DEAD HARRIS

[Bones]

Just writing to let you all know i lost me 2001 MHH last weekend in what i can only discribe as a unlucky accident,and i thank all those that i had told about it last week for keeping it under there belts while i sorted me head out this last week you know who you are THANKS :wink:
Anyways it came about due to a acccident in the field regarding the FHH i not long ago purchased as you may all remember from MATT,and what happened was i can only discribe as pure accident after sitting stewing on it for a week blaming meself and one thing and another.
So here goes what happened i had been flying them as a cast for a few days and the female had caught her first rabbit after a lot of hard work on her with the help of me MHH and they both had a pull at it after it had been dispatched and i carried on to call them from the kill which they both did so no probs and we carried on our day with a few more flights no kills though,then the following day i weighed them checked them over etc,etc ready for going out with no probs get into the field and they had a flight at a rabbit which gave them the slip then the MHH went in hard on a cock pheasant which he nailed with the FHH making in just behind him on arrival i dispatched the the pheasant and opened it up and was goin to let them feed up as i was giving them a days break the following day as going out with ian and his mate colin ferreting for the day so anyways what happened next i couldn't believe the FHH just lunged out at the male with her foot who had a piece of meat in his beak and nailed him straight round the head with the front talon going straight through his eye and and the back talon into his crop/throat region, i manage to get her to release her grip after a short period which at the time seemed like eternity but it was too late he died just minutes later in me arms
Been out with the female this week but cant fly her the same as i would have done so put her in aviary to moult while i decide what to do with her and meself i may just give up for a while then again i may just plod on with her next season who knows but if anybody is interested she may be up for sale PM me and ill give you her details she's a lovelly bird but not as nice as me MHH sorry
sorry for goin on a bit but had to get it of me chest open to slagging off's and you should have done this and you shouldn't have done this so feel free to put your 2 pence not really bothered
PAUL

[Gaz]

Sorry to hear that mate,heart goes out to you :!:

[GlennB]

Dunno what to say, so sorry mate but it seems like you have come to the right decision in the fact that it seems like a freak accident.
I don't have a bird as yet but could understand that its hard at the moment having this loss.
My advise would be to let her go through the moult and see what you feel like next season.
I wouldn't go blaming yourself or her for this, and I don't think that you should make the decision to sell her either.
Take your time mate.

[Chris S]

bad luck mate but defo a freak accident,hope you feel bit better after the moult and enjoy hawking again.

[Finnish]

Sorry to hear that mate.

[Saker-Clive]

Hi Paul,
glad you've been able to let it out now; I've been waiting almost to the point of worry about how you were taking it.
You've had my condolences the other week but just hope you can possibly keep her and try again next season. I know it's not the same but she is a link with the old male.
keep your pecker up, and good luck mate.

[ChicM]

Bones - took guts to post that and I hope you get it all sorted out. Respect.

[BlackHawke]

sorry to hear of your loss bones. u will already know this but most of us on here are falconers n we will all lose birds at some time. dont make any difference how many times people will tell u this it never makes it any easier. jade was nailed in the head a few weeks ago by another fhh that she had flown with before but i was very lucky a few mil either way n i'd be in the same boat as you. if theres owt i can do u know where i am

[Sparrow Hawker]

Hi Bones,

Ever so sorry to hear that,

Take care,

HH

[Varmint]

Tough Break mate, and lots of guts for posting.

Nothing worse can come out of this experience, but at least some good might!

By posting this inccident, maybe some folk can learn and will be a bit more careful when introducing a cast together?

Take care mate :wink:

[Trigger]

Keep your chin up, accidents happen, to EVERYONE at some stage. Really sorryxx :?

[Debbie]

So very shocked and sorry to hear this Paul.

It really was just a terrible and tragic accident.

There will be no two penneths only condolances.

Whatever you decide to do with her you know you will get the support of everyone here and any help you need.

Debbs xx

[Carol]

Bones
Ken and myself were both gutted for you when you said about the accident last week as we both new how much your male meant to you and your misses.
Keep plodding on and I'm sure you will make the right decision in the end,
for both you and the female.
thinking of you
Carol

[BrianM]

what else can i add?????? sorry

[Jiff]

bones, it sure is a sad tail,but don't beat yourself up my mate,although new to the game i certainly understand what we do,that is, we hunt wild game with trained wild birds,as such, it's totaly unpridictable once sliped what the outcome will be, keep at it mate if it was easy everyone would do it but it aint so we gotta keep at it. :wink:

[Darren]

Paul...my heart goes out to ya....i have spoke to you many times & know how much you liked your MHH...so sorry mate

Daz

[Kevin Massey]

bones

so sorry to hear what has happened bud, you should not be blaming yourself there mate !!!
i for one will be thinking a little more about this, especial as some w/ends we fly a few harries at a time and i for one get a little complacent when they are all hunting together as I'm sure we all do.

