Falconry.........What's Your Angle?

[Minty]

Do you Hunt?
Do you Display?
Do you Just walk down the street thinking you are Robin Hood?

Are you happy with just a good day out with bird following on?
Are you Happy with some good slips but not bothered about Kills?
Are you not happy unless you get a Kill, nothing else matters?
So what is your own personal Angle?

Mine...............

I used to fish a lot with my mate. Its a lovely warm day , No work and relaxing in the sunshine.
He would sit there as if he where on a sunny beach in The bahamas with rods out on his buzzers, me 30 minutes gone change of tackle bins out scout the lake for bubbles bring in rod change tackle cast at the bubbles......30 inutes gone up with ant in my pants reel in put a float on and watch it like a Hawk sitting bolt upright and eyes fixed on that float..........30 minutes reel in try different bait................You get my Drift.
My mate same end tackle casts out every hour sits has a coffee and dozes off again.
His attitude is if we catch we catch! if not its a beautiful day, me '********' i am here to hunt fish and i will do and try everything barring chucking a grenade in the water.
My mate gets a run but looses the fish after a 20 minute fight ....Oh well ****** it gets the coffee out and has a fag.
Me.....I get a run loose the fish swear at the fish and sit down like a baby that has chucked his toys out of the Pram.
At the end of the day no fish.......My mate it was a good fight was it not................Me.......F**K i blanked what a waste.

But......I do not believe him!
The old saying 'Well i am not bothered if i catch i just enjoy being there', any fisherman here heard that, i bet you have.
Now if its from a 3 times a year just a old stick of wood for a rod and a 100 pound rusty reel then i could believe the expression from that individual but somebody who has £5000 of equipment fishes once a week buys all the latest gear ..'My Arse' you are not bothered.

But like i said there are a few which i can believe that that expression may be true and good luck to them.
At the end of the day my mate walks away kidding himself that he is not bothered, me i am '****ed off' tired and stressed as i tried everything to get that fish.
Are you like my Mate, like the guy with the Rusty stick or like me?

So i just wondered what views on this are but in a Falconry sense?

Its a difficult poll to vote on but search your soul and be honest and comment on maybe.

[DeathFromAbove]

personally if my FHH has a good chase but no kill at the end of the day i'm happy..... i do take her to ground just to excercise her tho where she just follows on and chases lures, all fitness building... if i'm hunting i'll try my best but sometimes things just go tits up... as long as you've enjoyed the day and she gets her reward and is happy all is good..... it's not all about the kill for me, seeing the flights is what i love...altho a kill at the end is always appreciated by both parties.

[Minty]

I go for option 5. (you probably guessed from fishing yarn)

but with reservations.

For an hour i would be ****ed off not at me or the bird but just the day, but after that 1 hour its in the past.
It is my natural function is to Hunt, Peoples way of Hunting in many ways now is to work which provides food for the table but the Hunting of animals is in all of us especially men.
Ever seen the film 'The Fight club' many women i know apart from watching 'Brad pitt' just did not understand it but i did and many more did.I am not saying all you women did not but many didn't because its not in there nature to hunt or Fight.
So, the Bird is a Hunter and so am i, it hunts to kill and so do i , offcoarse i love the spectacular flights but i hate it if she/he misses the kill.
And all the kills will be Eaten by me or bird or someone elses bird unless contaminated and guess who that 99% was caused by like Mixy......Yes Us the Chicken breast packed food eaters who are anti's.

