Waterfowl hunting with a falcon

BrotherWolf · 01-28-2006, 04:47 PM

does anyone on here hunt waterfowl with a falcon????....It would be interesting.

crawdad · 01-28-2006, 05:32 PM

I've always wanted to see a trained falcon in action. The shows I've seen say it is a huge commitment, and requires a lot of patients and dedication. If anyone here does it I'd love to tag along sometime and watch.

Ni! · 01-28-2006, 05:43 PM

It would be interesting. I got some pictures of a wild peregrine falcon killing a coot last week. Pretty much made my day.

Ni!

Limbhanger · 01-28-2006, 05:48 PM

FYI, If you are interested in meeting someone who flies a bird of prey call ODFW and they can give you some names of falconers that are close to your area. I hooked up with a couple guys back in the 80's when I really thought I wanted to get into it. All I can say is it is a huge endevour that requires 24/7 365 days a year of your time and attention. But, watching that Prarie Falcon stooping to a swinging lure at 150 miles an hour right over your head was an experience I will never forget.

Limbhanger · 01-28-2006, 05:52 PM

That picture is absolutely awesome!!!!!

The Peregrines are making a serious come back. I just saw one in Tualatin/sherwood across from the Refuge last week. Quite a candy store for them right now with all the birds using that spot.

Quaka Wacka · 01-29-2006, 04:19 AM

I watched a guy hunt with one several years back, and talked with him as well. Like limbhanger said its very time consuming. You have to fly them every day. And to get a permit you have to be an apprentice to someone who allready has one. Thats a great pic too!

Mark Vickers · 01-29-2006, 07:31 AM

There was an episode of the show Bird Dogs Forever on OLN a few years ago that had guy that hunted upland birds (mostly pheasants) with a falcon and a pointing dog. The dog would go on point, and then he would send the bird up. When it reached a suitable altitude above the dog, the dog would flush the bird and the hawk would nail it.

It was an incredibly impressive show. But as others has said, it is more of a lifestyle than anything. The trainer pretty much lived his life centered around the bird's needs.

I don't see any reason you couldn't use falcons for hunting waterfowl. You'd probably need a bigger hunting bird as most of the waterfowl are a bit larger than your normal upland bird.