Hiya--New here from the Pacific Northwest

[varminthunter243]

Welcome to NAFEX! As someone who has only been licensed for a year, I completely understand where you're coming from. I started going flying with a very accomplished falconer when I was 12, and I've had the bug ever since. But it took me 17 years to finally get to a place in my life where falconry was possible and pheasable with fairness to myself and the bird. You're definitely in the right place! There are some extremely knowledgeable people in this community and this is a great channel to learn from. I also flew a kestrel as my first bird last season. She was a blast.

[IslandRaptor]

Congrats on finally getting your apprenticeship started!

I've been ignoring the "bug" for three years now, but 17 would have been likely if my kids weren't finally old enough to do much on their own and I finally feel stable in my location. At first I thought I was just curious. Then I thought I'd just "read more about it". Then I thought maybe I should just join WSFA so I could get updates on when meets were happening... Then I found out that all of the meets happen exactly on the worst possible days of the years for me (the third weekend of July is the big festival on our island and also my best friend's birthday and the fall meet happens on my husband's birthday), so I figured that pretty much settled that. Well, I ended up braving hours of ferry traffic, renting a travel trailer,ditching my friends birthday and festival and managed to spend a half day at the summer's meet, which was totally worth it. I don't think I have any chance of finding a sponsor if I don't show my face, you know? Wait--what? What do you mean, "find a sponsor?? I thought you were just satisfying your curiosity??!!"

Heh. Then suddenly I finished that long hunter's education course so I could get my hunting's license. You know, just in case... *rolls eyes*

For my next trick I'm going to start making equipment "just to see what it's like"... and maybe start weight my dog in grams three times a day....

haha