hooding hawks

[Grovsey]

hi all
is any off you using a hood on your hawk and is there any plus's in using one.I know they keep the falcons calm but do they get bored to much if worn all day?

[Falconer]

Try speaking to varmint
i'm sure he will be able to tell ya what the plus's are m8

[Bod]

I hooded my female Harris whilst manning her as per Varmints book.
I still hood her when weighing her or taking her to the flying ground if I'm not boxing her. I wouldn't leave her unatended and hooded for long periods now though. I know other falconers don't consider hooded hawks necessary but as Varmint says in his book "the hood can be used as an on/off switch".
I'm sure Varmint will expand further.

[Varmint]

I rather just sell you the book!

[Darren]

when the hood is used on the Harris it goes all nice & calm...this is good for when ur walking from the car to the hunting/flying area

[Varmint]

Its a bit more than that guys, the whole principle of hood training a harris is the fact that the bird never knows what it is to ever have to bate away from a human in basic training, gets them super steady, the other benefits become instantly apparent in manning, carriage and then everyday life like at a kill site with other HH, or carrying across windy hills, vets etc, etc.

[IAmTheWeasel]

I find a hooded hawk to be a neccessity at times. I never go into the woods or out of it without the bird hooded first. It is simply a routine and it stops her from bating at unwanted quarry such as other squirrels after a kill etc... It is also great for times where a bird is under stress such as copeing, imping and other vet procedures. It is also very nice to be able to keep a bird calm if you had to go to a strange or noisy location with the bird. Like SBod said, it is like an on off switch. Once the birds can't see, they sit as quite and as comfy as if they where in the dark mews. I could take my bird to a rock concert hooded and she would just sit the fist all fluffed up. I hood every bird I get and I will be doing it with the Harris I plan to trap next September.

[Grovsey]

cheers lads

[OhMyGod]

fly your birds from the hood at quarry! you choose what slips are acceptable not her. for gods sake

[Jack Merlin]

A hood is essential if you are flying long-wings and pretty damned useful for shortwings.

My new gos is not made to the hood which, as far as I am concerned, is a major headache. As has been said, with a hood, I can avoid all those situations which would upset the hawk. I can choose when and where my hawk flies at quarry without him bating at the first bird that flushes. I can stick him in the back of the Land Rover on the spare wheel and not need to worry about bating. I can sit him on the back of a chair and change jesses, fit telemetry into a tail mount, etc. without problems.

The biggest problem thse days is that most hoods are made to look pretty and very few seem to fit properly. Also, if you buy a new hood, it will have to be trimmed around the beak opening -- which probably means it won't fit any more and the maker won't take it back! I am thinking I am going to have to start making hoods again just to resolve that problem.

I have an old lizard skin hood here that looks absolutely terrible! But it fits a peregrine falcon perfectly and doesn't need trimming. It was made by Jack Mavrogordato and given to me by Ronald Stevens. Enough said.

Jack

[GriffMJ]

Hi

Here is a hood especially designed for practical Hawking, take a closer look on my website. Its the "Maynes Hawk Hood" ...its a great practical hood for a Hawk with a one size fits all design. Its designed by the Canadians for their field Hawking.

http://www.m-jhoods.co.uk/images/Hawk%20Range/Maynes5.JPG

[Falconer]

And a verry nice hood it is 2
looks good in black :wink:

[Falconry Equipment International]

It's a great bonus to be able to hood any hawk, buzzard,falcon, parabuteo or eagle right from the start and done with care and gentleness, but in a business like fashion , it never becomnes hood shy & has perfect manners
all the best
J

[Ben C]

I late stage hooded my hawk and it is a real god send! I have had several dodgy situations which could only have been avoided by using the hood.....dogs, cars, horses, people and more recently little baby lambs!!!
Also as ohmygod says (and I am loath to agree, what with his views on us slimy harris owners!!!) it is damn good practice to slip your hawk at fleaing quarry. Bloody hard, but damn good fun :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Afshimo]

I late staged hooded my falcom - wish I hadnt done it now! Basically, I do hood everynow and then, but I find my particular saker, trains and handles much better than being hooded. I think its the indevidual bird. I still use the hood if I change the jesses over, with the swivel and leash, she will let me do bare headed. I know a harris that will only sit on your fist when she is hooded. She is nice and relaced, very happy once hooded, then flying. Murder to train! I definatly will be training all of my birds (bar owls o course) to the hood in some way. I'm just sittin here, palyin with affy's feet, and waitin till i get me big gyr/saker!!!