pointer
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Everything posted by pointer
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My Hawk was overweight from yesterday's pheasant and was reluctant to jump onto the glove when I opened the aviary door. I wasn't expecting much from her and my mate let his hawk off first. It soon caught a rabbit so I let mine fly free. She flew after a rabbit which went around the bend of a steep bank and out of sight. I couldn't see her for a minute but found her wedged in a rabbit hole. Unfortunately I couldn't help her quick enough and it escaped, she got to catch another one a short while later. The other hawk then caught a rabbit on a very steep rock face and it took ten minutes for my
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With rain due and a dark sky it didn't look good as I left work. I thought I'd just go for a walk near home but my mate was keen to travel to the dales. As we drove up there the rain started but it was a clear sky where we were headed so we kept going. With only forty minutes to go before darkness we decided to split up going around the edge of the valley in opposite directions and meeting at the grass fields to walk back to the car together. Mine had soon missed a rabbit in the rushes then after soaring for a couple of minutes landed in some cover but after a few seconds the pheasant flew o
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Cheers lads
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We had been out ten minutes yesterday when the rain started so we made our way back. As we got to the car it became heavier so we had a lucky escape. After work today we went to scout out a wood we have been invited to hunt in. We didn't take the Hawks as I don't know the place and it was raining. We saw squirrels running about and there must be rabbits etc so once the leaves come down we might get something done. When we got home the rain had stopped so I got my hawk out for half an hour but she didn't see anything except for a rat in a hedge. She was unresponsive and just soared about ignori
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No matter what weight etc mine is on if a strange dog is there she just goes through the motions and doesn't catch anything. I'm sure it will come right soon enough.
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It was raining when I got home but the horizon looked clear so we quickly got the Hawks boxed up. With only forty minutes until darkness the idea was to give each hawk twenty minutes. Mine went first crashing into cover a couple of times before diving into the reeds surrounding a pond getting a get soaking. That was mine done so we walked over towards a quarry, my mate let his hawk fly over the edge and it instantly spotted a rabbit which was caught before it could have known what was happening. We arrived back at the car in darkness. We were lucky to get anything done today.
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We had a look out with the dogs and went lamping the other night. I've come to the conclusion that whilst I couldn't find the time to run a lurcher the hawk can't go out all the time which leaves me with a dilemma. The only solution I can find is to go out with mates and their dogs when the hawk can't go out and rat shooting is an option if things get really desperate.
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It was raining today after work so I couldn't fly her. High jumped instead and spent ten minutes with her near the pony as she's a bit unsure about it. Got the pup jabbed so it won't be long before it can go for a walk about.
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Mine can have a struggle with a big rabbit never mind a hare lol. She got a rough time of it with one last week that weighed 4.3 lb.
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I don't run into many hares but for the free flying hawk I guess it would be up to her if she pursues it. The wind and rain has arrived so maybe the summer weather is over. I can't see us getting out again until Friday if the forecasters are correct. Really frustrating as in another week or so I won't be able to get out before dark anyway on a work day.
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The wind has been blowing but the forecast said it was worse up the dales than what it was where I live so we stayed local. Although she seems fine from the other day I didn't want to risk a rat bite so went to an area she was unlikely to find one. She flew around in the trees and it was hard to keep an eye on her but I found her stabbing her foot in the hollow of a tree. The squirrel was on the other side of the tree but she hadn't realised it had moved and as it ran up the tree she was left jumping about and footing the hole whilst chirping on. She then missed a rabbit and we had a half hour
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Nice one mate.
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On Friday I had my hawk out in a wooded area and she was following on nicely, or rather keeping ahead. She looked keen and I'm fairly confident that after some experimenting I've found her ideal hunting weight which is slightly up on last season. My mates hawk has been out with us a while now and they have been getting along great. If anything mine seems to hang back from other Hawks and definately seems to ease off at the last seconds to let the other hawk make the catch and a few days ago she caught a rabbit and when we let them feed from it together mine stepped off and waited her turn. I t
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Your out flying mate that's all that matters.
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We saw our first mixy rabbit this week as we drove down the farm road. It always hits about this time of year but it's still depressing to see. It could be worse the RHD disease wiped them out for a few years, the population is only starting to recover but is still nowhere near what it was.
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The joys of hunting. It's typical that after all this unusually nice weather until now it's getting windy when your able to do something. I feel for you wind ruined last season for me. Hopefully it blows itself out soon.
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We saw a mixi rabbit near where we go hunting the other night, it's a bad sign but the rabbits today weren't affected. Three rabbits were caught and a couple missed. We let both Hawks have their fill from the final kill as we are due a few days of strong winds and rain so we won't get out for a day or two. These bunnies don't give in easily and weighing much more than the hawk why would they.
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We stayed local today. It started well with my hawk soaring around above us before gliding away over the field and landing on the hedge. I went jogging over to try and get her back over to where I wanted to go but it was hopeless. She was trying to get at a rat in the hedge which was looking at her a bit worried, I got it moving and into its set. I moved my glove for her to jump on to but she flew further down the hedge and this went on around three edges of the field until she tried for a rat that was running back a bit further out. The rat got into the hedge but the hawk caught it. She didn'
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Good luck with it mate.
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My mates hawk was real keen today and soon had a rabbit in the bag, we were ferreting the bottom of a steep bank and whilst we bolted a few rabbits they used the rushes and numerous sets to escape. Not having much time before dark we then bolted a couple of rabbits for my hawk but she just couldn't catch them. The sport was good but I wanted my hawk to catch something after some good long flights over the last two days. With the light starting to fade I tried one more set and this time the rabbit that bolted was caught. The relief was huge, I felt my hawk needed a rabbit.
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We went ferreting yesterday with my mates hawk, a few rabbits were bolted but the hawk missed them. It was clear she wasn't trying as hard as she could. My Hawks weight had crept up over the last few days and when I gave her a go she literally ignored rabbits and only attempted a couple of half hearted flights. There was no point carrying on with Hawks that aren't right so we came home. A few hours later I took mine out again where she lazily and reluctantly followed on. She did catch a small rat that ran out from a hedge she was stood on but I think that was only because it was just so easy.
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No bother mate.
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Just spoke to the keeper and he said it won't be a problem to sort out. I haven't got specific dates but once we feel our Hawks are ready for the trip we can sort something out.
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It was mainly the fact I felt it was more important to sell me a hawk rather than me proving that I had the time, money, land, experience etc, etc. I tend to rub people up the wrong way, once someone tells me they have a load of dogs, birds or whatever I can't help but get into an awkward discussion about how they fit it all in. I know you can order any bird of prey from BFC members up here, for all they know your going to put it on a 6 x 4 shed.
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I'm not going to put a name on here, I joined the BFC thinking that was the best way to learn about hunting with Hawks. I wanted to go out and see birds so when a field meet was due I rang up asking if I could spectate. I couldn't because you have to go to two of the meetings in a pub first which isn't really my cup of tea at all and as they are bi-monthly wouldn't have helped me much that season. To cut the story short the lad I had a few phone calls with seemed a nice bloke that would have helped me in time but kept offering to sell me a hawk even though I repeatedly said I didn't want to ru
