when to buy a Harris Hawk

[Marady]

Im interested in buying a female Harris hawk.Is there a certain time of year to buy.Ive read in a book that the back end of the summer is best,I spoke to the owner of a Falconry centre he said i would be able to get one the end of Feb when I return from working away train the bird during the summer and hunt in the winter.Thanks for your help,cheers.

[Flying High]

i always pick my Harris hawks up at about three months old so if i remember right that is about June July time. if i am wrong someone on here will tell you

[Barbary Boy]

you can get one whenever you want, theres allways plenty about. but getting one in febuary would mean that youd just get it going before its moult! flying through the summer is usually something only done by centers to cater for thier punters, i would wait and get a fresh youngster in late june/july sort of time, funnily enough i should have some available about then!

[Shaun Byrne]

you can get one whenever you want, theres allways plenty about. but getting one in febuary would mean that youd just get it going before its moult! flying through the summer is usually something only done by centers to cater for thier punters, i would wait and get a fresh youngster in late june/july sort of time, funnily enough i should have some available about then!

You going to sell him one off the back of his first post BB?:roll:

[Blaze]

Barbary boy!.........Mi old mucker.....What birds do you hunt through the season?.........Its just that it sounds like you have a varied collection?

[Barbary Boy]

i like to help out the newbies and there only £750 to him, i cant be much fairer than that now can i? but ill want to meet him on the motorway,at night, on the opposite carriageway.

[Barbary Boy]

Blaze old chap how the dickens are you old bean? this year i flew a male barbary that martin jones bred, swopped it for one of mine. im now flying a female h/hawk that i bred myself. she should have gone free days ago but weather shifts etc!!!! if not tommorrow the next day for sure, weather permitting! what you flying old chap?

[Blaze]

Blaze old chap how the dickens are you old bean? this year i flew a male barbary that martin jones bred, swopped it for one of mine. im now flying a female h/hawk that i bred myself. she should have gone free days ago but weather shifts etc!!!! if not tommorrow the next day for sure, weather permitting! what you flying old chap?
Female harris.....This years bird.........Doing really well im chuffed 6 rabs in about 10 outings!........Never had a falcon.........Dont know that much about them really?..........Mi old swamp dog!

[Shaun Byrne]

i like to help out the newbies and there only £750 to him, i cant be much fairer than that now can i? but ill want to meet him on the motorway,at night, on the opposite carriageway.

I'm doing 2006 birds at £700 (males) Pure Scrawneyrons :D

[Shaun Byrne]

I'm doing 2006 birds at £700 (males) Pure Scrawneyrons :D

AND I'll send them by Parcelnet!!:supz:

[Barbary Boy]

falcons are like harris hawks m8 but different ,, sort of ,,like,, but similar if you know what i mean,, well they eat meat and stuff, i hope that was of help?

[Blaze]

falcons are like harris hawks m8 but different ,, sort of ,,like,, but similar if you know what i mean,, well they eat meat and stuff, i hope that was of help?
Meat?.........I thought parakeets ate seeds n fruit.................Pls enlighten me more bb........I seem to be a bit baffled

[Ellis]

ok .....

I know this is a prob a daft question but i have looked far a answer to Maradys original question.

What is the ideal month to aquire a hawk ? To the uneducatede like myself. Early spring would give you ample "easy" quarry for entering e.g. young rabbits fledgling birds etc. Ok i know the cover is high and the trees are fully leaved etc.

Silly question 2 .... could a young hawk be flown throught the summer and winter and given time to molt the following spring ?

[Barbary Boy]

HAWKA you may be undercutting me by £50 but mine are the pure superduperious sub species only found in northumberland,,, so there.

[Barbary Boy]

ok .....

I know this is a prob a daft question but i have looked far a answer to Maradys original question.

What is the ideal month to aquire a hawk ? To the uneducatede like myself. Early spring would give you ample "easy" quarry for entering e.g. young rabbits fledgling birds etc. Ok i know the cover is high and the trees are fully leaved etc.

Silly question 2 .... could a young hawk be flown throught the summer and winter and given time to molt the following spring ?
you cant get a young hawk in the early spring!! they havent been born yet!!!!

[Ellis]

ok.... so what is the window of oppertunity of aquiring a young hawk. And within this window, in the opinion of experienced falconers, what would be the optimum month.

[As The Falcon Her Bells]

hmmm I dont think you have the luxury of choosing the best time to get one, but get one when the one that suits you best is availible.
Did that make any sense at all???? I know what I meant but I dont know if anyone else did??

[Barbary Boy]

ELLIS go for july the 17th at 3.30 in the afternoon .not 3.31 and certainly not 3.29, its that critical!!

