Chenango Dave

Big Bunny Down...lol... Had an awesome day hunting with the hawk yesterday. She had some real great flights after some fuzzies and finally connected with one. I think sh'es finally starting to catch on to hunting with my buddies beagle. She was a little intimidated of him at first but she sure wasn't letting go this rabbit yesterday. The dog was more scared of her I think. Unfortunately I forgot my Contour HD video cam at home. Will have to get some vid of her next time. Here's some shots of the days adventure. Take care Dave

Nice Shaun. Have you found any of them sheds around the yard? Where's all the gobblers?

Thanks guys.. I let Roxie go last spring around the first part of MAy. I could have kept her, but it's a lot easier to let them go and trap and train a new one in the fall. If you keep them , you have to feed them all summer long, if you go on vacation, you have to have someone feed her that knows how. It's a lot of work. Plus being an apprentice - I wanted to train a different bird. Each one has their own personality. I can already tell a big difference between this one a Roxie.. You fatten them right up for a couple weeks before releasing them. They are pretty much just as wild as they day you caught them. They wouldn't come to you if you tried to call them. A lot of falconry is all weight related. they are just like a fighter. You get them fat and they are lazy, get them to light and they are weak. you want to get them right at their hunting wieght. It's takes a little time to figure that weight out, you can get a good idea by how they respond to your commands. I weigh my bird twice a day. Here's a few pics from todays traing session Well Hawkie is starting to fly outside now on the creance line. Had her flying today 40-50 feet to me. Now we're starting to get some colder weather, it'll be easier to manager her weight. I figure in two weeks we'll be ready for free flight and hunting. We'll keep you updated.. Here's her and my boy checking out a dove that came to the birdfeeder... A couple snow shots from the storm yesterday... Take care Dave

Caught my hawk for hunting this year just this past week. Got her flying to me in the house in just 5 days or so. Will be starting her training outside on the creance line tomorrow. So far she has been a great bird to work with- she doesn't even seem to mind my dog at all. Should have her ready for hunting rabbits and squirrels by the time our muzzleloader season closes. I'll be sure to update our status as the training progresses. Take care Dave Won't be long and well be having shots like this - This was my bird from last year..

Why don't the big boys stand still like these little guys? Got one shedding his velvet too.. First time with the Nikon.. Take care Dave

Bucks are starting to hit the apples hard in my area. It was a bumper crop this year too. Bye Bye.... Good luck to everyone this fall. Dave

Been real busy again this summer, hope things calm down this fall so I can get around more often. Been seeing a few nice bachelor groups my past few outings with the Nikon. Hope to now get some decent trail cam pics of them. Take care Dave

Not sure if many of you remember Jack Clapper (JLC on many of the boards.), but he was the one who really got me into photography a few years ago. I am thankful that I saved some of his amazing pics of deer he took over the few years I knew him. Jack was in a wheelchair and always enjoyed his evening rides with his camera. He lived in Iowa and always had amazing pics of deer. Unfortunately something must have happend to him, I bet it's been over two years since I've heard from him . His Email no longer works and his photobucket account has been deleted. I've tried many times to get in touch with him, but with no luck. Here's a few of his amazing deer pics - many of you might remember his work. If anyone knows what happend to Jack , please PM me. I always got a kick out of this shot - he titled it " Nice Fawn"... And a few others from emails he sent me... And lastly - here's a couple pics of Jack and a nice buck he got with his recurve. And once again if anyone knows if Jack has passed on or is sick, or just doesn't get on the computer anymore, please let me know, I'd really like to get back in touch with him. Thanks Dave

The fawns sure are growing quick. Got a nice shot of one at an old cemetery this past weekend. Little buck Seen my first set of turkey poults this past weekend as well. Could only get one shot of them.. And lastly a little moon shot.. Take care Dave

Went to check my trail cams and got a few pics with the Nikon on the way... Momma and a little one.. And a few shots from the trail cams He's not shy at all...lol.. I put a few more trail cams out today - hope to get some bigger bucks here shortly.. Take care Dave

Starting to see more deer out at dusk now that the farmers are getting the hay cut. It's good to see some antlers coming along nice. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend. Take care Dave

Seen this guy a few times hanging around my corn field. This time I had my camera with me.. Nice poop shot of a little buck.. Finally will have a long weekend off this week. I plan to float the river for some good fishing, I'll be taking my camera , no telling what critters we'll see. Take care Dave

Got out with my camera a little bit this weekend. Nice to see the deer out and in their summer coats. Little guy following momma... And lastly a ruffy... Take care Dave

My buddy works for the county - this time of year he does a lot of mowing the roadways. He came across these little guys this past week. Pics taken with a Sony S600 homebrew trailcam. Went back with my DSLR but the pups never showed up. Hope to get some with my Nikon before they leave the den. Take care Dave

-putting an addition on my house and working all kinds of overtime, so I haven't been out much with the camera. Here's a few shots from the past couple weeks that I just got around to editing. Did a little messing around with borders on these. Hope things settle down here in a couple weeks so I can get out some more. Take good care Dave