Raptor Hunting… The Art of Being A Falconer

by Eric Harrold

Featured in the Nov/Dec 2017 issue

I vividly remember my first red-tailed hawk crashing down through the tree branches towards a rabbit I had just flushed as it desperately tried to reach a brush pile just uphill from its daybed. It happened so quickly that I hardly had time to react. All I could do was dart up the hill, for I needed to dispatch the rabbit and ensure that it didn’t somehow manage to jerk loose and get away. Such an escape would perhaps discourage the young hawk, whereas a long feeding on its first kill would really motivate it and provide confidence for future pursuits. Thankfully, I was able to secure the rabbit and let the hawk feed. My excitement was almost uncontainable. I was only 15 years old and an apprentice falconer with more enthusiasm than mastery of this ancient form of hunting. In the coming few years, I would learn a lot of hard lessons about weight management, housing a bird, and making wise decisions that would allow me to enjoy more successful hunting seasons down the road.

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