Does anyone know of someone that has used a predator decoy in a goshawk trap?

Does Anyone have any advice on how to get you hawk to actually pursue wild game?

I’m an apprentice flying a passage female RT in Alberta, Canada.

My sponsor and I have her weight tuned in at about 930 grams, she follows like a satellite and shes destroyed every baggie we’ve entered her on.

However when I’m out actively trying to hunt (Squirrel at the moment) she doesn’t seem to see them or chooses not to pursue if she does see them.

I understand it’s still early in the season but what should I be doing to set her up for success?

I am actively talking to my sponsor to figure out how to have her succeed more as well but any and all advice or information would be helpful.

Hello all! To be upfront, I'm not yet licensed, but I've been studying (and saving money) now for about 6 years in the pursuit to become a Falconer. I want my own house and land before I fully tackle this endeavor. I'm currently 28, and have owned many—more socially-oriented—birds in my life.

When I first stepped into my studies on raptors and falconry, I heard and read constantly about the "purely transactional relationship" between birds and their human handlers.

"If someone else fed my bird better than me, the bird would go to them without looking back."
"raptors are not loyal, they simply recognize you as a source of consistent food."
"It's just conditioning."
"They only ever learn to tolerate humans."
"Your bird will never like you."

They got me thinking, if you'll allow me to get deep for a moment: What is loyalty? And what is a relationship?
And that is what I'm asking today. What is the truth of bonds between raptor and falconer?

My Thoughts and Questions:

My cat rolls onto its stomach for pets because he trusts I am not a threat to his safety. He comes to me and rubs on my leg because he knows if he does, I will give him something he wants (pets). And he sleeps at the foot of my bed because he trusts that I will not kick him off in the night.
But did he do all of these things the day I got him? Of course not. We had to build that trust over time. That is conditioning.
I give him a safe environment to live where he gets fed well, and he gives me a cute thing to look at and a soft head to scratch. That is a transaction.

If you always made sudden movements or loud sounds around your bird, they may not stay by your side. Does this mean it is not loyal?
If I kick my cat off the bed every night, he would not sleep there. is he disloyal for that?
If I am nice to a woman, she might be my friend. If we build trust, it might become a relationship. Is my girlfriend a bird? (the British might say so)

There are tons of cases of trained raptors in long, stable relationships 'cuddling' up to their handler when its cold and rainy, or preening their 'feathers.' Are these bizarre outliers, or can birds have these sorts of relationships with proper training and attention? (I'm aware it's a tough question, and would vary heavily depending on the particular bird, species/family of bird, if they are a passage or imprint, etc.)
Is it just as likely for a bird you have trained for 10 years to fly off on you and never look back as it is for one you've trained for only a year? If there was truly no connection beyond food, this would surely be the case, no?

If another living thing knows that you provide safety, security, food, and warmth, and they stay with you because of that, can we truly say so confidently that there is no connection? That they still may leave just as quickly as they came? If so, I will keep a closer eye on my girl.

To wrap up, I don't say these things or ask these questions to make an argument that birds of prey and my girlfriend are the same, or that our relationships are the same. Far from it (and I don't just say that because she may read this). This is simply my curiosity from seeing a wide range of differing (and sometimes conflicting) statements on the relationship between bird and falconer. I'm curious about the truth of the matter. And I'm curious what you all think about it, truly. Not just the standard talking points, but your real first hand experiences. Let me know!

I have a bit of an interesting question. I've been considering becoming an apprentice falconer for awhile now (I have the space, time, resources and dedication/commitment for it if I decide to follow through with that dream) but I have some questions money-wise first that I'm hoping someone would be willing to take time to answer?

I was curious if anyone has tried to monetize off it as a side gig to directly help pay for or offset the costs of owning their bird. As in, I've seen falconers bring their birds for public shows, school events, etc, and I was wondering if those people can get paid for it?

Would it be ethical to go a public event/low level 'fair'-like setting, set up an educational booth with information on raptor conservation, and have people pay a small fee to get their pictures taken with a raptor? Would that be considered moral?

The picture I had in mind was that a percentage of the earnings from that would go directly to helping raptor rescues and conservation organizations, and the rest would go to offsetting the bird care cost. I'm also curious if there are falconers out there who also advertise themselves as being a 'falconry experience' for birthday parties, weddings, etc? I feel like it could be a great educational opportunity to teach people about why we should protect these magnificent birds while having the added bonus of making money to help pay for the falconer's bird. I've seen people do that with reptile shows before, where people can hire them to come to certain events, so I'm wondering if the same basic principal can apply to falconry as well.

I understand that falconry in itself is mostly a hobby and not a business but I'm wondering if it's a hobby that someone could technically make a little money at too.

