Practice test online

[Ooby]

frootdog said:

Ooby, This isn't a forum for hazing as you are doing. You aren't going to make someone a better falconer by consatntly talking down to your peers. This is a close knit fraternity, the sport of kings. We should do everything in our power to encourage, help, and be supportive of others who ask our advice, NOT try to tear them down or discourrage them like you do. Calusa keep asking questions and other will gladdly answer, just igmore ooby's responses.

Not to turn this into a rant, as i know weasel hates that, but perhaps YOU feel you need to do everything to encourage people into this sport. I however do NOT. I don't wany ANYONE in this sport who isn't willing to put forth the dedication needed to do it right. Im sure there are apprentices out there who are coddled along in thier apprenticeship by thier sponsors, but most sponsors don't, and mine certainly didn't.

So you go ahead and encourage everyone you like, and ill go ahead and give new members and pre-apprentices the realistic expectations of getting into falconry.

[Weasel]

Alright.....enough of this....she is asking questions and we will answer just like everyone else who asks questions. That is why we made this forum. She has been more than patient with this thread thus far and I applaud her for sticking with it. Many folks I know have gotten into the sport after rehabbing birds and she is basicly exited about getting a hunting raptor.... not a pet bird.
Come on folks....be happy.....find your happy place....mine is in the woods with my bird on a dead squirrel.....happy happy

[Ooby]

Im plenty happy

Just trying to give realistic expectations. You know me

[Calusa]

Ooby- I understand how 'frustrating' these animals can be. Maybe I didn't fully explain myself with the training. It wasn't a typical thing where I just walked the bird around. That particular bird came in from the wild with a calcification. I had to earn its trust and respect. I can't tell you how many freezing cold, north eastern ohio (lake effect area, if that means anything to you) days I spent in that cage, blood draining from my gloved fist as I waited to gain the animal's trust. And I'm a real baby about the cold.

That said, I understand that the next animal I encounter will be flighted, and that much more independant. I am willing to deal with instances that would push most to the edge of frustration, and work through it calmly.

By discouragement.. I meant from reading anything posted by "Ooby." I just don't have time in my life for your demeanor.

I never asked for you to sugarcoat. I am very much a realist. That does not mean a pessimist. Nor an optomist. That means I just see things as they are. You're more of a pessimist.

I do observe and understand your want of discouraging those who 'just want a cool pet.' Raptors aren't for everyone. But neither are Rottweilers.. and I keep two. If I wanted something easy, I would have gone for a lab.

The reason I am here to begin with is because I am responsible and I do my homework.

[Ooby]

And that shows. Thats why i didn't just give you something sounding like "you have no idea what you are talking about, check out the recommended reading section and study up more before you ask questions."

Im not really a pessimist either. Hell I've only been at this for a year, but in that time I have seen enough people who had a huge desire, but were not willing to do the work, and didn't have the same mindset as falconers. Im sure you've met a few in your time. If not... believe me, YOU WILL... sigh.

Also, im not the worst demeanor you will get either There are plenty of GREAT falconers who won't even talk to apprentices lol. Ill give it to ya straight though, every time.

But don't get all upset at people who look down on you. You are just beggining in this sport, there are many who have been in it for a long time, and will try and test you. Online is really the only place i have seen where people were encouraged into apprenticeship. You gotta earn respect in this sport, and you start on the bottom rung hehe. But if you make it, the joys are beyond what anyone who hasn't done it can imagine. Rehabbing doesn't come close. Bird shows don't come close. Its a rare and special thing. Good luck. You will need it

On subject though, that online test is a joke. Get the books i suggested and you will be as prepaired as you can possibly be for the test. Those books helped me, and many others, including quite a few on this forum.

[Ooby]

Calusa said:

Ooby- I understand how 'frustrating' these animals can be. Maybe I didn't fully explain myself with the training. It wasn't a typical thing where I just walked the bird around. That particular bird came in from the wild with a calcification. I had to earn its trust and respect. I can't tell you how many freezing cold, north eastern ohio (lake effect area, if that means anything to you) days I spent in that cage, blood draining from my gloved fist as I waited to gain the animal's trust. And I'm a real baby about the cold.

