Falconry
gruvystarchild
I don't have time to go back and highlight all of the questions, so
I'll try
to answer everything as well as I can....
I'm in Florida. The law here states that a person must be at least 14
years
of age to apply for the permit. You study certain books that cover
Hawks and
Falcons, medications and diseases, equipment, state law etc..... and
take a
test with the local Fish and game person. That makes you licensed to
own one
bird, I believe only two different species as your choices. Very
limited.
Also, you need a master falconer that agrees to sponsor you, which I
now have.
Side note: the guy I found to be my sponsor (found him online) just
happens
to be from the same town I am, and we were in HS at the same time!!
Too
bizarre when you figure the odds of two Fairbanksans being in
Pensacola! And
a strange hobby to boot....
Anyway, Your sponsor does all the hands on training. They teach you
how to
make your own equipment (saves a LOT of money) like the jesses
(teathers on
the ankles) and what not. They make sure you know how to trap and
handle the
bird, train it properly (a daily affair) build correct facilities for
it,
medicate it etc....
There is a lot to learn.
After two years of owning a bird and being apprenticed, you are
considered a
"general falconer". Five more years and you earn the title of "master
falconer".
It's a sport that takes a lot of patience as the bird needs daily
attention
and training.
During hunting season you are out in the field 3-4 times a week for 2-
3 hours.
The bird brings the kill to you and you have to prepare it. A lot of
it gets
frozen for feeding the bird later, but most people eat what the bird
catches
too.
You have to either raise or buy quail to feed your bird in addition
to the
hunting. This is not a sport for people that can't be home a lot!!
The cost is prohibitive unless your a do-it-your-selfer. Even then,
you have
to consider the fact that without telemetry (radio transmitters) you
may lose
a bird. Not a good idea.
Sometimes they get blown just far enough away that they can't find
their way
back to you. After all the weeks and weeks spent trapping and
training a good
bird, you don't want to lose them!!
My sponsor offered to let me use his receiver if I just buy the
transmitter
to start with.
The first bird I plan to trap is a red-tailed hawk. The facility I
have to
build is an 8x8x8 cube basically. There are specific requirements
for the
size depending on what type of bird you have. The perches, walls,
windows
etc... all have specifications in order to keep the bird from hurting
itself,
keep proper airflow and protection from wind, heat etc...
You need to make lures, jesses, hoods, tethers, special perches for
training
(like a ring perch), there is so much to do!! Oh, and I need to buy a
chest
freezer for the kill....I'd hate to have frozen rabbits in my regular
freezer, ugh.
I think a year is more realistic....my sponsor thinks I can do it
sooner.
We'll see.
Just having the permit will make me happy.
If anyone wants links or recommended reading, just email me.
Ren
I'll try
to answer everything as well as I can....
I'm in Florida. The law here states that a person must be at least 14
years
of age to apply for the permit. You study certain books that cover
Hawks and
Falcons, medications and diseases, equipment, state law etc..... and
take a
test with the local Fish and game person. That makes you licensed to
own one
bird, I believe only two different species as your choices. Very
limited.
Also, you need a master falconer that agrees to sponsor you, which I
now have.
Side note: the guy I found to be my sponsor (found him online) just
happens
to be from the same town I am, and we were in HS at the same time!!
Too
bizarre when you figure the odds of two Fairbanksans being in
Pensacola! And
a strange hobby to boot....
Anyway, Your sponsor does all the hands on training. They teach you
how to
make your own equipment (saves a LOT of money) like the jesses
(teathers on
the ankles) and what not. They make sure you know how to trap and
handle the
bird, train it properly (a daily affair) build correct facilities for
it,
medicate it etc....
There is a lot to learn.
After two years of owning a bird and being apprenticed, you are
considered a
"general falconer". Five more years and you earn the title of "master
falconer".
It's a sport that takes a lot of patience as the bird needs daily
attention
and training.
During hunting season you are out in the field 3-4 times a week for 2-
3 hours.
The bird brings the kill to you and you have to prepare it. A lot of
it gets
frozen for feeding the bird later, but most people eat what the bird
catches
too.
You have to either raise or buy quail to feed your bird in addition
to the
hunting. This is not a sport for people that can't be home a lot!!
The cost is prohibitive unless your a do-it-your-selfer. Even then,
you have
to consider the fact that without telemetry (radio transmitters) you
may lose
a bird. Not a good idea.
Sometimes they get blown just far enough away that they can't find
their way
back to you. After all the weeks and weeks spent trapping and
training a good
bird, you don't want to lose them!!
My sponsor offered to let me use his receiver if I just buy the
transmitter
to start with.
The first bird I plan to trap is a red-tailed hawk. The facility I
have to
build is an 8x8x8 cube basically. There are specific requirements
for the
size depending on what type of bird you have. The perches, walls,
windows
etc... all have specifications in order to keep the bird from hurting
itself,
keep proper airflow and protection from wind, heat etc...
You need to make lures, jesses, hoods, tethers, special perches for
training
(like a ring perch), there is so much to do!! Oh, and I need to buy a
chest
freezer for the kill....I'd hate to have frozen rabbits in my regular
freezer, ugh.
I think a year is more realistic....my sponsor thinks I can do it
sooner.
We'll see.
Just having the permit will make me happy.
If anyone wants links or recommended reading, just email me.
Ren