Newbie Questions

[ritchiera]

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading your board for a few days now. I have a few questions. I am just reading about your sport so far. I live in Utah, and have a large back yard, but live about 15 to 20 minutes from the edge of the desert or open land where flying can be done. Is it unreasonable to think I could do your sport where I live? Or do you have to live way out of town?

What do you do in winter? It get's pretty cold here. Are there any special adaptations for the mews for the cold? I realize these birds live outside normally, but I don't know how they naturally survive cold winters.

Are there any of you here in Utah reading this Forum?

Does anyone know someone out my way I can meet to talk about this sport and hopefully observe this sport in action and eventually, if I commit fully, find a sponsor?

I have always thought this was something that I could do, my interest has been high since I was young, but spent 21 years in the service, and was all over the place and couldn't stay put long enough to be a resident anywhere.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Bob Ritchie
Orem, UT

[Ooby]

You are smack in the middle of prime hawking country man. Don't worry about that.

Your concerns are normal. Keep in mind, if the bird can survive on its own in the wild, it will be fine in a mews in your back yard.

Join your state hawking club, and ask them how they would like you to proceed in your apprenticeship. It should include, studying for your test, then looking for a sponsor (some people like you to pass your test before you contact a sponsor, some don't mind) either way you will get to talk to some falconrs in your area.

The Utah Skytrials are one of the biggest falconry events in the country short of the NAFA meet. So don't worry about places to hawk or weather conditions or any of the stuff you asked about in your post. That is stuff to worry about at a later date. People fly birds in every stay (cept Hawaii) and in every weather condition you can think of. In fact i think next years NAFA meet is IN UTAH, in the winter hehe.

Your job right now is to read up as much as you can on falconry and raptor natural history, and raptor biology, and state/federal regs on falconry. After you gain all that knowlege you will be better equiped to determine if you want to get into falconry or not, and then decide where you want to go.


Some great books to start are:
The California Hawking Clubs Apprentice Study Guide
A Falconry Manual by Frank Beebe
North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks Beebe/Webster. (expensive, but its the falconry bible)
www.westernsporting.com is a great place to buy books.
Keep in mind, now is a great time to get started. Season just ended, you have all summer to study, take your test, find a sponsor, and construct your mews and equipment before trapping season starts in autumn.

GL and if you have any more questions that are as well thought out as your last, post away, just stear clear of the dumb ones like, can i fly an eagle as an apprentice, and i don't have much money, can i feed my bird hamburger and house it in a dog crate.

[ccrobbins]

I don't know about Utah, but in Texas we cannot test until we are sponsored.....Stupid I know but true....

[ritchiera]

One of my concerns/questions has to do with living in town. I have a large back yard where I could build my mews and such, but I do live within the city limits. I wouldn't have to live in the boonies to do this would I?

I have seen several pictures on this forum and it looks like many people are doing this in normal back yards.

I know this must be prime turf for hunting with a hawk because there is hours of desert to the West of me. I live about 1/2 hour from where the 2005 sky trials were.

[Jay]

I live right in a small city. 1/4 acre back yard with houses on all sides and find no problems at all. I actualy have taken a number of squirrels in my own back yard. Bird sits on my neighbors roof and the squirrels always try to break to the big tree in the back corner. Its amazing all the spots you can find in these small towns/citys to hunt, but I do travel for most of my hunting. So when it comes to housing as long as you can built a suitable mews on your proberty it shouldnt matter to much where you are.

[Ooby]

A normal back yard is the norm.

I live in an average suburban neighborhood in a "guest house." its a small house behind the main house and my bird is housed fine. Don't worry about that.

[ritchiera]

GL and if you have any more questions that are as well thought out as your last, post away, just stear clear of the dumb ones like, can i fly an eagle as an apprentice, and i don't have much money, can i feed my bird hamburger and house it in a dog crate.
[/quote]

Ok, Here's one I havn't thought out yet, When I put it to the wife that I'm going to do this, She's surely going to think I'm insane. My 11 year old daughter is way with the program and want's me to get into the sport. I wonder if any of you can open up to me how you sprung this on your spouse? Any realistic or even funny advice on how to get by this major obstacle? By the way, thanks for the advice. I'm taking it... I have every book the library has either on loan or requested to be held when they come back in. I ordered the The California Hawking Clubs Apprentice Study Guide. I am dropping by the DWR on the way home to get a paper copy of the proclamation. and a list of people willing to sponsor. Lastly, I've been reading like a madman.

Bob Ritchie
Orem Utah

[Ooby]

Sounds like you are taking the right steps. GL to ya


Wife... i dunno, im married to my bird. Although she is a wildcat in the sack..

[ccrobbins]

How i did it was to expose her to the animals. Once she saw them up close she was sunk. She has gone to our local sky trials and is fine with it now. You just have to get her used to the idea of people keeping wild animals at home that all..... ;D