..?)

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Shelby,
I have been a falconer for about eight years. I am a general class falconer. You are correct about classes and the numbers one can fly; but, I have a propigation permit as well. So I can transfer birds on and off my prop permit. See my breeder birds are also my falconry birds, right now I have zero birds on my falconry permit as they are all breeding. So what ever I want to fly I just transfer those birds to my Falconry permit. You also get two replacement birds per year ( wild or captive hatched). I could not fly the cast and then go fly the gos... that would be more than 2 birds on my falconry permit, but I can take a harris off and then put a gos on it as I have the ability to have replacements... I hope I explained that so it makes sence.

hope this helps

Ah.. yeah that makes sense.