Free Lofting H.H.

[Coedhirion]

I have free lofted my Harris this winter, he is out on a bow during the day when not hunting. I hunt most days if it isn't raining. I have had trouble with the bird taking very long slips (up to 3/4 mile) when up on the soar. He actually went missing for 3 days a couple of weeks ago. he probably killed & despite loads of tape he lost his transmitter, so it was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. Found him because he flew most of the way home & stopped for a chicken dinner.
More knowledgeable people than me have said that this happens with free lofting as they don't have the discipline, he always came back instantly if he didn't kill & follows on to both me & the dogs, moving up as soon as called. It is just the distance thing that is the problem, we have loads of hills & small feilds,hedges & fences making it hard to chase after a bird hunting at that distance away.

[Shaun Byrne]

Quote:"More knowledgeable people than me have said that this happens with free lofting as they don't have the discipline"

Load of old tosh mate!

Most HH have to be taught different hunting techniques ie soaring, following on etc. These things certainly cant be learned in an aviary, so I would think its the way that your bird has been allowed to develop its hunting style that has caused the problems (if you can call them that).

If you hunt your bird most days he will be very fit and with fitness comes more confidence to take on quarry at longer distances. This coupled with the fact that you allow him to hunt on the soar will allow him to see quarry that he would normally miss whilst following on or riding the fist.

If you then throw in the type of terraine he is hunting in, you are bound to lose him when she goes in on a kill.

This is not a dicipline problem, your bird is doing what comes natural and being sucessful at it!

In my opinion I think you should pull the reins in a bit and get him hunting off the fist or following on at close range (if possible). You will maybe have to cut his weight slightly so he is keener to watch and follow you and you will have to be pretty sure you can serve him or he will soon get bored and go off on the soar to find his own dinner lol!!

HTH

Shaun

[Varmint]

:arrow:

[Gaz]

The main thing is to return the focus onto yourself when it comes to producing game.
:mrgreen:

[Coedhirion]

He follows on well and will go in above the dog the moment the pointing collar bleeps. He comes to the fist when called without having to wave lumps of chick around. He moves up to the whistle and will happily sit above a bunny hole for half an hour while we wait for the pesky ferret to return. Its just that if he sees an opportunity a long way off he takes it. If he misses he comes back full steam. Just the day he didn't, I am sure he killed or he wouldn't have survived so long in such bad weather. just the stupid transmitter either fell off or packed up. I agree that I had better do more flying from the fist tho its not so much fun and also get him coming to the lure more tho I'm not sure if he is off after quarry the lure would be a strong enough incentive to turn back.

[Austin]

I think when hawks are in the mood to hunt they are really looking hard for movement. Now the higher they go the more they can see afar off. Not unusual for them to go on long flights. I have a female RT if shes sees phesants at three or even four hundred yards then away she goes. When she misses I simply stand ready, give her a little time too settle and call her back to the glove, better her than me! I have had birds free loft with out daily attention for long periods of time and they do develope a sense of independency and show some problems in the field. Just work close with the bird and be sure to spend at least 30 minutes with it each day if nothing more then a one sided conversation with her will d :wink: o.

[Coedhirion]

MMM it was mostly 3 hours+++ a day cos I hunt at least one bird every day unless its chucking it down with gales. An mostly each bird gets a kill or pretty good chances to keep em happy. they work with dogs an ferrets so always got sumit to keep them intersted. Just he has too good long distance sight for his own good when the b.... transmitter either lost its aerial, fell in a pond or packed up mid flight !!

[Austin]

Well it does sound like that's the kind of bird he is going to be! I'm sure by the sound of your experiences if it were something else you would have discovered it. Good luck with him.

[Goran]

In late fall I notice my young male gets vocal (calling softly) when over hidden bunny.It helps the female or me go there and reflush.Any of you have the same?