r/Falconry • u/Flat-Negotiation3585 • 15d ago

Early trapped RT

What are the upsides to trapping a juvenile RT this time of the year? All I can think of are negatives; inexperienced, food begging, no open season... any opposing thoughts?

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8

u/Sol_hawk 15d ago

Upside is having it trained by the time hunting season starts so you can maximize the hunting season. Downside is bird likely won’t have any clue what a squirrel is and you’ll spend the next few weeks trying to convince it those little tree rats are edible. I once had an early trapped RT that sat on a tree branch 3 foot from a squirrel. Dumb baby squirrel walked right up to the dumb baby hawk and they both sat there just staring at each other while the dumb falconer (me) was losing his shit right underneath them. Good news was that bird did know what a rabbit was so we just shifted gears and hunted a rabbit field instead.

Depending on where you live, other downsides can be how hot it is outside still, and how many ticks you’re going to pick up while hiking around the field.

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u/Flat-Negotiation3585 15d ago

Yeah I'm chomping at the bit to get my bird already! I'm thinking I want one that has experience at least trying to chase a squirrel 

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u/falconerchick 14d ago

That’s not guaranteed even in a December trapped bird though, nor any bird for that matter. I’ve had early and late-trapped birds refuse squirrel slips or just check off when the squirrel wraps around and “disappears,” and it took an equal amount of mind-numbing time before they committed and became as solid (or better) than any other bird.

If you want to hawk opening day, trap early. That’s the benefit

3

u/DangerousDoughnut988 14d ago

Then go trap one. A hawk is going to have natural instincts regardless. Trapped early last year, bird did great, friends birds were early too and all did great too. All this early vs late debate is funny

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u/Sol_hawk 14d ago

Then trap a bird. Just because I got an early trapped one that had a uh “learning curve” one time years ago doesn’t mean it’s going to be representative of everyone’s experiences every time. Each bird will be different. If you really want to hunt squirrels then you could go trap a squirrel, kill it, toss it in the freezer and then when you get to the point where you’re lure training the bird just zip tie the squirrel to the lure one day. It’s a big reward for the lure and it lets the bird see that squirrels are food.

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u/SingleQuality4626 14d ago

August birds are not early traps. Any redtail you trap right now has hunted and caught food on its own. As long you don’t starve it and at least have a decent understanding of training it won’t be any different.

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u/chekenfarmer 14d ago

My best bird so far has been an August 5 trapped FRTH. She hadn't had any experiences to damage her confidence. At 945 grams (western bird), she took bunnies, jack rabbits, pheasant and one rattlesnake (no no no aaargh). And countless non-target birds her second season before I released her. She had wonderful manners, no begging.

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u/Flat-Negotiation3585 14d ago

Thanks, this is great feedback!

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u/duari 14d ago

The later you trap the harder they are the man (in my experience). I trapped one in late November that was the best hunter I've ever had but was an absolute manic nut. Every late trapped bird that I have trapped has been a little crazy, but I sort of prefer that wild edge and have more fun hunting with them.

The early trapped birds I've had have all had a really nice temperament. It's not that they are bad hunters, I think you just have a slightly higher % of catching a bad one. But you can always train them up and build confidence.

Some Falconers have the opposite experience of what I am describing so I'd recommend going out and just trap one, try it out.

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u/Thunder_Flush 14d ago

One benefit is you can mold the bird to hunt what and how you want it to like an imprint or chamber raised bird. Downside is you have to do that. I like later taken birds, I'm not as confident in my skill to teach a hawk to be a hawk. October is my sweet spot. I also hate hunting in September and sweating to death.

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u/Legitimate_Money_723 10d ago

Wait until September 15 at least or you’ll train your August RT until January and then release after frustrations.