Just my opinion.:)

[RedNoseK9]

The reason i partake in our beautifull sport is because of my passion and facination of the magnificent creatures we encounter and the most beautifull part of our sport is to release our bird free and have it return however the best bit of our sport for me is the chase the flight and the kill is a great reward and at the same time a sad moment all falconers should show their quarry respect as it is the foundation of our sport something alot of simply HUNTERS do not do.
5 good chases 1 reward a kill thats my perfect day

[Minty]

The reason i partake in our beautifull sport is because of my passion and facination of the magnificent creatures we encounter and the most beautifull part of our sport is to release our bird free and have it return however the best bit of our sport for me is the chase the flight and the kill is a great reward and at the same time a sad moment all falconers should show their quarry respect as it is the foundation of our sport something alot of simply HUNTERS do not do.
5 good chases 1 reward a kill thats my perfect day

Agreed with the respect for quarry, it should be dispatched quickly and efficiantly whether shooting or any kind of hunting

[Sean]

i go out to catch a rabbit, if i dont, im annoyed, if the ferret does im annoyed. if the bird tries all its best, im pleased for the bird, but still liek to see him catch. also when it goes to fishing, im contantly on the move so it aint as boring as bubblefloatings, i intend to catch fish espeically when slamon fishign as it costs me hundreds a year :twisted:

[Tim Laycock]

None of the above!

If we go out and fail to make a kill I am furious because it is not good for the mental state of my imprint!
I can throw her a carcase but she is not stupid and knows its not the real deal.

If it happens a couple or three outings in a row you dont want to be around!

Neither do I as she can turn very nasty due to dissapointment.

[MattSpar]

I tend to turn homeward in a happy, peaceful frame of mind, satisfied that the hawk has had some exercise, no matter she has not killed. On arrival at home, I suddenly and inexplicably decide my wife is to blame.

[Blaze]

I tend to turn homeward in a happy, peaceful frame of mind, satisfied that the hawk has had some exercise, no matter she has not killed. On arrival at home, I suddenly and inexplicably decide my wife is to blame.This is the 1 for me..:supz:

[Minty]

And i am supposed to be the southern softy!:confused:

Fair comments , but the guys who are hunters stand up for yourselves and lets here you, you bloody murderers:evil: :lol:

[IAmTheWeasel]

Screw it....I'm ****ed off inside if I don't catch anything with my bird. I don't go home a hit the wall or anything, but I am quietly dissapointed that the game bag is empty. Especially if we have been at it for a long time. I'm not ****ed at the bird, but I'm ****ed for the bird as he tries so hard and then comes home empty footed. I suppose the bird could care less as he always gets rewarded even if he catches nothing.....

[Minty]

Screw it....I'm ****ed off inside if I don't catch anything with my bird. I don't go home a hit the wall or anything, but I am quietly dissapointed that the game bag is empty. Especially if we have been at it for a long time. I'm not ****ed at the bird, but I'm ****ed for the bird as he tries so hard and then comes home empty footed. I suppose the bird could care less as he always gets rewarded even if he catches nothing.....


Hello my friend! Can you feel the Force!

The Force of the Darkside:twisted: :wink:

[Minty]

Who has Bird and Nature?

Get a bloody Parrot:wink:

[HunterPaul]

i love it when she gets a kill and as the season progresses so does the bird...even the reward on some days takes second fiddle to the next thing she can lay her claws on.... I always show the quarry respect ...not by getting down with it or any such ***** ...but by simply giving it a thought as i stuff it into my quarry pouch...then its on with the next....yes i am hardened to killing and would have no qualms over putting a pillow over my mothers head if she was suffering...im sure shell be pleased to know that....
but i shoot too which has nothing to do with a stylish flight etc and if i come home empty handed from that im well ****ed ...so my disappointment cant be fully for the bird although i do feel that... but come on how many out there use the sport as stress releif i just picture my ex wife as the bunny and when i look again the neck is longer than a weekend in eastbourne... I enjoy killing stuff ...i confess ...but i would never waste nor kill something i had no use for ....eg i wouldnt go shooting sparrows for a laugh...in other words it aint mindless...i am completely aware of what im doing and can justify every kill....... come and get me...

