Getting height!

[Jonny]

Hi everyone,
I am trying to get my female Lanner to get some hieght when flying so she will be better when i take her to hunt. However i don't quite now how to go about it. I have tried a few techniques but they haven't worked! Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jonny.

[Varmint]

I presume that bagged pigeons are legal in dubai jonny?

[Jonny]

Yes!
I have been trying that and it is sort of working but very slowly and i was wondering if anyone had any other ideas, or suggestions of techniques i can used with the pigeons.
Please get back to me soon,
Thanks,
Jonny.

[Hawkmaster]

Hi there Jonny,

What you do is, have two people with about 3 pigeons each to start, so say, you and a mate. Now release the hawk and allow it to circle, in a place where it can't land in trees etc.

If it passes by around you as it should be doing by now, then let your mate flash a pigeon allowing it to flap it's wings to attract the falcon. Now when the bird flies over to your mate he hides it. Now the bird is over by him you let a pigeon flap and then release the baggy, BUT you do not want the falcon to catch it, very important.

The hawk will chase and your mate can attract it back with another after a bit of a chase. It if is the first few times and it keeps chasing then do not fret, as it has to learn, that it is not really able to chase down the pigeon, so make sure they are good strong ones not old, weak, slow . . . need I carry on?

Now if you see the hawk gaining height and pumping upwards you must let it know that, that it is a GOOD thing that it gains height, so here you can toss out a pigeon, that can be caught, it is really timing it right, not disabling it by breaking it wings and ripping its eyes out as some inexperienced people believe. A dead one will also work, but throw it high into the air, alive ones work better?

This needs to to repeated and the falcon will soon gain height to try and cover the space over the two of you, by being HIGH over you, all you then need to do is go further apart from each other and it will keep going up. So increase the distance between the two of you to progress.

Only reward with the hawk when it is pumping upwards and do not over use the flashing of the pigeons too much, take your time, just aim to make more height each day, NOT HUGE gains, but realistic ones.

Hope I have made it simple enough and it had come across as such. I am sure others will add to it and correct or ensure the little things that count are mentioned too.

Good Luck
Paul

[Jonny]

Thanks so much,
That is a really good idea!!! I have printed it out to show to my friend, and i will tell you how it goes over the next week. Keep the ideas coming in, and thanks again,
Jonny.

[Dave Whitt]

Pauls method is very good and works well as long as your timing is spot on.
The other important factor to training this way is to ensure that your falcon is fit enough to
1. Climb to the height you are asking it to.
2. Take on multiple slips
It may also be usfull to use a slower bird with less staminer than a pigeon for the slips you wish the falcon to catch ie a small unfit game bird such a a partridge (do you have them in dubai) but this has a down side that your falcon may start to refuse pigeons thinking in can`t catch them so dont do it to often
Also whilst teaching the bird to clime make sure the wether conditions are right, this is where a lot of people make mistakes with young falcon until the falcon has realised that in HAS to go up to kill / be rewarded it wont make the effort in bad conditions so it is better to not fly the falcon than reward in for doing somthing you dont want it to do.
Hope this has been of some more help let us know how you get on

[Wightwings]

great read guys.........i cant wait to see your results Johny

[Jonny]

Ye, thanks everyone, really helpful.
I will put it into practice this week and tell you how it goes.
Thanks,
Jonny.

[BrianM]

and if you cant use baggies?????????

[Afshimo]

buy an elscalator lol!

[Dave Whitt]

If you cant use baggies ?
There are sevral methods it largley depends on what the bird has done in the past it is a lot harder if it is an adult birds that has been trained and has got into bad habbits.
If it is a young bird it is fairley straight forward, you need to teach the bird to wait on this is done in the earley stadges but rewarding the bird when it is directley over your head and needs to be taught from the first day the bird is ever flown free.
Swing the lure a usualy for the falcon on its approach hide the lure behind you back 99% of the time the falcon will keeo flying towards you and climb slightly over your head probabally only about 12 -15 feet and look down at you when the falcon looks down drop the lure on the floor, do this for the first few flights then dont drop the lure allow the falcon to fly on most falcons will then turn and circle a little wistle or call and maybe a glance at the lure in your hand can help here, hopefully the falcon will turn and fly back towards you right over your head because this is how it gets fed above your head again drop the lure when the falcon loooks down, after doing this a few times let the falcon do two circles and again serve with the lure, once the falcon will complete 4 -5 circles I usually allow the falcon to leave the fist without showing it a lure. Most falcons especially Perigrines or Peri Hybrids will soon get the idea and within a week should be climing to 100ft or possibally more again this method relies on good weather conditions once the falcon is reaching about 100ft it is time to start slipping a quarry, and plenty of it good points and a reliable dog are vital at this stadge height, and fitness should then come very quickley.
With an older bird a kite teaches the falcon how to climb and is great for fitness then once the falcon can climb to 500ft or more start hunting lots of quarry and good points are vital flush the game when the falcon is in the best position even if you know it will miss this can often be the best way to teacha falcon to get up

[Hawkmaster]

and if you cant use baggies?????????
Try a windy hills updraught. To fiind these look for places nearby where the RC slope soaring gliders go fly or paragliders, but this is no way as good really.