2015 NAFA Midstates Regional Meet

Go to www.greatlakesfalconers.org and "click" on "events" to see more, or to register for this exciting upcoming falconry event.

peaceeThe Weather Forecast Looks GREAT!peacee

clappThe Meet Print Is by Laura Kirby and the Banquet Talk Speaker Will Be Nationally Recognized Raptor/Wildlife Photographer Rob Palmer clapp

NAFA Director at Large Greg Thomas, newly elected NAFA Great Lakes Regional Director Tom Hagovsky and officers from GLFA and IFA, the sponsoring state clubs, will be in attendance. :)

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/.../meetImage.jpg

Looks like it should be a great gathering of falconers, Greg. What are the game totals like in this area of Illinois?

The meet is really starting to fill up. It should be a great time!

For those asking about game; Unfortunately, I don't have first hand knowledge, but the area is a lot like central and northern IN, and we're having a good year for rabbits and squirrels . . . PLUS there are pheasants in IL. Ck with the GLFA guys when you get there; they're the ground crew that will have hard knowledge of the area.

The big thing I was sweating was the weather, and it looks like it will be good - a bit cold, but the only snow will be what falls this weekend (which will make tracking bunnies easier the following weekend when we're there.

See you in 6 days (I'll be arriving early on Friday)

Here is the text from our Facebook page"I hope everyone is having a great falconry season. Several of us from GLFA and IFA made a couple trips to Champaign, IL. The outlook for the NAFA Mid-States field meet could not be any better. Both long and short wingers had plenty of game to chase. Every field we hunted had game. Local falconers Dave Mayfield and Louis Luksander were gracious and shared some of their fields and potential areas accessible for the NAFA meet. Over the New Years weekend the redtails, goshawks and several falcons all took game. In one field we hunted the first coupled hundred yards of prime pheasant cove and had two separate falcon flights ending with pheasants in the bag. The dogs were still pointing more birds on the way back to the truck. Now that should get your attention! We can make this the premier hawking event of the mid-states region if you and your hawking buddies come on down to Champaign to hawk and make new friends"

Our Facebook https://m.facebook.com/greatlakesfal...falconers&_rdr

. . and all throughout the Midwest, SUVs and Trucks are being loaded with dogs, raptors, and gear!

It looks like there's going to be a GOOD turnout! A quick look this morning shows 38 people (and many w/guests) are registered so far, with a sizeable number of additional falconers no doubt registering at the Meet.

Here's the final weather forecast.

Friday, February 6, 2015
Partly Cloudy
High 38F Low 31F
Wind 10 - 15 mph SSW
Precipitation Chances 0%

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Intervals of clouds and sunshine
High 45F Low 39F
Wind 10 - 15 mph SSW (early morning hourly shows 7 mph)
Precipitation Chances 10%

Sunday, February 8, 2015
Overcast with showers at times
High 42F Low 27F
Wind 10 mph shifting to the north by evening
Precipitation Chances 40%

Don't forget that besides the good hunting, there will be a great presentation by award winning wildlife/raptor photographer/falconer Rob Palmer and a great Meet Print by Laura Kirby.

See you there!

Should be a great meet, Greg. Sorry I won't be able to make it. I saw Rob's presentation a couple of years ago at the Colorado Hawking Club meet and it was amazing! He's such an accomplished photographer and speaker!!

I was there a couple weeks back scouting and there is game lots of it. Not sure about squirrels though we didn't look for any. If you're hunting bunnies you're in for a pleasant surprise.

:D

Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015 is looking better than last forecast!

Precipitation likelihood has DECLINED to 20%.

Today and Saturday remain as good hawking weather

Don't get all the bunnies! I will need them tomorrow :D Heading there tonight.

Got home late yesterday from the NAFA Mid-States Regional Meet, the third in NAFA's rotating Regional Meet concept - all of which I've had the pleasure as a NAFA DAL of attending. Newly elected NAFA Great Lakes Regional Director, Tom Hagovsky, was in attendance as well. He greatly enjoyed making the rounds making introductions and listening to his constituents thoughts and concerns.

In all facets this gathering of falconers was a rousing success! The game was good. The fellowship was wonderful. 60 plus attended the Saturday night banquet. Rob Palmer's presentation after the meal was outstanding.

Let's all take a moment and give a round of clapp applause clapp to the host clubs, the Great Lakes Falconers Association and the Indiana Falconers Association for their hard work that made this event work so well.

If you're not yet a NAFA member, visit their website at www.n-a-f-a.com and click on the "Join NAFA" button. They've added a new inexpensive "digital publications" option to the membership categories that makes it easy to afford belonging to NAFA.

ALSO, mark your calendars for Nov 8-13, 2015 for the 2015 NAFA Field Meet - the FIRST time in nearly 50 years that this premier falconry event will be held at a time other than over Thanksgiving week.

While the exact site is still being decided, it will be in Kansas, a great state for game. They also have simple provisions to allow you to trap a passage raptor if you're so inclined.

Thanks, Greg Thomas, for *your tireless efforts over the years in promoting this sport so that others may also enjoy falconry.

Brad Pafford - Indiana

Frank Hildebrand has posted some gorgeous pictures from the event. http://bit.ly/1vwYkLV enjoy!

Those are some great shots!! :D