Goshawk tail sheath

[OutFlying]

Pictures of tail sheath for a female goshawk, this has been used for a season and is still in good condition

[The Late Lord Lucan]

I'd gather that the rather large hole slips over the bell right?

Did you find that you needed a tail sheath/guard with an imprint?

I used one on my male Gos, but only for the first and part of the second season, after that, he seemed to take a lot more care of himself.

Regards,
LLL.

[Jastreb]

My imprint female didn't wear tail sheath last season and I had 1 broken feather-on hare. But I will use one this season, why not !

[OutFlying]

I'd gather that the rather large hole slips over the bell right?

Did you find that you needed a tail sheath/guard with an imprint?

I used one on my male Gos, but only for the first and part of the second season, after that, he seemed to take a lot more care of himself.

Regards,
LLL.

LLL,
Used them on p/r gos on the screen perch and on a kill, feather perfect - never any damage from perching or handling, obviously a feather might get damaged whilst catching large game in hard frosts etc.


With the imprint only used them on the kill and whist traveling in the box, he was kept on a bow perch with no problems - no need for tail sheath whilst at home.

Yes the large hole fits over the bell and will cover the transmitter (whilst on a kill) I leave the transmitter on till I get home. To remove the tailsaver just squeeze it, it forms a tube shape and just slips off without the need to undo the velcro. Easy to put with one hand if needed.

OF.

[Tim Laycock]

What material is it made from OutFlying?
How much does it weigh M8?

[OutFlying]

BB,
It made from damp proof course, 22 grams for a 12" long, 3 1/2" top, 2 1/2" bottom version. If you wanted a lighter one - I'd use thinner leather for the trim and shorter velcro on the sides.
OF.

[Tim Laycock]

Damp proof course, Hmm. 8)
I bet that can take some hammer cant it. :D
For spars I use clear visquine, made in exactly the same style but without the leather and only using four tabs of velcro cut out with a large leather punch.
They dont last long(three months tops) but they weigh frig all. :)

Bb

[OutFlying]

I used the leather on top to prevent damage to the top feathers if the tail sheath "rode up", the leather on the bottom just stops the tail sheath from splitting.
The weight factor hasn't been an isssue with large hawks but had a similar version on a friends spar with no problems.
As you say less velcro, no leather and there's not much left to weigh.
OF.

[Tim Laycock]

I used the leather on top to prevent damage to the top feathers if the tail sheath "rode up", the leather on the bottom just stops the tail sheath from splitting

Fotgot to mention that I turn the top over and glue it to give a rolled edge :oops: :lol:

[OutFlying]

Good idea,
But the woman who sews them up for me would think I was taking the pi** if I went round twice a season to have some more tail savers made.
OF.

[Tim Laycock]

I sew my own M8.
Im a right little seamstress :oops: :lol:

[Wightwings]

any pics BB??

[Tim Laycock]

Aint done one this year yet WW.

Im on the case though (Added to the list of- Imprint tank(s) :wink: , new ring perch and a shed load of other ****e) :lol:

[Finnish]

Hey Jim i made mine out of damp course as well good are nt they.

[Falconry Equipment International]

i realy like the 'tail sheaths ' OF , however my understanding is that these perfom quite a different task to what I have designed my 'tailguards' for IMy understnading is that you purely use thes with a trained accipiter as soon as a kill has been made & also to & from your hawking ground? Many whom use a tail guard tend toi fit it instead of parcel tape ect at the star of training. I did this myself last year with an F pere and despite the guard being on for short periods and prolific use of hairdrier to dry the tail as we had such a wet summer last year , byt september ( she was a 2nd clucth hawk) shher tail started to rot. this is the reason why I developed a mesh tailguard( see pic) which allows the tail to breath. This is the sole advantage over OF's design. of course a major flaw in my guard is that it will NOT be nearly as durable as your 'sheath'
ATB
SJ

[Wightwings]

intersting design SJ. could this not be adapted and strengthened with perhaps a fibre glass dowel down each side to turn then into a more perm type of tail sheath? what are they made of?

[Falconry Equipment International]

Hi WW . at already has a strengthening 'dowel' sewn into the velcro on underside of guard where the two parts meet,. Material is a thivck, 'US' material similar to lining on rMotorcycle racing leathers and I use it in the vents of my hawking vests. If any of you have pineo vests then it is more or less the same as his vent material. hope this makes sense

[OutFlying]

SJ,
As soon as I collect the gos out the avairy (p/r of course), it's equipment is fitted. The tail sheath is then fitted. The trouble with your design when used on a gos, is there is no allowment for movement due to the clip attachment. With my design the hole is over sized and the sheath moves up and down no problem. When I used a similar design to yourself the outer tail feathers get messed up quite quickly. maybe more suited to a long wing.

When speaking to a few other gos hawkers, when I had to use a falconry originals tail sheath (both decks ripped out whilst using a tail mounted transmitter, so no tail bell available to fit to) all had experience feather damage whilst using this type of tail sheath.

