Some of my falconry pictures

Here are some of my falconry pictures from years past.  Feel free to send me any questions you have after seeing these pictures.

What is Falconry? How do I get involved?

So what exactly is falconry?  You may have been introduced to falconry at a renaissance festival, a television program, a book or magazine, or maybe you were fortunate enough to know a falconer personally.  The origin of falconry is debated but certainly people in Mongolia, Turkey, China, and Japan worked with raptors as early as three thousand years ago.  I won't go into a long, drawn-out dissertation of falconry here - what is probably important to you is understanding more about this noble sport and understanding how you may be involved in it.  In one sentence, I define falconry as the practice of utilizing raptors to hunt wild game.  In falconry you do not typically use a firearm to hunt, as your raptor is your figurative weapon.

I was first exposed to the sport as a young boy, sometime in the 1980's.  I do remember being sixteen years old and asking my parents if they would support my being involved.  To that question they said absolutely not and they would not allow a wild raptor in their house!  They told me very clearly I would have to wait until I was moved out of their house in order to pursue falconry.  So....  I read everything I could about the sport for five more years -- and when I married and moved into my own house I knew my dream would soon be realized.  Fortunately my lovely wife comprehended how much being involved in this sport meant to me and she gave her blessing.  In 1999 I took my apprentice falconry exam and passed it the first time around.  In the United States you must find an established falconer who will sign off to be your mentor for  a minimum of two years.  This person is called your sponsor and they must be either a general or master class (license) falconer.  The individual(s) who enabled me to enter this grand sport are Dave and Missy Botcher, who still practice falconry in Arizona.  Dave Botcher was my sponsor and an excellent one at that!  Once you locate a falconer who is willing to be your sponsor, you must study the apprentice test material until you are confident you can pass the test.  I studied for months, as I took my apprentice test very seriously.  Finding a good sponsor is very important; you need someone who not only is willing to pass on book smarts relating to falconry, but who is also willing to accompany you into the field with your first raptor.  Preferably your sponsor will also be there with you when you trap your first raptor but this is not critical.  Much of falconry is passed on by watching another skilled falconer, and many things are easier learned by witnessing them first-hand as opposed to reading about these same things.

While you study for your apprentice license you will learn many things you need to know to start practicing the sport - from trapping your first raptor, to the equipment you will make yourself or buy to equip yourself and your raptor, to husbandry of your bird, etc.  There are literally hundreds of little tidbits of information you will pick up along the way to becoming a falconer and for me to try to cover even some of them would become tedious.  If you are interested in becoming involved in the sport, go online and search to see if there is a local falconry club in your state.  This is usually the best way to begin, as you may contact falconers in your area and begin introducing yourself, asking if there may be a potential sponsor in your area, learn more about your state's club, etc.  Now go do your homework!

This blog will consist of my personal experiences and knowledge of the sport of falconry.  I became an apprentice falconer in 1999; since then I have been captivated and sometimes awestruck by this ancient sport.  Stay tuned to learn more!