Falconry - wonderful experience

[moocow]

Hi,

I am posting this as I have to tell you all albout the wonderful experience we had last weekend. I bought my OH a voucher for a falconry expereince and it was just fantastic. The birds were amazing. OH loved it and he would have been very anti hunting when i met him. The day i had booked was just flying the birds and learning how to train them but they also do full days hunting with the birds. They hunt by using pointers to spot the prey and then the handlers release the birds to catch and kill.

It was absolutely brilliant to see how the handlers use the birds to hunt. i am not sure where this sits with the hunting ban in th UK as it was here in ireland that we did the expeience day.

it was brilliant and i would recommend anyone, who enjoys the outdoors to do the experience and in addition to the fantastic day, you get phesant or rabbit or whatever you have managed to catch for your tea!

Couldn't recommend it highly enough.

 

[KJJ]

That sounds fab, my OH would LOVE that.... he wants to get an Owl and wants me to look after it!! LOL!!! GREAT another animal to the collection!!!

 

[moocow]

It was brilliant but an owl? think they take lot of work. the trainer said that owls are really difficult to train. In that they don't retain the skills thought. i think not great for hunting with but fine if you want them to just sit on your arm!

they had eagle owls and theya re so magnificent. Had a little barn owl as well and snowy owl. really amazing creatures and I don't like birds!!!

 

[GinaB]

Hey where did you do this? I would love to train in falconry!

 

[burrows]

My parents bought my OH the same thing he got to handle loads of brids and learn about them in the morning and then in the afternoon he got to fly them. I went along and paid alot less so got to do everything but the flying. We had a great time. We went to Eagle Heights in Kent I would highly recommend it.

 

[moocow]

I didn't pay anything for me coming along. i was set to come back for him a couple of hours later but the handler just looked confused and asked who would take the pictures!

http://www.falconryireland.com/

Hope link works!

 

[Eaglefalconer]

I am a falconer and ive been hunting this season with a hand reared male Golden eagle,plus i have peregrines and saker falcons for breeding...

 

[Clodagh]

I remember ih H&H they described having a Harris Hawk as 'falconry by numbers' so assume they'd be good for a beginner, sounds great!
Not aimed at anyone, used fastreply!

 

[junior_7178]

The riding school ive been leaning to ride at near Brighton do "Falconry on Horseback".

Ive seen some pictures and it looks amazing.

Not sure how to put a link up,but the place is called Ditchling Common Stud.You could google it if your interested.

 

[fernando]

Was this the place near Woodenbridge?

 

[junior_7178]

Was this the place near Woodenbridge?

Erm,no.

Its in a village called ditchling,near Brighton.

The village itself was subject to a BBC documentary lasy year called "A very English Village" and hunting feature heavily in a few episodes.

Anyway,the riding school/stud is called Ditcling Common Stud,and all the info re. the falconry is on the website.