And i just had to add this haha. If that was the worst of what i had to go through training my bird, i would have been happy ;D

[Calusa]

The placement of your 'hahas' just seems so.. malicious. As if you derive joy from the fact that others are 'below' you or something. It's quite frightening, actually.

It seems as if your have it so rough. You seem to have interpreted my comment as if it were the ONLY frustrating thing I encountered. It was merely an example to demonstrate that I have encountered some of the frustrations that you also have encountered. I have had a small taste, if you will.

Your posts all seem to have a weird aire of "you're not good enough, don't even try" to them.

Sometimes it seems like you want the last 'word' in a jab like way.

[Yarak]

Wow how quickly you see Oobys true nature! He gives me heck too! Oh and he can be very malicious, and sarcastic and satrical. But hey, HE is Ooby afterall.
I had no frustrations as an apprentice only as a sponsor...right Weasel (Mr. & Mrs.)
Yarak ( the Ooby Fan )

[Minca]

Ok, you all. Let's not turn this thread into how much of a buttmunch Ooby is... I think we all have the strength to filter through his rough demeanor for some pearls of wisdom and brush off the rest. Like water off a ducks back, right?

[Ooby]

ROFL

Ok, first off Yarak, bite me you dirty old texan. She really thinks i hate her, and you know how much i hate trying to be nice, so stop fanning the fire.

Calusa. Since you bring it up, the "haha's" are actually genuine. Meant to lighten the mood. I think you and i are falling prey to the horrible predator that is "communicating through text" which does not allow for any emotion and is quite often taken the wrong way.

As i mentioned i hate trying to gain someones good graces, especially someone i just met, but just realize that if i wanted to give you a hard time, it would be plenty obvious. AND MUCH SHORTER

Im typing all this crap out because you seem like good apprentice material, but you seem to think im out to get you, like i jump on everyone new person simply because they are new. Hell i was exactly where you are now, a year ago.

I re-read my original post that you thought was mean, and to me, its exactly the information that was given to me (over the course of a few weeks, several hundred miles of driving, and countless long distance calls) when i first started that did well for me.

So take it with a grain of salt and try to read it positively. Everyone here puts up with me for a reason Its because im usually taken incorrectly. But hey, thats me

[squirrelhawker32]

Calusa, ask as many questions as you would like. I read alot of the answers to my questions in the books and still asked them because I wanted different perspectives and the real life answers. Ooby types alot more trying to argue and discourage than if he would just talk about the question and give an answer. I know myself that if I ask a question, I obviously haven't seen the answer to it anywhere, or needed more, that is why I would ask in the first place. The reason Weasel and I started this forum is so that everyone would feel comfortable asking the questions that they didn't feel so comfortable asking in other places. We want everyone to ask any question that they can't seem to find an answer to and feel comfortable doing it. Weasel and I won't tolerate any bashing or discourageing people from the sport. That's why we are all here in the first place. Yarak, thanks for letting me borrow the soap box, you can have it back now... ;D

[Weasel]

For the online tests, it helped me a great deal with the actual test I had to take. Each state is given a copy of the federal standard test. From this point each state then has the options to modify it to suit their needs. Pennsylvania and Utah to name a few, have changed the test quite a bit from the original. Texas uses the original, but adds an extra 10 questions at the end for state regs etc... The online tests are based largely on the original test plus they actual fact that you are taking a test online helps to prep you for the real thing. I remember many of the questions on the online tests being on the actual test in some form or fashion. They are not word for word, but the info is there.

[bobdale]

I agree with Weasel. I remember seing several questions on the MO test (the original, unammended USF&W test) that were on the online tests.
The true student gleans knowledge from every available source. Calusa, you discovered your solution; if you don't like Ooby's responses skip them. If you don't like mine skip them, and etc.
I would much rather answer a question 100 times than clean up the mess caused by the lack of that information.