i also feel for what you are thinking as well now......hells what a predicament you are in !! but nothing will be gained by quitting it all ,and in sure it wont make you feel any better,
as for passing her on ....... i know you will be looking at her and only thinking what she has done, personal and its only my opinion i would carry on with her, and get out with her asap ( i know its going to be hard), then if you cant bare it put her down to moult then next season try again then if you feel the same then make your decision.

our thoughts are with you


kev

[Wightwings]

**** me mate sorry to hear that.

fems can be a complete bitch to fly with males, i know from recent experience but luckely not to your extent.

my missus wont touch fems at all, she had a male killed and half eaten over night once in a weathering by a fem she cried for days.

keep your chin up mate

Chris

[Claire]

thats really bad luck, I can imagine how gutted you are as our birds become part of the family :(

[KevGem1]

sorry to here about your loss mate i had an incedant happen to me a good few years ago with a red tail taking a female sparrow hawk off my fist. i was luky enough to get it off in time. the point am trying to make is these things can happen to anybody. (and they do happen) hope you get over your loss and get your head straight. most of all don't blame your self all the best KEV. :wink:

[CastleFalconry]

Bones, Bad luck matey. My thoughts are with you. x

[Adam Barrett]

Im real gutted for you mate.
I dont know what i can say that hasent allready been said.

Only time is gonna let you decide how you feel about the female harris and i know she will never replace your male but hopefully she will help you get through this and you can get back hawking with her next season.

All the best mate.

[Bubo]

Hi bones,
That is heartbreaking news and i am so so sorry. dont make any harsh decisions maybe just take a break as you say and you will find time will heal. chin up your mates are around you.

bubo

[Bones]

Thanks for all your support wether it be by PM's or by posting on this forum and ill keep you all posted on my decisions i make in due course ok.
As for being brave for posting it up then as long as it helps some one else and stops them being so complacent in what they do as i was when i think back. and i think at some point we are all guilty of wether it be serious or just a mild thing me we all do from time to time so next time stop and think a little first and maybe it could help you or your bird out maybe even save a LIFE.
thanks again for all your support
PAUL

[HawkNorth]

my female harris was grab by the head right at my feet happen that quick it was hard to see what was going on i split them up they were both in there second year there was little quarry that day she had blood coming
from her nostril and bubbles coming from a hole below her eye she came all right it could have been worse i dont no if that helps

[OhMyGod]

tough luck mate, thats harsh. sound like it should have worked out well for the three of you, out there doing what you all want to do.

Some people buy nice looking birds sit them on a block and do nothing with them. That is a total waste. What you were doing is right, but as we all know hunting with birds brings accidents. I was flying a super little rook hawk and it decided to fly at a farmer with a lead weight being swung to mark out the field. tried to catch the 1lb weight and smashed its keel and everything else, know how you feel mate but DONT give up, unfortunately this is all part of falconry and we must keep going.

Till next season then eh!!

[Renton]

Very sorry to hear about your loss. Don't take a break, to loose a hawk is horrible. Get out hunting again: that's what any Harris would have wanted.

[North East Harris Hawker]

they say:

"when your first wife dies, it puts such a great hole in your heart that all the others fall straight though it"

the bond with the bird is so special, i think this saying is also appropriate here.

Im sorry for you bones. Just dont let it stop you from being involved in the greatest sport.

chin up bud, remember the good times :wink:

[Bones]

It wasn't the first bird of mine NEHH but know where you coming from mate and yes it is the greatest sport i have taken part in and may still take part in just need a little time to adjust and perhaps start agan(got a few months before i have to commit fully to a decision)
Thanks again for everyones support
PAUL

[Sean]

bloody hell, sorry to hear that mate, and only months after loosing teh female in a bad accident too :(

[Dave G]

hi bones get ya rods out do some fishing as youve missed out on that for abit wink wink you know who i am

[Tanith]

Just read this thread and I am so sorry.

Everyone before me echos my thoughts.It was a tragic accident and I hope you start to feel better soon.

[Peregrynne]

Hey Paul,

Like others I have just come across this thread and want to send my sincerest condolences...

As to quitting or giving her up...only you will know what is right for you and only time will tell you what that is...on that note let me just say that I would be very saddened to hear that you stopped doing one thing I know you love so much...

I am on most of the time and you know that...if you need to speak just find me and tug my ear a bit....speak to you soon I hope

Put your face into the wind and let it wash it all away

Cheers,

Chad

[FlameHairedFalconer]

So sorry to hear about your harris.

I was inconsolable when my 8 year old male HH died. We had been through so much together - it was like losing part of me.

Although you never forget, I found that the pull of the sport, and the empty place in my heart where a hawk should be brought me to buy Lily my ferru.

She is no replacement for my harris, but no hawk ever could be - I just remember the good times and smile and look forward to more, but different good times with Lily.

FHF