Brand new from SE Mich

[rsimone]

Hello everyone, My name is Rich. Have lived in Mich most of my life. I have recently been turned on to falconry from the Michigan. DNR website. Ive been reading and researching quite a bit about it and seem to be more interested as I gather info. I have never worked with raptors before but would love to experience them. If anyone has any info they would be willing to share please do.


Thanks and Hello.
Rich

[harrishawk_79]

hi rich welcome to the site

[Scott L]

Welcome Rich,

You may also want to check out the Michigan Hawking Club Website, also a very helpful resource.

[rsimone]

Thank you for the warm welcome. I have never been in a forum before so i apologize if I go about it wrong.
I have been to michigan hawking club website. Lots of great info. checked the california hawking club site also. While i was on that one i ordered the apprentice manual and test study guide.

Thanks again,
Rich

[DirtHawker]

Hi Rich,
Welcome to Nafex and to MI falconers. If you get a chance to attend we will be having the Michigan Hawking Club field meet on Feb. 5th, it will be a good chance to meet other falconers and go out with some people on hunts. In the meantime you may want to contact some falconers and have a talk, or ask if you could accompany them on a hunt.
Sue in MI

[rsimone]

Sue, thanks for the response. I did see the Michigan Hawking clubs calender and I do hope to make the Feb. 5th meet, it sounds very interesting. Is there a list of people in the club willing to let beginners hunt with them? I would love be a part of a hunt. Been watching some hunters on youtube (amazing)!

Rich

[harrishawk_79]

pretty much when you go to the meets you just walk around and ask questions like who people are and what bird they are flying and how many people are in thier group.then if there is not to many people in thier group you ask if its ok to go and you jump in the trucks or cars and follow along to the field and work the field the way the person flyin thier bird wants.normally people flying harris hawks or redtails dont care how big the group is but thos flying goshawks dont get really big groups.

[rsimone]

Hi Harold. Ok I understand. What would be considered a big group? How many people are usually there with birds?

[REYNALDO]

last winter i went to the meet but didn't go out hunting coz my wife and daughter were with me. i think with the people that went per hunting party are around 4 up to even 8 per group.

[DirtHawker]

I don't know if there is an upper limit. I was privleged to watch an event put on by the falconers on the west side of MI a few years ago that was a mini-meet and local educational event. One of our clubs young falconers, Angela, took out her RT and about 50 people following. The bird performed perfectly and we had a nice view of an obliging rabbit that flushed then ran down the path that most of the viewers were on with the RT in hot pursuit. The bunny got away, but what a view for the hoard of people following.
Sue