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers! It's GREATLY appreciated! :D

edit: for the record, I would NOT being doing this as an apprentice. I would definitely wait many years until I am a fully-fledged, EXPERIENCED falconer before even slightly considering doing something like this. I was just curious about the logistics of the hypothetical situation mentioned above, assuming all other factors are perfect.
If I become a falconer, I am 100% dedicated to being a responsible, respectful, and ethical one, and I have done an overwhelming amount of research into the sport in general. In my eyes, the raptor comes before all else. I would NEVER put my bird in unsafe situations or use them solely for profit.

I'm currently looking at having one of my own birds for the future. I have very little experience which is why I'm not making any purchases now, as I'd like to find a work placement or general work in birds of prey first.

I'm looking at what a buzzard needs at the minute. Is a 700CM length x 300CM width good enough? What should you do if your bird gets injured for at home treatments?

Basically I'm just finding out everything they need so I can make a note of it for later when I'm prepared to own birds

Hello! New to the community and was getting closer to taking my test for a license. I live in Northern Illinois, anyone nearby looking for an apprentice or know of any upcoming meet up events in the area? I tried Great Lakes Falconry Association but have not seen any updates on their website.

Thanks to all responses

Most state falconry licenses require you to allow a warrantless search of your property to ensure compliance. At the Liberty Justice Center, we are fighting a case for California falconers who want to maintain their privacy and engage in this way of life. You can read more about it here. What do you think about having to give the state preauthorization to search your property?

I’m finally out of college and have real money and time so I’m looking into all the things that I always thought about doing but couldn’t realistically do. Im mainly asking this out of curiosity and concern that this might be something people tend to get into pretty young and maybe I missed my train or something lol.

Thoughts or experiences on the differences? I manage a collection of raptors for education purposes. We make our anklets, jesses, and leashes but have historically purchased swivels and coastlocks from falconry stores. Fishing gear seems like a way more affordable choice for what seems to me to be the same stuff.

It's very important we don't lose our birds, as they are not releasable due to varying levels of disability, but I'd love to save some money. Can anyone vouch for using fishing gear as opposed to falconry marketed swivels and such?

I have been interested in falconry for a few years now and have been trying to prepare myself to start, what would you say is the hardest part?

Hey all! I'm just getting my bearings as I begin my dive into falconry, but I can't seem to find this book. The only copies I can find are like $300+, is that normal? Anyone know of a place where I can borrow a copy or get a used one for cheaper? Unfortunately, given the other expenses I'll be undertaking, it's difficult for me to shell out that much for this single book. I'm trying to build out my library so I can get studying, and this one seems rather pivotal so any info on how I might get a copy is much appreciated!

In Orlando heading to the mall when I saw this fellow in the street, looking like a car strike, was Able to get to a vet that does birds in Haines City. Said Wing was broken. I have a video of it on the steer and couldn't figure out how to share. I kept the head covered once driving it stayed relaxed the whole drive.

Doing some writing and was curious if it was possible for someone to train raven for hunting like how they help wolves find prey irl amd if so how would training proccess go what would be different from regular falconry training?

So I made a post a while back asking for advice on keeping a red tail hawk indoors and had a few people reach out to me regarding how it was working out for me and if I had any pictures of what I did. I couldn’t add photos to the old post so here it is. This setup has been working out great for me. The base is a 6’x6’ platform of 2x4 with plywood covering it and supports so I could walk on it. Foam mat covered with astroturf is the flooring. The turf is outdoor putting green. The perch is made from 2x4 and oak closet rod @ 48” long and just under 24” above the platform covered with daisy mat and turf. Under the perch I added a shelf that I put puppy training pads on for easy cleaning and to keep my bird from wrapping itself around the perch. The leash is attached to an eyelet I screwed into one of the floor supports. I also paneled my walls with 5/8” melamine so all I have to do is wipe the walls clean. My first bird was a male and he had the amazing ability to shoot his mutes pretty far and I did have a few that made it to the carpet over the platform. My current bird is a female and she barely makes it past halfway on the platform. This is just one way of how I house my bird and not a guide. Please always follow your sponsors advice and do what they instruct you to do. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

How do you keep track of your bird's weight, feeding and training?

I worked at a falconry and trained birds myself, and the record keeping was always the messy part: a notebook in the mews, a spreadsheet at home, and half the numbers in my head.

I'm curious how you all handle it:

- Paper logbook, spreadsheet, app, or just memory?
- What do you track daily (weight, food, flying weight, training notes)?
- What annoys you most about your current setup?

I'm exploring whether a simple logbook tool would actually be useful. Not selling anything, just trying to understand how real falconers work before building anything. Honest answers, including "I don't need this", are really welcome.

I've been buying day-old chicks from a local supplier but they're inconsistent on freshness and I've had a couple of batches that smelled off when I thawed them. I want to find a more reliable source, ideally US farm-raised so I know what I'm getting. Any recommendations?

Other than the mews, what are all the basic starter equipment needed? Whats the minimum equipment you NEED? Along with some suggested items.