[Blaze]

i love it when she gets a kill and as the season progresses so does the bird...even the reward on some days takes second fiddle to the next thing she can lay her claws on.... I always show the quarry respect ...not by getting down with it or any such ***** ...but by simply giving it a thought as i stuff it into my quarry pouch...then its on with the next....yes i am hardened to killing and would have no qualms over putting a pillow over my mothers head if she was suffering...im sure shell be pleased to know that....
but i shoot too which has nothing to do with a stylish flight etc and if i come home empty handed from that im well ****ed ...so my disappointment cant be fully for the bird although i do feel that... but come on how many out there use the sport as stress releif i just picture my ex wife as the bunny and when i look again the neck is longer than a weekend in eastbourne... I enjoy killing stuff ...i confess ...but i would never waste nor kill something i had no use for ....eg i wouldnt go shooting sparrows for a laugh...in other words it aint mindless...i am completely aware of what im doing and can justify every kill....... come and get me...I have to admit to that....I think i have a fetish for killing....But same again i dont like shooting...just my opinion...I used to go out foxing with a real passion for it...Not ashamed to admit it.....Not cruel its a 50 50 chance for the quary...But i do like to get in an sort it out hands on:twisted:

[HunterPaul]

all the nasties are coming out now...lol

[Shannor]

Who has Bird and Nature?

Get a bloody Parrot:wink:

rofl, I do... I haven't had enough opportunities to work with birds of prey, so for now, it's the only answer I could possibly choose. It might change once I've hunted with birds of prey for a while, though. I don't take to failure all that well.

[Isaac]

I think falconers go through phases (or at least this is how I went...)

1. Wow, this is so cool to have a BoP follow me along as I walk. Even if I don't see any game, it's cool just to be out here.

2. Today was AWESOME! My bird chased a (insert game here)! Didn't get it but it was so cool!

3. We're getting better and better, today we had 5 different chases, even pulled fur/feathers, she's so close. Falconry is awesome

4. Had our a KILL today! I don't think it could get any better.

5. Caught x-number of (insert game here) I love this sport.

6. Had x-number of chases and only caught one. Beautiful flight though.

7 Chased hard but couldn't get a foot on anything. I hate going home with an empty bag.

Just depends on what stage you're at. I would say the more often you go out, the quicker the progression. I don't think any falconer that would go out every day of the season would be satisfied with no catches everyday. On the other hand someone who only goes out on the weekends may be satisfied at the 3 or 4 level for years. Someone who pulls his bird out once a year would probably stay around 1. Any thoughts?

[Jester]

I think falconers go through phases (or at least this is how I went...)

1. Wow, this is so cool to have a BoP follow me along as I walk. Even if I don't see any game, it's cool just to be out here.

2. Today was AWESOME! My bird chased a (insert game here)! Didn't get it but it was so cool!

3. We're getting better and better, today we had 5 different chases, even pulled fur/feathers, she's so close. Falconry is awesome

4. Had our a KILL today! I don't think it could get any better.

5. Caught x-number of (insert game here) I love this sport.

6. Had x-number of chases and only caught one. Beautiful flight though.

7 Chased hard but couldn't get a foot on anything. I hate going home with an empty bag.

Just depends on what stage you're at. I would say the more often you go out, the quicker the progression. I don't think any falconer that would go out every day of the season would be satisfied with no catches everyday. On the other hand someone who only goes out on the weekends may be satisfied at the 3 or 4 level for years. Someone who pulls his bird out once a year would probably stay around 1. Any thoughts?


yeah thats about right :supz:

im at number 2 just now :lol:

[Claire]

I'm flying a kestrel so we dont exactly hunt, but in the past when i have been out with harris's I would be happy with a few good chases and would only be dissapointed if we didn't see and chase anything, but of course the smile on my face when we did get a kill kinda said it all :-)

[Minty]

I'm flying a kestrel so we dont exactly hunt, but in the past when i have been out with harris's I would be happy with a few good chases and would only be dissapointed if we didn't see and chase anything, but of course the smile on my face when we did get a kill kinda said it all :-)

Claire.......I hoped you picked the Last option but maybe the darkside has forced it out of you to admit that you have passed over.
We wecome you.:D

[Claire]

I really really miss hunting, maybe next year better start saving now lol, looks like a male harris will be next on the agenda, kes for the summer and harris for the winter.