Using a swing lure in training a HH

[Harris91]

Hello..

What are the advantages in using a swing lure in the training of HH's and Gos's? I understand its good fitness for the bird but what are the other benefits if there are any?ie...gaining the birds confidence with certain types of fether??etc...Also how many of you flying HH's have use the swing lure in training??

Is it necessary???

Thanks!

Rich

[John'B']

swung lures can be used for short and broad wings but not as a way of keeping them fit, just for recall. they will not repeatedly pass at a lure as a longwing will do. Warning, don't use it too often as your bird will become reluctant to return to the fist preferring to come to the lure, particularly with the true accipiters.

[Harris91]

Thanks! I was just wondering wot benefits it had in the field other than as a recall ....r there any other benefits?? for instance using wings attached to a padded lure... will this provide the bird with confidence on certain types of feather??

I understand about the passes although i have herd some people try to suggest they will??...which sounds completely wrong!! and to my inderstanding is, but i dont have a bird so I wudent wish to argue with any1.

cheers!

rich

[Bazzer]

John B has got it spot-on. I introduce the swing lure to all my broadwings towards the end of initial training. And as John said, don't overdo it!
The main function of the swing lure in my set-up is for recalling from great distances and for recovering when the hawk takes a stand over quarry in a hopeless situation (like a rabbit in 50 sq mtrs of brambles).
I use pheasant wings stitched back-to-back and I always attach a full chick, so the hawk knows that a reasonable feed awaits. My FHH chased a pheasant across a valley, a trunk road, and railway line. Luckily for me she didn't get the pheasant and the swing lure got her back from what I estimated was 1 mile.
I'll use the swing lure about once each month in the season, even when not needed, just to keep the purpose of it alive the hawks mind.
No austringer should be without one !
Bazzer
PS. I wanted to know why she didn't get the phessie though!

[Jim Wale]

personly im not a fan of flying harris to swing lures and would strongly recogmend not flying them exclusily to the lure as i have a male which was kept by two lads in bristol and flown exculsivly to the lure and the bird really has suffered for this he is a great hunter but no matter what i do will not come down to the fist even though he has not seen a lure for at least six months. when i do finally do get him down to the fist he will sometimes compleatly ignore a hole chick on the fist and hit you flat out in the face. so in my opinion it is not a good idea to fly a harris to the swing lure they just dont need it.

[Dave G]

i use a plain black lure for my mhh its never got any food on it but if i get it out he will come from a long way to hit it as he knows he gets a reward for stepping off ;) find it great for long recalls and flys at it with menace ??

[Hobby]

I find a lure very helpful.If my hawk misses quarry she is quickly recalled with it and at the end of the session she takes her fill on it. When she has caught a rabbit ,once calm, she will transfer off it to the thrown out lure,making for an easy transfer.It also works for transfering her attention away from squirrels or any other undesirables.

[Puzo]

A lure for short & broadwings should be used only in moderation. It's a great inducement for persuading a reluctant bird from a tree or a long distance return. Overdoing it makes them less keen to return to the fist.

[Steve Watkins]

personly im not a fan of flying harris to swing lures and would strongly recogmend not flying them exclusily to the lure as i have a male which was kept by two lads in bristol and flown exculsivly to the lure and the bird really has suffered for this he is a great hunter but no matter what i do will not come down to the fist even though he has not seen a lure for at least six months. when i do finally do get him down to the fist he will sometimes compleatly ignore a hole chick on the fist and hit you flat out in the face. so in my opinion it is not a good idea to fly a harris to the swing lure they just dont need it.i know this is an old thread but i thought id have my say on it because my son is just ready to fly his young male free, i spoke to him to day and he said he was ready ,i asked him have u introduced the lure to him he said no ,why the **** not i said ,he said he didnt want to as he said they say on the forum not to with a harris as they will refuse the fist ,i said what aload of bollcks so i looked for my self and i cant beleave ive found some one on hear saying that ,lucky my son listened to me ,all i will say is newbies listen to me train your harris to a lure b4 you let it go free ,if u dont u will regret not doing so .