retired ex hawker.

[piscivoris]

My regards to all.
My name is Wm Maguire, I am 70 years old and a retired flyer of "RedTails.
for over 25 years.
I have been out of active participation for about 12 years, but still enjoy observing wild, and trained birds alike.
My own method was to capture a "passage" juvenile Redtail in october, man it well, then hunt it through the cold months. I usually released the bird in the spring, starting over again the next fall.
I have had some great success flying wild quarry, mostly Bunnies and Squirrells.
The occaisional Opossum Muskrat, Duck or Pheasent was always welcome too.
I have Trapped, banded and released, or flown a lot of Redtails in my active time.
I have pretty extensive experience with the Redtail, and would be happy to help anyone with any information I might have.

I will probably mostly observe how others are experiencing the sport,
but may add something from my experiences if I think it may help.

Thanks for allowing me to Hawk (Vicariously) through your postings.

Wm (Bill) Maguire, Middletown MD

[Hawkmom]

Good to hear from you. I have hawked the Maryland/Frederick county area in the 80's. Did a lot of bunnie with RT/s and gos/ some Harris. and LOTS of crow roost hawking with a peregrine/prairie that was deadly on them.

[thunderheartiii]

Hello and Welcome Bill.... Glad to have you cruzin the forums with us

[Breeze]

Bill! Good to have you here and hope you will contribute your knowledge by adding to posts, as the opportunities arise. After all, it's you experienced falconers who have so much to offer!

[GONEHAWKN]

Bill, howdy. I have trapped up near you for about the last 25 years. The McD's there in Myersville has been a breakfast destination, while enroute to the trap site, for as many years as I can remember.

[piscivoris]

Well, I feel among kindred spirits here, Thanks for the welcoming.

"GoneHawking" Most of my Hawking was down in PG co, but our trapping was up here for about 10 years, We had a field just south of Washington monument state park. Not the best place I have trapped but the view across "Turners Gap" was excellent.
The long sightline made for some exceptional stoops from birds setting in 1/2 mile out.
We also trapped in VA. just south of "Paris" gap, a great place for redtails.

Two other places I trapped were in areas well off the "Flyway".
Glendale MD, and Harwood MD both places provided plenty of RT's, a few Red shoulders, Coopers, Harriers Sharpies, One Juvenile male Gos, and a young Bald eagle in (Speckle belly) plumage.
The latter 2 places were closer to home, plus I could stop by Patuxent wildlife center to have my captures banded.


I am considering reapplying for my License as I would like to do some trapping, and banding again. I need to locate someone in this area that can band Hawks.
I still have my Bow net and all the gear to achieve the capturing part.
In my wanderings up here I have located a number of very good looking trap sites.
I think I would enjoy exchanging trapping experiences with you.
Please feel free to use my E-Mail adress piscivoris@gmail.com

Thanks again for all the welcomes.

Bill Maguire