Chenango Dave Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Well I haven't been out bowhunting much yet but I did get out trapping this past weekend. I finally got all my falconry permits back from the state and the feds and aslo got my capture authorization form on Thursday. So my sponsor and I went trapping on Friday trying to get an immature Redtail for my first bird. We had a Coopers hawk buzz the pigeon first thing but was not that interested. A little while later we had a Goss hawk come and investigate for a few minutes.. He didn't stay too long, next we had a Juvie eagle come to have a look at the pigeon but just did a flyby - I didn't even get any worthwhile pics of it. We did see some Redtails but none would commit. We stayed 4 hours that day and decided to call it a day and try again on Saturday. First thing Saturday - weren't even there 15 minutes and had a Coopers hawk come in hard and was able to get a few nice shot if it after the pigeon.. We never did trip the net on that one, we never got the pigeon all the way down to the bownet before he took off. Had a adult Redtail come and perch in a tree above the pigeon for about 5 minutes and then just took off down the ridge again. My sponsor had some obligations so after a couple hours we were just getting ready to leave and had a female immature Redtail come in from behind us and hit the pigeon hard. I only got one pic of her on the bird because once I seen it was a passage bird I was more concentrated on working the remote trigger for the bownet. She hung right on to the pigeon as my sponsor pulled it to the bownet. Tripped the trigger and had my first Redtail. here she is all ticked off - right out of the trap. Here's my sponsor holding her so I could get her pic.. So we socked her up and took her back to my sponsors place and weighed he in at 1270 grams with an empty crop. Got her fitted with new anklets, jesses and bells and took a couple more pics before taking her home.. Here's her daggers... I can't believe how fast she is calming down. It's like she's a whole different bird between when trapped and now. First night I spent a couple hours with her watching Tv, introduced her to my lab Dobie- that went pretty good. Spent 4 hours split up throughout the day on Sunday and Monday. She no longer has her hackles up and lets me pet her feet and legs and wings. She is settling down just awesome. She started eating off my fist Monday evening. Hope she'll start jumping to my fist today or tomorrow. Once she starts that, the training will be pretty quick. I can't wait to be hunting rabits and squills this winter with her. I'll keep you all updated on our progress.. Decided to name her "Roxie the Redtail" More pics of me and Roxie's adventures to come. Take care Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 this is amazing to me...... I am so shocked you caught a wild hawk and now are going to train it.......and in a matter a few hours this thing hasn't tried to rip your eyes out!!:ninja: I can't wait to read more about you and Roxie's adventures!!!:cool2::cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 this is amazing to me...... I am so shocked you caught a wild hawk and now are going to train it.......and in a matter a few hours this thing hasn't tried to rip your eyes out!!:ninja: I can't wait to read more about you and Roxie's adventures!!!:cool2::cool2: Ummmmmm, yeah. Mega-dittos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 this is amazing to me...... I am so shocked you caught a wild hawk and now are going to train it.......and in a matter a few hours this thing hasn't tried to rip your eyes out!!:ninja: I can't wait to read more about you and Roxie's adventures!!!:cool2::cool2: Ummmmmm, yeah. Mega-dittos. I concur. What are her living arrangements in the house? I am very curious about all of this. Please keep the pics coming and take them often. This is crazy yet so stinkin' awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Truly awesome. I can't wait to see more also. You sure did get some awesome pictures there Dave. Talk about getting his/her hackles up ...too cool:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Too cool Dave!!! Can't wait to see her first bunny. Now all you need is a colorfull feather duster for Roxie and an eye patch for yourself and you can be a pirate next Halloween,lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Too cool Dave!!! Can't wait to see her first bunny. Now all you need is a colorfull feather duster for Roxie and an eye patch for yourself and you can be a pirate next Halloween,lol. That is way cool indeed! Great stuff Dave! Sounds like a whole lot of fun. Next thing you know Roxie will have a camera on her back snapping photos and shooting video! Matt, you crack me up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Very cool Dave. Congratulations on the catch, look forward to seeing more pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 I'm just speechless. I always thought falconry was a tame bird from the start. I can't wait to see updates through this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chenango Dave Posted November 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Thanks a lot guys. Just a little info, the mortality rate for imature redtails their first year is like 65 to 70 percent. For falconry , you are only allowed to keep passage birds (ones born that year). You must release any adults you trap while trapping for passage birds. - they are the breeding population- they already made it thru their first season so chances of them survivig after that are great. I went out rabbit hunting last year with my sponsor and his hawk and that was the absolute wildest thing I've seen. The speed and determination of these birds after their prey is just totally amazing. If any of you ever get a chance to go out hunting with a falconer and his or her bird- take the offer - it is definatley something to see.. __________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 This is so crazy. Very amazing tho. I can't believe she didn't try to gash your eyes out or something.lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 I am in AWE! I am really looking forward to following along on yours and Roxie's adventures. Thank you for allowing us in on this wonderful experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 I am absolutely amazed too! That is so cool Dave. Amazing how you can trap a wild hawk like that and a few hours later or a couple days later living in your house watching TV with you, sitting on your hand, eating out of your hand etc. Keep us updated with lots of pics! I'm really interested in this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Show us more! I agree, never knew they weren't tame from the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Awesome thread. Excited to hear about further adventures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldridgem1 Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 that is cool man. Congrats on the catch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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