As a young boy, I recall the majesty of the raptors I used to see, at that point I didn’t know one from another, but I marveled at their grace. I used to enjoy watching the mating rituals during the spring. It was wonderful to see them grasp claws and free fall from the sky, sometimes hitting the ground. I didn’t know anything about falconry at that time.
As I grew older, I saw pictures and heard stories of people using raptors to hunt and I thought that would be so neat to be able to share a wild hunting experience with a predator, learn their behaviors and watch as they did what they were born to do to survive. I held this interest for many years, not knowing that there were falconers in the United States, and it was possible to become licensed and become one of those people who take the field with a raptor on their hand.
I maintained this interest for many years, and it wasn’t until I was in Asia during the time I was in the service where I saw a demonstration by a falconer. I began to purchase falconry books and learn what I could on the subject. After being discharged it took several years but I was able to meet a man in a neighboring town (80 miles away) who was a falconer. We began to talk about what it took to be successful at this sport. He used to hunt coyotes with a golden eagle. I remember thinking that was impossible. He showed me how he did this and it was amazing, making me even more determined to be a falconer one day.
Eventually I was successful in passing the Nevada Department of Wildlife and United States Fish and Wildlife exams and getting my license. Then it was time to build the muse, gather necessary equipment, scales, kangaroo leather, high quality Pakistan bells and traps necessary to capture wild raptors. Prior to this I had become acquainted with a licensed Master Falconer who agreed to let me apprentice under him. The apprenticeship was five years. As an apprentice I was allowed to have only one of two different species of raptor, an American Kestrel or an immature Red Tail. Now with all this completed, let’s catch a bird!
