Jack rabbit hawking

[IAmTheWeasel]

Well, we are back from a trip to Lubbock Texas....Let me tell you.....I have NEVER seen so many jacks as I did this weekend....When we arrived at the field, the first thing we saw was literaly a herd of jacks running away from us....When I say heard, I mean about 30-40 moving across the field at once.....The plot of land was about 1000 acres or so and it was FULL of jacks. Every few feet(Yes, I literaly mean feet) we would bust two or three jacks and through this whole time they are gathered in groups dotting the horizon. The only problems we encountered started with the wind....When I say wind, I mean 40mph constant wind....It made things very difficult to hawk in as the birds would make one pass at the jack and that was it as they almost always go into the wind to get away. A local falconer had her Harris, Bam-Bam, in the field first and within ten minutes it had a huge jack in the bag. Up next was a tiercel RT thay gave the jacks hell, but was just too small for them and it new it. One of the other problems with the field was the fact that it was covered in prarie dogs too....Most of the time spent in the field was spent picking up birds off of prarie dogs holes. They would try time after time to get them, but they simply dissapeared down the holes and came up another one to taunt the birds. Mel's bird almost got a jack when it ran straight at her and she tagged it head on. The jack did several somersults on impact, but the bird didn't get a good foot hold on it. The jack was wounded or stunned so that it was only able to hop along at a slow pace, but even this was immpossible for the bird to take advantage of as the wind would not allow it. Good fun in Lubbock Texas.....and we ARE going back next season for more of that!!!
Weasel
Here are a few pictures from the weekend hunt.

This picture shows just how windy it was.....If fact it was so strong we only walked one direction and then we had someone drive around to pick us up so we could start at the top again.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/Iamtheweasel/Hunting/100-0090_IMG.jpg

This is Debbie and her female harris, Bam-Bam.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/Iamtheweasel/Hunting/100-0079_IMG.jpg

Here is bam-bam and Debbie on a large jackrabbit.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/Iamtheweasel/Hunting/100-0084_IMG.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/Iamtheweasel/Hunting/100-0078_IMG.jpg

[Shaun Byrne]

Just off to book my ticket Noel!!

[IAmTheWeasel]

Next time there is a NAFA meet in Amarillo, I will have to take you Brits that make it to the NAFA meet down to Lubbock to see this field. It is truly unbeleivable. The falconer that showed us the field has a head count of 31 Jacks, 27 cottontails, 2 misc, a few rats and a few voles...All taken with one passage harris.. She runs a rehab center that is a full time job and has one of the largest breeding projects in the southern US for barn owls that she and her volunteers hack out to the wild.

[Bird_Dog]

Hey Weasle,

Are you still thinking of trapping a Harris next fall? I've have an older tiercel '98 that i want to give up. My plans are to put him in a breeding project, but he has caught many rabbits over the years so if anyone wants to fly him that would be fine too. He's flying at 21 oz now and is excellent working with dogs. The problem I have with him now is he pretty independent. Most of the time he's hunting on his own and I have to follow him not the other way around. I'm not trying to talk you into taking him beacuse I want to go trap another one and thought we could plan a trip out West. I'll show you my secret dead pigeon trapping method.

-- BIRD_DOG

[IAmTheWeasel]

Will he car hawk? If I can train him to do that then I would love to take him from ya...Does he hood well? Details, details!....hehehehe I'll have to come over and take a look at him sometime!. I need to wait until I upgrade in August.
Cheers,
Weasel

[Ben C]

Fantastic photos....I am coming over to texas next easter to watch the Harris Hawks in the wild. Hopefully I'll come across some wild action that equals what you shown us here. It'll make an interesting article and chapter either way. :D :D :D

[IAmTheWeasel]

Well, Don't be a stranger! Stop on by and visit with some of the local falconers.
Cheers,
Weasel

[ColdZero]

sounds like an amzing place. Are jackrabbits the same as brown hare? or different in some way?

[IAmTheWeasel]

I suppose they are similar in size and shape. Jacks are about 8lbs average and do not use holes to escape. They will run up to 40mph to avoid their attackers.

[Gaz]

They will run up to 40mph to avoid their attackers.
And the GAZMAN :!: Next time there is a NAFA meet in Amarillo, I will have to take you Brits
Thats good of you Noel,..but i allready had you booked in for the tour anyways :mrgreen:
GIT"ER DONE :!: