Hunting with bird of prey: What you should know

Often considered a lost art, Falconry is actually still very much alive. You need to know where to look and you will find it. I am sure you all have a falconry club or association near you (yes: you too). Today, I want to explain some lesser-known aspects you need to know to start this superb hobby. Let‘s dig in!

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A quick notice: Falconry is available worldwide, but it is generally regulated by authorities. Make sure to get the appropriate license and follow rules specific to your region.

Choose your bird

Falconry is all about the bird. It‘s only natural to begin by considering which birds are best for it. In truth, there isn‘t a clear best choice, but there are some usual suspects.

Owls are often prized for their ability to hunt silently. Obviously, they work best at night. Best for the night owls among you or those who prefer evening activities.

Falcons (particularly the peregrine falcon) are well-known for their speed. Their dives, known as stoops, are an incredible sight to behold. In the same vein, Merlins are relentless pursuers making them a great choice if you want dramatic hunts. Keep in mind that most other birds only reluctantly pursue prey.

Finally, the bigger hawks and eagles are a good choice if you want to hunt bigger prey (read: mammals) such as rabbits and squirrels. Other choices would rather hunt something like small birds and mouse. A larger bird is harder to keep in check though.

In any case, choose a bird which fits your preferred style of hunting.

Why birds?

After all, Europeans have used hunting dogs for centuries. First, they also used birds even though they require more training but that‘s beside the point. The main reason for falconry is the incredible vision hunting birds possess. Comparatively to humans, they often have visions five times as sharp. Keep in mind that in the animal kingdom, humans actually have what is considered pretty good eyesight. Just show how dominating birds are in that field. Second, I don‘t know how to put it other than to say, well, they fly! Paired with their vision, they simply can‘t be beat for scouting and similar logistics. This is, of course, useful in hunting, but could be largely used in many other forays. In my case, I expect to use falconry skills in my scouting practices rather than hunting.

What you need

First, your new bird friend needs a home. That would most often be an enclosure with perches. Make it cozy. It should provide shade against the heat and insulation during winter. Also, birds are highly sensitive to light. Make sure they have adequate sunlight exposure, but limit direct sunlight. Then, keep in mind that the bird is not a pet! He‘s a partner. The relationship should be (and will be) between equals. Make sure you take care of the bird. Of course, feed him daily.

You might be surprised to know that most hunters pair their bird with a dog for the best success rate. The two complement each other and work very well together. If you decide to do the same, it goes without saying that the dog too should be cared for appropriately.

What about equipment? The typical gear includes leather hoods for the birds (to keep them from being distracted during travel), gloves, a leash and lures for training. One element you simply MUST account for is having something to locate your bird. Keep in mind that on the field, you will leave your bird free. Make sure you don‘t lose it! I heard that some modern falconers use kites, drones or even a GPS locator to track their birds.

In truth, your best tool is without contest a reality check. Success is rare. Birds do not deliver prey to the falconer. Expect to search for your bird happily eating its prey on the spot where it caught it. Then, birds can get lost. It happens sadly. Finally, falconry requires hard work and A LOT of training. Let‘s explore that further.

Time to train!

As always, you should start with the basics. That would be commands such as “step up,” “step down,” and “come.” The best way to do so is by using positive reinforcement. Giving a treat to the bird when it follows your command correctly just works. Thank you Pavlov I suppose. Still, patience is key. Also make sure that your tone is calm, loud, clear and constant when giving commands. Starting with such commands is essential to make sure you can keep control of your bird. A must for everything to follow.

Next, birds are instinctively uneasy around humans. You need to get your bird used to you and other individuals. That is called manning. Make sure to regularly introduce your bird to other people and animals. Make slow but consistent progress and respect your bird. Birds can easily become aggressive in new and stressful situations. You have to work on that.

Even then, using a hood to cover your bird‘s eyes during transport will keep it calm and limit stress for him in unfamiliar situations. Getting the bird used to the hood itself will also require time and effort. As you can see, falconry requires a lot of effort, patience and time. It is not over yet.

After those initial steps, it is time to practice hunting itself. You should start INSIDE (I know: disappointing). Introduce the lure. It should look like your expected prey. The goal here is to simulate what you expect hunting to look like and reinforce the bird‘s hunting instinct correctly. Start by making sure the bird understands he must catch the prey, then gradually extend the distance. Let the bird fly to it and catch it in increasingly hard situations. Begin with the lure in clear view, but gradually hide it more and more. Positive reinforcement with treats is your best friend yet again. Link the reward and the catch, then between it and the return to you. One step at a time.

When you feel confident inside, you can move outside. Again, the transition should be gradual. Begin in small, silent and distraction-free areas. Increase the difficulty gradually. This might be the most fun part in my eyes. Some falconers use a leash to keep the bird in check before letting it free-fly outside. Your choice.

At this point, the rest is up to you and your needs. I know this was a very quick introduction, but hopefully, it helped you to realize what is lying in front of you.

On that note, see you next time!