Saturday 1 February 2014

Snipe hawking

Well the snipe hawking season ended yesterday (we finished the day before due to the weather forecast for the 31st.
This has been the first season I've really concentrated on it and what a lot of fun it's been. Both the Barbary falcons made a good showing for themselves, with Barney, in his second season accounting for 16,and Harley in his first taking 9.
Its been tricky with no cold weather to concentrate the snipe, and the broken not falling till late so a lot of cover was around later than I would have helped.
It's been very interesting, the different attitude of the two boys,  Barney is well mannered laid back,  and no inclination To carry what he's caught, Harley it can be more of a case of light the fuse and see what happens, and any place a foot out of reach, is the perfect place to end a flight.
The support team definitely need a mention, at 2 Boris, the Ginger Thing has really come into his own as a falconry dog, and is very sane and sensible when working (to those who've met him at any other time I do promise he changes completely when working), we would have been lost without him, and we were joined (a lot more than we should have been)  by Will. I. Woof, who never got in the way or caused any problem and by the end was hunting and pointing independently, if a little uncertain.
It's been a great learning curve for us,  and with the ground work done this season I'm already looking forward to the next

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