Making a Lure (bird type)

[ritchiera]

When making a bird lure and attaching wings, should you place the wings in the same position (like they sit on a bird), or should you attach one wing opposing the other so they operate like a propeller?

I have seen pictures of both ways so I wonder if any of you prefer one or the other.

I'm making a kestrel size lure much like what you might see on the Northwoods page, but I haven't attached wings yet.

Bob Ritchie
Orem, UT

[frootdog]

Do you have the American Kestrel book by Mullinex? It has a section on lures. If I remember correctly he has 2 different lures. One wieghted down that can't be carried for training purposes and a lighter one for the field. Niether of the ones he desrcibes have wings on the. What I would do if I were making a lure and wanted the wings is tie 2 sparrow wings to it. Other than that I don't think it matters what the wing arrangment looks like. As long as the bird recognizes it and responds to the lure immediatly.

[Minca]

as soon as I can get my stuff unpacked I'll post a pic of my kestrel lure. I really don't think the look of the lure matters all that much, especially since you're gonna be swinging the lure in circles having it spin like a propeller is just gonna make it look even less like a real bird anyway. As long as the birds first few impressions of the lure are that food is usually attatched to it you could get away with a stuffed old sock! Kestrels may have small brains but they're still smart enough to know the difference between a lure and live game. Although mine did bate at my neices wiggling finger once..lol!
You'll probably want to make one that's too heavy to carry for initial anti-carrying training, though. That one you just toss to the ground, no flinging in the air. My kestrel could fly low with about two thirds her own weight and could drag her own weight quite a distance. With anti-carrying training you've got to prevent that from the beginning, if they get away with it once they remember that.

[Minca]

Ok, I finally got to it.



the hood never got used, it was never completely finished, although I did try it on her once and it seemed to fit very well.



it's made of some cheap 'roo that I bought at from a guy that uses it to makes purses and such, no good for tethering equipment, but great for other stuff.

[SkyRider]

How thick was the leather on that hood? 1/8" 1/16"?

[Minca]

Ya know, I'm not sure, I won it at the raffle at the last WFA meet I was at. PM me your snail mail and I'll send ya a chunk to play with.