Will it lead to self hunting?

[Newbie FHH]

Just to recap - we've had Aggie for 2½ weeks, she's been flying free for nearly a week. We have been taking her a few new places where there are usually rabbits.

I didn't get to go out with Simon & Aggie last night (daughter having terrible twos) but he said she had a bit of a soar. I'm gutted I missed it.

However, he mentioned that she dropped like a stone into the bracken - would this be classed as self hunting and should it be discouraged?? If so, how?

The whole situation wasn't planned he went up this hill where he knows there are usually lots of rabbits, there were none on the back so he went on the front and hence the wind was right and she soared!!

Here's a pic of the hill, if it comes out ok!

[Skeld]

Soaring flights can be fantastic, my hawks catch a lot of rabbits this way. however it needs to be carried out in a place where you can flush targets for your hawk, otherwise the bird will start to look elsewhere. If you don't want your hawk to soar avoid hills and weather conditions that will encourage soaring.

[Sharpster]

shame she missed that one!if she's locked onto a target,then course she'll turn deaf! but if she,s off looking for a target & ignoring your every call/whistle-then yes she's self hunting!welcome to the intelligent harris'!

[ColdZero]

next time she does it start kicking around in the thorns etc and flush her something, then you are part of the team.

[Sharpster]

good advice!they soon learn to keep interested in you working cover(no dog,then it's your job!)especially once you start flushin rabbits/pheasants(not to mention voles,muntjak,foxes.....)you'll be surprised what they'll see moving right in front of you-that you havn.t noticed

[Jiff]

exposure to game is the answere to almost all field problems, a harris at a good hunting weight has one thing on it's mind....food, if you can provide it, wild i mean each time you're out then you're on you're way, but try not to bring you're bird down to responsive weight and then go for an amble out, i'm not suggesting for one minute that this was how it happened, i'm trying to advise on a broad spec, instead waiting for you to provide the game.rum, plan you're day and try like hell to expose as much game to the bird as possible in the early days, this way the bird axcepts that you and it are a team and will be reluctant to wander off.

[Jiff]

why is my post completely mixed up with bits missing,......i don't know either sorry guy's.

[MickeyDredd]

However, he mentioned that she dropped like a stone into the bracken - would this be classed as self hunting and should it be discouraged?? If so, how?


If she was still "in contact" with Simon this is not self-hunting, merely going in on quarry from the soar rather than from the fist/tree/etc.

Its only self-hunting if she b*ggered off into the distance on the soar and then went in on the quarry, as previously mentioned when she goes on the soar it is your job to flush the quarry for her, if you do this successfully she associates sticking with you with the provision of quarry and has no need to b*gger off! :lol:

[Adam Barrett]

sounds like she is doing bloody great to me 8) :lol:

[OutFlying]

is she quiet ?

[Newbie FHH]

is she quiet ?

Is she heck!! Very vocal - especially when hungry, coming to the fist and not happy about something - typical female!!! She's quiet when she's flying though.

[OutFlying]

is she quiet ?

Is she heck!! Very vocal - especially when hungry, coming to the fist and not happy about something - typical female!!! She's quiet when she's flying though.

What about at home ?

[Newbie FHH]

At home she is quiet most of the time except when she is getting hungry or (it seems) when she wants some company. If she knows someone is about she seems to shout. For example, when we get in from work, you wont here her until she hears you and then she'll "shout".

[Mary Quite Contrary]

However, he mentioned that she dropped like a stone into the bracken - would this be classed as self hunting and should it be discouraged?? If so, how?


If she was still "in contact" with Simon this is not self-hunting, merely going in on quarry from the soar rather than from the fist/tree/etc.

Its only self-hunting if she b*ggered off into the distance on the soar and then went in on the quarry, as previously mentioned when she goes on the soar it is your job to flush the quarry for her, if you do this successfully she associates sticking with you with the provision of quarry and has no need to b*gger off! :lol:



Good advice for you newbie.

Let the bird gain confidence with this type of flying and you wont look back.

[Wightwings]

At home she is quiet most of the time except when she is getting hungry or (it seems) when she wants some company. If she knows someone is about she seems to shout. For example, when we get in from work, you wont here her until she hears you and then she'll "shout".

sounds like she has partially imprinted on you.....i did this last season with a FMM whilst trying a diff approuch..:oops: ....over manned her really.

[Adam Barrett]

Is she heck!! Very vocal - especially when hungry, coming to the fist and not happy about something - typical female!!! She's quiet when she's flying though.

Do you think this could be related sum how to how she has been raised ?

when did she start screaming?

thanks
Adam

[Simon]

when did she start screaming?


She doesn't scream she is just a little vocal at times. when she sees some one she calls not screams, she is looking the other way when she calls not looking straight at you and screams.

When she is not 100% happy she makes a little noise its not screaming, When she is flying she is quiet its when you call her to the fist within 10 feet of the fist she gets a little vocal but not a scream just a call.

My mate that has been helping me out says its just because she is young ? she will grow out of it

Simon