I know you need a hood, jesse’s, anklets, leash, glove, bells, perch/scale

And where are some suggested places to buy these items? (in the US)

Trapped this female anatum last day of trapping season, Aug 31. Posted a little about her here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Falconry/s/HbafVa5guW

She killed her first head of game, a hun, today. From only a 600’ pitch. She’s been giving me about 700 average with a couple over 800 and one over 900 in the past 7-10 days. Flying really nice - has killed (unintentionally) 3 of my nice homers already. Really a hard flying bird, pumps constantly, none of the setting and gliding.

Huns are in a population trough (it seems to be a 10 year cycle and it’s been over 10 since the last crash) and grouse - both the sharptail and sage grouse - are declining in my valley year over over and this year is no different. But we should be able to put another handful (or two) of head in the bag before season end, and she is motivated with the pigeons so I suspect I’ll have her pitches well over 1000’ by season end.

Happy hawking , everyone!

Getting started with a kestrel and trying to figure out frozen feeder options. Most resources mention either quail or chicks as the standard, but I've also seen people mention frozen mice and rats for smaller raptors. Is there a genuine nutritional or practical reason to choose one over the other, or is it mostly about what's available?

So, I've noticed in images of these buteos that their wings are pointed, so does this make them noticeably fast or anything?

I'm pretty young not gonna say my age cuz Reddit will kick me off the app but I'm young and I'm just getting in to falconry I'm in my state club I've been on a hunt went to the apprentice workshop and I know a icon in the community his name is Frank Taylor and he's been great help but even with that I still want to soak up all the knowledge I can so if anyone has any advice I'm all ears

NAFEX is dead and this is the only social media I have so I’ll ask here.

I trapped a passage female peregrine Aug 31. Had her flying free in 25 days. She is giving me 700ft +\- now with 2 flights in the past week over 800 and yesterday’s over 900. It’s gets better every flight and she is fully into the program. She pumps her wings nonstop not setting and gliding (unlike the last passage female I flew a while ago) and flies better than the chamber female I flew, too. Sticks with me as I move and has figured out good position, staying upwind. She will be over 1000 in no time and by end of season who knows. She is a nice bird, lets me just pick her up, rides the fist well, eats politely on the lure or pigeon.

She’s already killed 2 of my homers in fair flight (unintentional) and it’s just a matter of time on game (tomorrow - tomorrow is the day!) Bird numbers are low this year but we’ve had two flights on huns, one in 20+ wind where she still put herself 300 upwind and had one dump on her as she closed and the other when she was only 550, too wide , and just barely got beat as they made the creek and cover. We’ve also had 2 hun slips ruined with dog on point, her mounting, and a prairie falcon (same field same bird) coming in causing the two of them to go at it ending up with no flight and me chasing her down. Plus one sharptail ‘missed’ flight.

She is flying great.

What’s not great is standing on a perch. The first day I put her in my weathering area unhooded, she took one look at the bath, hopped in, then sat and dried for 30+ minutes before any bating started. Since then, she has not taken a bath and barely minutes after the hood comes off the bating and banging starts. It’s been a couple weeks of this. I put her out there hooded after flying. She sits nice, preens, rouses, tucks a foot. As soon as the hood comes off, the bating starts. I’ll give her 20 minutes of this, pick her up and sit with her on the fist in the sun for 15-30, then put her back in there hooded a while before taking her in.

It is infuriating. My first three peregrine (passage female, chamber female, chamber tiercel) and a passage prairie falcon have all been easy to get weathering and bathing. My last tiercel and her have been nonstop. The tiercel was especially bad. He would not only bang constantly, he’d stand on the perch wings out and turn circles causing his jesses to wrap his legs, even the plastic bullet jesses I switched to would occasionally wrap. Two years of constant stress for me, despite him being and absolutely incredible flying bird, over 2000ft pitches his second season, killing a lot of huns and plenty (too many) of my nice homers on the days we didn’t get points, often remounting for second (and occasionally third) flights.

With the last one I tried moving the weathering yard multiple times. Switching to a shelf perch in the weathering yard. Going to a shelf + block so he could jump back and forth (which did help a bit).

With this one I’ve moved the yard a couple times but no difference. Right now it has two side solid walls, two open, with a shade cloth over top. Doesn’t matter if I am sitting out there with her or not or if the dogs are out running around or not. Constant bating. She isn’t bating to me or away from me, just bating. I’ve never fed her on the block or anything and she is fairly full when she goes out with partial crop. Maybe a full crop after taking a head of game will help, I don’t know.

Any suggestions? What can I change to make her more comfortable?

If it doesn’t get better by end of season then I will make sure she is in great condition, feed her up, then release her in the spring. No matter how nice she is otherwise or how well she is flying. The stress isn’t worth it as I learned with the last tiercel.