[Minty]

ELLIS go for july the 17th at 3.30 in the afternoon .not 3.31 and certainly not 3.29, its that critical!!

I agree although i have not got one yet its in all the books 3.31 is not good as the kids come out and it may go and enter itself on one. 3.29 would also not be good as this is the first appearance of the 'Lolly pop' Lady (****.That sounds Horny) and the brightness of the uniform (oooooorrrrrr!) would dazzle the bird and could make it to hit an incoming car or Parent.
So 3.30 is your window as the lolly pop lady has arrived but is having a fag with the caretaker at the back of the bike sheds.
So there is your window 3.30.......Thats when i am picking my bird up..........Safe!

[JFSeaman]

Im interested in buying a female Harris hawk.Is there a certain time of year to buy.Ive read in a book that the back end of the summer is best,I spoke to the owner of a Falconry centre he said i would be able to get one the end of Feb when I return from working away train the bird during the summer and hunt in the winter.Thanks for your help,cheers.
Only Barbary Boy seems to have given you a strait answer. Here's mine and time to ask the questions.

I have limited experience but.....

Understand this is a lifelong journey. The bird you get will live for at least 10 years and maybe as long as 20 (those with more Parabuteo experience chime in please). Look at the North Americna Falconry Assocation web site http://www.n-a-f-a.org/htm/aboutfal_main.htm. If you can't make the kind if commitment described, buzz off.

Don't get your bird in February, wait until late July, August, September.

While working away, read, read, read. Get more books on falconry than you can carry.

When you get back, join a club. go on hunts and helpout. Go to the Falconry Fair in May (are you in UK?). Get a recommendation for a course or use the club apprenticeship scheme.

During the summer, read, read, read. Take a falconry course. Get your housing and equipment sorted.

Get a recommendation for a breeder from the club members or other people you will meet.

If you made it this far reading my drivvel and are not discouraged, you may make it. If you show commitment you will get more help than you know what to do with.

[Shaun Byrne]

THE worst thing that you can do with a new HH is have it sat idle being fed from the fist every day and not entered. Bearing this in mind there are a few simple considerations as the the best time to take up a bird.

1. How much cover is around.
2. How much young game is there.
3. Is the majority of your quarry covered by game seasons.
4. Is your ground covered in crops.

I'm sure there are plenty more but these are the questions that spring to mind. If you look at the questions above you will see that most apply to late Spring and all through most of the summer. This time of year is not really suited to getting a new bird entered and hunting consistently, it would be far better to wait until late Summer to take up a bird and by the time you have it flying free the cover will have died back a little, young game will have grown on a bit, your bird will hopefully be entered and fit by the time game seasons start and most crops will have been harvested.

Only you can decide when exactly you are ready for a bird as everyones circumstances and hunting ground is different.

Well thats the theory anyway:rolleyes:

HTH

[HunterPaul]

pick a decent breeder in the spring summer etc...and do shop around....ask loads of questions...your not buying a pair of trousers ..take an experienced falconer with you....and when your happy order a bird ...this will hopefully be ready to pick up late summer..when the dopey rabbits are about and a bit of mixi so you can get it entered...then its experience grows along with the game youre hunting and the bird gets fitter with the game and so the fun gets more...if you are a beginer and you get a bird late in the season...you will struggle...they take a lot of time and effort so make sure you can make that kind of commitment to it...and on days like today when its ****ing down and windy and cold ..where was I at 8 am ...on a field hunting bunnies to get her confidence up and keep her at it.... I had a ball...so unless you enjoy the rain and wind and cold dont entertain a bird...go out with other falconers and enjoy the sport when it suites you....the only difference will be a bird on the fist...youll still be spectating...its not a status symbol....if you do get a bird do it right and you will get all the help you need....

[Graham Stuart]

well said paul and i bet u said all that without taking a breath lol;)

[Marady]

I didnt know when was the best time to get a bird thats why I posted the question.I had been given obviously wrong information from the director at a falconry center.Thanks to the sensible answers and its obvious that all the smart arsed answers are from the people who know everything about everything so maybe they could come to Torino help me power up the media village at the winter olympics.

[Barbary Boy]

no probs MARADY will you pay for my flights and beer?

[Shaun Byrne]

I didnt know when was the best time to get a bird thats why I posted the question.I had been given obviously wrong information from the director at a falconry center.Thanks to the sensible answers and its obvious that all the smart arsed answers are from the people who know everything about everything so maybe they could come to Torino help me power up the media village at the winter olympics.

I'll come Marady, now power I CAN do!!:supz: