Hawking with Phil

On Saturday, January 21 I accepted the offer of Phil Yurtis, Dave's most recent apprentice, to travel out to his area and go hawking with him. Phil lives about an hour and a half from my home, and he is always coming out our way and hunting with me and Dave. So, only fair to go travel his way once in awhile, so he doesn't have to drive so far.

I am greatly impressed with Phil! I think he's going to make a GREAT falconer!! He does everything First Class! No corner cutting! His equipment is all really well made. He works his bird, getting her out for hunts as often as he can, or works her doing jump-ups in his garage when he can't. He's already caught quite a bit of game with her. Makes me feel inadequate in comparison! But, I must also remember he already was an outdoorsman long before he came to falconry. He hunts small game and deer, traps, tans hides, and more! I enjoy going hawking with him. And his family is just great . . . and they are all on board with him!

So he and Tanner took me to a patch of woods near their home. We got one really good squirrel flight in there, but the squirrel ducked into a nest. Nina ripped the nest some, but then forgot what she was doing, and got bored. Hawks don't have exactly a whole lot going on upstairs, if ya know what I mean!! That squirrel stayed put, so it was safe!

We then moved to another location. Here we got several more flights . . . one where we were running across the woods, trying to keep up! As always, I tripped and fell. I do a lot of that in the field . . . my short legs! But, after awhile, Phil pointed out a nest up inside a smallish tree. He instructed me to stand in a certain spot, then he shook the tree. He must have done this before . . . because a small black squirrel came launching outta the nest, and flew across the air . . . right at me where I had been instructed to stand! It was almost comic like . . . I could almost see the expression on the squirrel as it flew at me . . . . WHOOOOOOAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!

It hit the ground, and then ran up a tree . . . and Nina was hot on its heels. It froze, so I'm told, as I didn't really notice, I had been ducking from squirrel that had launched my way, and Nina then reached around the branch, and grabbed it! Down to the ground she came . . . and I recovered myself and got over there and grabbed her squirrel. Just as well, too . . . for she was all footy, and stepped off the squirrel, and it would have gotten away otherwise!

So . . . first squirrel as a falconry bird! Small . . . but still . . . a head of game! I traded her off, and let her eat what was on the lure, then took her back to the car. Got some pics though!

We then moved to a birch forest, and worked the brush for Grace, Phil's bird. She got many flights in . . . but bunnies were all lucky today. She would glide from tree to tree . . . very graceful! She follows her falconer very well. She's a good bird! Phil has done a good job with her!

He's going to be a great falconer . . . in my humble opinion!

Thanks for a Wonderful Day Hawking!!!

Hawking Buds

Nina and her first squirrel!!

Closeup of Grace

Phil's hunting bud, his son, Tanner

Phil and Grace

Nina, right after successfully catching this little black squirrel.

Here is Nina next to a large squirrel nest. She had followed a squirrel into it, and ripped the nest some, but squirrel stayed put, and she lost interest, then forgot it was there. Short attention span!

There were so many of us, Dave went last. Getting Dark! If we'd had more time, surely, Giddy would have caught something. She's a wonderful hawk! Her falconer is pretty wonderful too! Of the 5 of us, three today were trained by Dave.

Dave Z. and Honey. Honey caught her bunny right in front of us! Was Very Exciting!!

Sooooo Relaxed!! These guys are watching Grace chase squirrels. It was impressive, and she was tenacious! Wouldn't give up! But these guys did, so took a break!

Phil flew Grace third. Sorry . . . didn't get a pic of her! But she gave us quite a show, chasing squirrels! Here is Phil and his wife watching Grace perform.

Gosh . . . I look sooooooo "Pretty" in the field!! :-D

Mike and Ruby! She caught her bunny in front of a nearby house, and dragged it under a bush. Took awhile to find her!

Winter Outting

On Sunday, January 8 I was invited to join my friends for an all-day hawking outting down in Sun Prairie. We were hosted by fellew hawker, Dave Z. He and his wife kindly opened their home for us all, fortifying us with bagels and coffee before we set out. They also welcomed us at the end of the day with wonderful Chili. Thank you so much to Dave and his wife, for their hospitality.

It was a wonderful day . . . and I'll probably come back here and write some more! Of the 5 birds, two caught bunnies. But most were very close. Dave's bird went after a pheasant. Mine took a very fat vole . . . and almost took a second. More details later!

For now . . . pictures!!