Sharpshins

[Ooby]

Well I only know the rudiments of training accipiters. I wouldn't take anything anyone says as law unless they have trained an accipiter. My sponsor has, but that doesn't mean my info is perfect. Hell is there really ANY information in falconry that is considered law? Most people do things differently.

At this stage in falconry (my stage, apprenticeship) im not worried about all the ins and outs of training accipiters. Its something you learn once you are able to get one, but before actually obtaining one.

But the rudiments are, they are not easy, they have to be trained perfectly with no mistakes made in the training, and it is a 24/7 training regime. You miss a day and don't take the bird out, you regress a week in training. And sharpies are one of the hardest birds, passage or eyas, simply because they are accipiters, and they are so d**n small.

[Hosehead]

At some time in the future I'm going to try flying Sharpies also. Thing is, I'll wait until after I retire so I have the time. They are truely amazing birds to watch.
There's supposed to be someone in Kentucky now flying two in a cast which I'd truely like to see.
I have the advantage of having Mike as my sponsor so hopefully I can avoid the problems, if not I'll reread his new book. Kurt

[Jay]

RT,

When I say kill kill kill aditude I am not talking about the birds aditude, I am talking about the falconers. Of course accipiters will go all out for a kill. Many feel that the bird should be killing ASAP and keep killing as much as possable. My sponsor does not do it this way, and has a great bird. He feels it can create to much excitment, the bird is always on edge knowing it will kill, if it makes a kill after hard work in the feild it will reinforce everything done right. Where as a bird that is constantly bagged will know it is going to kill every time and can be extreamly wound up when out in the feild. Also baggies are not real game, they dont act like real game they are only good for a confodince boost. You say it will stop screaming. How do you explain his Gos that was put through the manners manners manners and is silent in the field? Manners does not refer to just screaming, it refers to everything. association with lure, transfering off lure, not caring who is going on in the feild, riding the fist, etc. People get to caught up in the kill kill kill and do not work on the basics, great they have a bird that kills but it will not ride the fist. Or maybe it will not give up the lure, all things that should have been worked on instead of bagging. Spending time in the feild reinforcign good behavior will evently result in a kill. The bird will miss many times but evently it will learn, enough time in the feild and things will start to just click. If you take a bird that has been bagged on 20 ducks and taken everyone, then go fly wild ducks chances are you will not take one.

This bird will ride the fist forever, not give a rats ass who is in the feild, will work with any dog, is not agressive twords people at all, comes instantly to the lure and hops right to the fist. Also ANYONE can rush in and dispatch a kill, and on a kill my sponsor will stick his bare hand in and the bird will eat between his fingers. Last weekend my sponsor had to give the bird and hawking vest to another faloner. Bird was on the fist but then the vest had to go on, a strange faloner was able to hold the bird to his cheast and take his other arm and pin it there while the vest was put on him, bird could care less and was not put off after. We continued hunting for a good amount of time with no slips. And best yet this bird is death on bunnies and ducks. This bird is a 5th year and almost no bunnie that gets out of cover lives. This has resulted in my sponsor actualy giving the bunnies the advantage, if he wanted he can just walk out to an area and bang he has a bunnie. But wheres the fun in that? Last meet I watched his bird take a slip at a bunnie 70yards off that some noob scared, it was an amazing flight as the bird countered everymove of the bunnie. Lucky for the bunnie it made it to cover to thick for even the dogs. But the experience of this bird is shown in these long distance slips.

A new book coming out that is the closest thing to my sponsors meathod is Darryl Perkins new book. They have been friends for years and constantly share ideas on the birds. Although they do somthings diferently they both produce birds that are very similar. Darryl was one of the guys hunting last weekend, the book is done and just going through his financial options. It is called Understanding Gos Hawks, and should be out soon.

[rt]

Ooby I think the coopers is by far the hardest accipiter out there what do you think weasel?

[Weasel]

Not entirely sure. I think they are the least flown accipiter of the three for falconry and I have heard by many folks that they are simply high strung birds that require a great deal of patience to train and hunt....but I have heard the same of the sharpy......I will let you know one day in the future as I WILL fly both species at some point.

[Minca]

Around here those that fly the smaller accips usually fly coops. You rarely hear of anyone flying a sharpy. But then I'm sure that has something to do with quarry size. That people are alot more interested in hunting doves and crows than starlings and sparrows. There always seems to be a quest for "bigger and better". (shrug) The micro hawking just isn't cool enough.

[bobdale]

All of the Austringers i 've talked to have said the Coops are "Head Cases". But i'm going to fly one. I love a challenge ;D.

[Weasel]

Folks call me a glutton for punishment for wanting to fly one.......I can't wait!

[rt]

I guess we should start a coopers thread.

[rt]

ANY ONE SEEING SHARPYS AROUND ?

[demarest]

how are they on quail?

[frootdog]

Not good. A tiercel HH or Coop of either sex would be the way to go for quail.

[demarest]

so which is better of those two?
-desmaret

[adam]

I believe my next bird is going to be a sharpie and that will be in a couple of months! I can't wait!!!!!!!!

[ccrobbins]

keep us posted!