Prairies and hares

[Athene]

Hi all,

as you might know, I'm interested in flying a prairie on hare next this season. I found my hunting land, found a breeder, but from the parent's weight I guess the bird will weight around 800 g or 28'5 oz.(hunting weight). Ok, so now I have the doubt that this weight may be too light to stop a hare (ours are around 2-2'5 kg or 5-6 pounds). Any experience, or opinions?

Enrique

[Goran]

One guy from Alberta told me his f saker cought over 20 hares in one year but she could not hold on them.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Enrique
Sounds like you need one of Ray Turner's Tribred females Gyrx Saker Xpere
~Pm me if you want any more info
all teh best
J

[Athene]

I've had a look at Mr. turner's birds on the internet, and they look awesome, Mr. Stevens, but I'm afraid I couldn't afford one. Thanks anyway.

[SakerJack]

Enrique, that falconer whose saker hit 20 (actally it was 25)whitetailed Jackrabbits was me, I just don't live in Alberta. my saker flies at 33oz and she easily caught up to and struck repeadetly at these hares. She hit 25 out of 25 slips but she was unable to cause enough damage to hold one, her first flight this year, her second she stooped form about 150 feet and knocked it out for about 20 seconds I was a fair distance away and had I been 5 seonds quicker she would have had it, she had already begun to pluck the fur.
Remember these hares here are 8-13lbs. a large female or saker when turned on to a quarry become fanatical and I have no doubt that a falcon could take a 4-5 lb hare with assistance. A saker would be a better falcon for you
Sakerjack

[Athene]

Welcome, and thank you for your help. Those aren't hares, are horses!! You can saddle them. So in the end it was a saker. Have you got any other birds?

The choice of a prairie falcon is because I find it more suited to take birds, too, and I could have the chance to hunt partridge in the next future. I can only keep one falcon at home. Also I've heard that they have a very powerful strike for their size, sometimes breaking the hare's skull. but I guess that if I planned to hunt solely hare I would go for the saker.

[RabbitHawker]

Ive flown my 1/4 gyr/saker at rabbit and hare, she takes rabbit, and I'm hoping to get her going on hares mid summer when there are some young ones about to get her started, we had some graet flights last year when I tried her on hare sfor a few weeks. You'll probably need to stick to one quarry, I used to fly her at crows, but shre used to stray, much better controlled on hares, she tended to come back and look for me afterwards. I may even swap her if you've got anything interesting if she doesn't breed this season.

[RabbitHawker]

the Gyr/saker falcon I have fleis at around 1000g, which helps a bit with the larger quarry, and has good feet to boot.

[RabbitHawker]

I didn't notice you are a vet as well, get in contact.
Chris