Snowy owls in falconry?

[GoshawkRST]

Hello everybody. I have asked many times in other forums if is possible to use a snowy owl in falconry, and TO HUNT SOMETHING with it, but the peoples only fly them in displays and demonstrations and they all say that those birds are good for nothing (like the eagle owl - bubo bubo), because they are to slow.... :?: :?: :?: ...... but I think they don't know how good is an owl like this, because they only fly in demonstration??? Or it is true...those owls are not good for hunting????????
Also, some peoples say that bubo bubo is faster in flight that an harris hawk... that is true or not???

Some 2 years ago, I've been to a master falconer who also is flying in aeroports to control the birds. He got an snowy owl and I asked him if he use the owl for demonstrations, and he telled me that he hunt with that owl! When I asked what does he hunt, he reply that hunts HARES and birds...... ?????? H A R E S ????? He did say that the owl is fast in flyight and caught also birds. And Hares are not to hard to hunt with an snowy owl, if you know how to train her well......

What do you say??????? Does someone hunt with an snowy owl??? What about an bubo bubo??? What owl can hunt birds????

[Dude]

It is not impossible......I heard they are very good flyiers...snowys can take game in air like or on the ground up to rabbit size I think its not a problem 4 'em... My friend try a Europian eagle owl at hunting, and they catch a few bunnies and rooks at night from their sleeping tree......I think with a little owl maybe the falconer can catch small birds, but never heard abouit it....

regards,
Dan. :O)

[Jester]

snowy owls?? for hunting?? :shock:

good god no they are for carrying mail of course ............ havent you seen harry bloody potter :vom:



as far as im led to believe the only thing harder than training an owl to hunt is getting the quarry from them after they do manage

[Dude]

I dont see it.....coz hate him :finga:

[GoshawkRST]

So, you say it's possible? Do you hunt with an snowy owl? What about the eagle owl from your avatar? What does he(she) hunt?

(sorry for so many questions, but this is one grate doubt that I have with owls...)

[Jan]

It will always depend on the bird. You'll have snowy owls who are good hunter and others who will never catch something. It's also beautifully mentioned in "understanding owls". There they tried to hunt with 2 European eagle owls (2 brothers). One has caught a few rabbits, the other one wasn't interested in hunting.
I even have heard stories about people who were able to hunt with a barn owl. They didn't train the bird to hunt, no they went for walk and suddenly the owl caught a mouse. The owl does this every time he sees a mouse.

You need luck to hunt with an owl.

[Bubo]

I agree with Jan and Jester, owls are complicated really. I think a couple of factors have to be considered here
1) stimulating the bird from a very young age with hunting games and the like
2) having a bird that seems slightly interested.


but i agree taking the quarry from an owl is extremely difficult and i personally wouldnt like to try it on with an EEO. it is bad enough with a barny. The advantage with a snowy is they can cover a lot of distance in flight after prey.

[Kornie]

Snowys are quite fast...but one problem they have is they tend to land on the ground a lot.

[Bubo]

or prey :twisted: hopefully hahaha but indeed they do.

[Osiris]

Snowys are quite fast...but one problem they have is they tend to land on the ground a lot.

That is a true statement, however if they do land on the ground whilst you are flying them, dont feed them for that flight, pick her up and put her back up from where she flew from. She'll soon learn. The snowy my friend has, flies to the fist superbly