I'm going to trap early this year!

Hello to all my falconry enthusiasts.  Faloners typically do not trap until between October and December; birds trapped during this time of the year are referred to as 'passage' birds.  Most states have regulations that allow a falconer to trap a young bird prior to October though, and a raptor trapped prior to October would typically be referred to as a 'brancher' or a 'fledgling'. 

I have decided to trap an early raptor this year and I am targeting late July or August.  My hopes are to trap a large hen redtail (first year bird of course) and take advantage of the early trapping to assure a slightly calmer bird.  There are pros and cons to this early trapping strategy.  Pros are a bird that does not have pre-defined limits of its hunting ability in its mind already, possibly a calmer (slightly less wild) bird, and possibly a slightly easier to train bird.  None of these factors are guaranteed but they are normally the hallmarks of a young raptor.

The cons include the danger of having a raptor imprint on you, a bird who has not had two or three months to hunt on its own, meaning it is very inexperienced.  This would lead to a slower first season of hawking, as you are literally present as the bird learns to hunt.  So it is a trade off and I have never taken a young redtail - all of mine were taken in October / November as passage birds.  Now I am beginning construction of my mews since I'm in a new property.  Exciting!!!    :0)

Preparing for the upcoming falconry season

Since we are in summer now, it's time to begin looking forward to the next falconry season.  Most states allow falconers to begin trapping sometime in October.  Right now if you are an aspiring falconer you should be locating a sponsor, studying for your apprentice falconry test, and then taking the test.  Licenses sometimes take many weeks to be granted and you do not want to be approaching the opening of trapping season without your falconry license.

Another thing to be working on is constructing your mews (hawk house) and acquiring all the necessary hardware for your first bird (jesses, anklets, bells, whistles, perches, frozen food supply, leashes, your hawk trap ((probably a BC trap)), etc.  Your sponsor will help you put all this together, as there are many pieces of equipment you will need prior to trapping.  Also I recommend reading as much information possible about the species of raptor you will be acquiring.  The more you know about this magnificent animal you are about to bring into your home, the better!  Study, study, study.  Don't get discouraged - you can do this!