There are a few videos on youtube of guys "duck hawking", freakin amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9xwKx4EcU
If there was one hobby that I wish I had the time for, it is falconry. It amazes me more than just about anything else.
There are a few videos on youtube of guys "duck hawking", freakin amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9xwKx4EcU
If there was one hobby that I wish I had the time for, it is falconry. It amazes me more than just about anything else.
I have lost several ducks over the years to hawks, and one to a really brave owl that must have had sunglasses. Few to bobcats, and one to a coyote that obviously knew just how far a shotgun will shoot.
Nearly lost one to a very large snapping turtle. Snuck up on a pond, shot two mallards, and began to cast a Zara Spook which was my retriever when my buddy with the Lab wasn't along. Something pulled the duck under, but couldn't keep it under. It bobbed back up and I hooked it. Damn turtle's head was at least three inches in diameter, and he chased the duck until I outreeled him. On the next cast I hooked a big bass (it was a pretty warm day in southwest oklaoma). Before I was done, I had caught three nice bass which I released, and killed the damned turtle wich weighed around 35 pounds. I had been after him for a long time anyway. Yes, I know they are now protected, but they weren't then. CB
Nearly lost one to a very large snapping turtle. Snuck up on a pond, shot two mallards, and began to cast a Zara Spook which was my retriever when my buddy with the Lab wasn't along. Something pulled the duck under, but couldn't keep it under. It bobbed back up and I hooked it. Damn turtle's head was at least three inches in diameter, and he chased the duck until I outreeled him. On the next cast I hooked a big bass (it was a pretty warm day in southwest oklaoma). Before I was done, I had caught three nice bass which I released, and killed the damned turtle wich weighed around 35 pounds. I had been after him for a long time anyway. Yes, I know they are now protected, but they weren't then. CB
Thanks for posting the link to that video! That is AWESOME! I spent the last hour just watching falconry videos..
shot a squirrel once, he was handing on the bark like they do with their claws, and an hawl swooped down and picked him up and took him off. never will forget that sight.
I had a hawk steal a rabbit bout 4-5 years ago when we had that big snow storm. I'd shoot them and put em in a snow drift then keep huntin. Well I returned home with one less bunnie thanks to a hawk-eyed hawk
We lost several ducks this year to hawks..... 3 just last weekend!
When we trained bird dogs full time, the gun shots would be dinner bells to the red tails! I have had one swoop in and steal a pigeon a dog was pointing once!
Pretty bold characters!
PJ
When we trained bird dogs full time, the gun shots would be dinner bells to the red tails! I have had one swoop in and steal a pigeon a dog was pointing once!
Pretty bold characters!
PJ
a couple of years ago while deer hunting, I was watching a squirel, thinkin if broad heads wern't so expensive I would stick him when all of the sudden I see something swoop down, grab the squirel off his branch asnd pile drive him into the ground. The rest of the squirels were smart enough to stay in they're fraidy holes after that.