Yours Jim.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Hey Jim no probs , I must admit I ahve not used them on Accs yet, only on falcons & harrises, but I hear what you mean, I have debveloped mine in conjunction of using the marshall tail mounts and I am currently looking into an extended version that can be used with a back pack. All this time to dream up ideas , can't wait for the season to get going :rolleyes: BTW like your babby forgot how white the cere & feet are at that age !
regards
SJ

[OutFlying]

Julian,
Whist in the field I never remove the transmitter, so when I fit the tail sheath it goes over both transmitter and bell. The transmitter only comes off when he's back home on the perch and tethered securely. Unless you fit 2 tail mounts this will not be possible.
Jim.

[Tim Laycock]

Am I right in thinking its not made of semi rigid material SJ?

[Tim Laycock]

:oops: (stupid question!) :oops:

[OutFlying]

:wink: :oops: :oops: :oops:

[Falconry Equipment International]

Hi OF yes of cours eyour needs are quirte differnet to mine , as Iby thee time mine are flying free I would be at a loss if they needed a tailguard for any length of time except perhaps transport on the cadge, & I alawys remove th TG well before fitting a tx. your need s , quite understandably with a short wing are quite different. Think I might have to make some like foxies/ yours with a hole to fit over the tail bell, but I do like your idea of dampcourse material. BB no it is quite supple , any rigidity coming from stiffening rod as previously mentioned, sown into velcro & a;lso double sown on edge seams.BTW I like your latest hood offering, , like the shape beak opening etc and I whole heartedly congratulate you for stick with making your own gear, you know the worth of decnt falconry kit & how much work goes into it many these days have very little idea. One thing though,couldn't help thinking when you said you had made it from your grandad's wallet, what's putting his money in now? I had visions of fivers falling out hte back of it! :rolleyes: :lol: :lol: :lol: Only kidding m8 :yawinkle:
ATB
SJ

[OutFlying]

SJ,
I agree with you, but have a look at the thread title - Goshawk Tail Sheath

:wink:

Of.


ATB, YT, YS,

[Falconry Equipment International]

HI OF looks like more of these then ! :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :lol: BTW YT, YS,???
ATB SJ

[OutFlying]

I like a GOH,

Jim.

[The Late Lord Lucan]

The trouble with your design when used on a gos, is there is no allowment for movement due to the clip attachment. With my design the hole is over sized and the sheath moves up and down no problem. When I used a similar design to yourself the outer tail feathers get messed up quite quickly.

What sort of damage did you get OF (just out of interest & with hopes of improving the methods I have used)?
Last time I used a tailguard on a gos, I used a mount similar to SJ's.
I didn't suffer any 'damage' as such, just the outer sides of the outer feathers 'curled up' slightly. Whilst I did find this VERY annoying, it was more 'cosmetic' than anything else. After a bath and a prene, everything looked OK.
Do you use the same method with a Spar?
I ask because it looks like my female gos has fallen through, but a spar is probably available............jeez, I'm dribbling already..........

Regards,
LLL.

[The Late Lord Lucan]

SJ wrote........
BTW YT, YS,???
ATB SJ

Bloody hell mate, I'm going to have to pull the old 'Enigma' out, WTF do all them letters mean?

Regards,
'Lucky'
(Lord Lucan) :lol:

[OutFlying]

LLL,
I one of those people who upon meeting someone with a hawk first look at its equipment and feather condition, especially the tail. Having always used the tail sheath as in the original pictures - always had a gos with an immaculate feather train with no damage caused what so ever with the tail sheath. Having lost both center deck feathers last season on a branch, started to use the clip on tail sheath. With an imprint being hard on its tail, the outer feathers always looked tatty when removing the tail saver. As I said earlier (with a clip fitting)you can't fit it over the transmitter (unless 2 tail mounts), also need 2 hands to fit it - or fiddly to do with one hand.
Of.

Ps couldn't tell you how it works on a spar yet, don't collect her till next week and I never flown one personally before - but a friend used a scaled down version of mine and didn't break a feather on a kill once he'd fitted it or in the mews during the season..

[The Late Lord Lucan]

Ps couldn't tell you how it works on a spar yet, don't collect her till next week and I never flown one personally before - but a friend used a scaled down version of mine and didn't break a feather on a kill once he'd fitted it or in the mews during the season..

I guess we'll both be comparing notes then, cos with a bit of luck, mine turns up next week as well!

[OutFlying]

LLL,

Just had to have an extension on the house, new bathroom, kitchen and make a meal tonight - just to pave the way for another imprint to move in. The things you do for a days sport, ok sport everyday as it develops into.

My original plan was for a perlin but a lack of a fully trained pointer and the wifes evening job force a change of plan. Not a bad plan B though :wink:

OF.

[Tim Laycock]

My original plan was for a perlin but a lack of a fully trained pointer and the wifes evening job force a change of plan. Not a bad plan B though

Foiled again :mrgreen: :wink: