quote:
I notice most of the kills are squirrels and rabbits, and you mentioned that some of it is due to area and some of it is due to what Hawkeye views as prey. What about game like pheasant? Do people use raptors for that as well? Seems to me that would be fascinating to see.

(And now I'm gonna run off to google and youtube instead of waiting on a response )

Well, if you didn't find it on youtube and google, yes some people hunt pheasant. Most game birds and ducks are hunted with goshawks and various falcons. I've seen pheasant and even ducks taken with red tails, but I don't think either is common. Cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and sometimes male harris's hawks are used for smaller birds, like quail.

This post was edited on 3/25/13 at 7:17 am

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Posted by Matisyeezy

End of the bar, Drunk

Member since Feb 2012

16624 posts

Posted on 3/25/13 at 9:07 am to Teague

I did see some videos on youtube/had some google results that answered my question, but thanks for giving me more info! I found a video of some Brits using falcons on pheasant. Watching them stoop on a flushed pheasant was AMAZING.

Another question -- how would you describe the relationship between the raptor and the handler? I know you've indicated that they aren't pets, and I wouldn't expect them to be, but after a couple of seasons can the handler expect to form a sort of working relationship with the raptor? From what you've described it sounds like it's largely motivated by feeding/regulating food intake. Is that always the case, or in time will the raptor adopt more "domesticated" (for lack of a better word) tendencies where the strict system of diet regulation becomes less critical?

Again, thanks for taking the time to share your hobby, it's incredibly fascinating!

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