End to the season!

[Mr Robertson 0]

Copied from my post on another forum as I don't want to rewrite a good piece of writing

 

This shall be my last update to my short season spent with a male redtail hawk named "Red".

For those who do not know or have not read through this whole thread, I obtained "Red" from my mentor on Saturday 14th February. There have been ups and downs over the last 2 months, but overall I have loved every moment spent with this incredible bird. But my season has now come to an end finally after much indecision to keep flying him.

 

Before someone asks why I have carried on so late, I hope my answer makes sense in the circumstances. As I obtained him at the end of the last season, I wanted to try and get him a kill on rabbit before his next moult. My reason was that I wanted him to be encouraged and reinforced when out with me, to strengthen the partnership that we have been developing.

 

As you will see from the posts above, I was considering using a dragged dead rabbit to simulate real kill with me. I set out today with a defrosted dead rabbit should the last day of flying not go as planned. Turns out I didn't need it!

 

I am happy to say that he has finally had had his first kill with me as his hunting partner, and what a kill it was! I slipped him along a fenceline at rabbits out in the corn field no less than 60m away. He flew straight, then just as he reached the area where they had been, he veered up vertically and powerdived. I heard the tell tale screams that he had hit one. I ran down to where he had enter a small wood, and at first I thought he had been kicked off as a rabbit ran right in front of me back down its hole. I called and whistled, listening for a bell - nothing... Making my way through a patch of bracken I called again, still listening for a jingle. I got my handheld receiver out and scanned the area. I needn't have bothered as I spotted him mantling over an adult rabbit, which later turned out to be a buck. Having dispatched the rabbit, I covered it with a tea towel and called him off with a doc. He jumped straight off after about 45 seconds of pondering. I wrapped the rabbit in the towel, and went over to secure him to the glove. Silly mistake, the rabbits death reflex kicked in, which I found odd as I had decided to break its neck just to make sure, after having used the spike. Maybe a bit overkill I know, but this was the first rabbit I've ever had to dispatch on my own. Anyway, the hawk took off and grabbed it again! D'oh! I used the last of my tidbits to call him off and quickly stuffed the rabbit in my hunting vest.

 

I called it a day after that, as he had had too much in the way of food and it was nice just to end on a good note as it were. He has had 1/2 the rabbit this afternoon as his reward, and had a nice full crop when I last checked him. Anyway without further ado here are the pictures (yes they are in the garden, but it was kind of difficult with a redtail on the fist to take any decent photos!)

 

 

Bring on next season!

 

Kind Regards to all!

 

Adam

[jasper65 6]

Nice one Adam . its a good refreshing change to see a Redtail out and about doing the business....

 

I love the Redtails and the way they crash into any cover to secure a kill! sometimes they seem suicidal in their head long crash into cover but what a joy to fly on their day, I'm sure you'll also be Impressed at the length of slips he will take on with some fitness and experience.........

 

All the best with him Adam

 

Jasper

[Guest hyperion]

good goin buddy and about time too! lol!

 

let me know when your free next and we'll go out with the air guns again! and get a gun lamp if you can!

 

cheers

hyperion