About Falconry

WHAT IS FALCONRY?

Falconry is a hunting sport in which wild game is pursued by a falconer using a trained raptor; the bird is the hunter and the falconer is the trainer/observer.  In practice, however, falconry is a lifestyle in which hunting is secondary to raptor conservation and husbandry.  In any case, falconry is not a hobby or a pet-keeping activity!

Dating back well before the birth of Christ, falconry is proven to be one of the most ancient sports practiced. Sir Henry Layard discovered the first record of falconry in the 18th century. A bas relief depicting a falconer was found in the Khrsabad ruins (1700 BC) in Mesopotamia.

Modern-day falconry has changed only slightly from the ancient methods. For centuries, falconers have learned techniques of the sport from literature and through the tutoring offered by masters to apprentices.

Much like the techniques used in falconry, the general equipment has also stayed relatively the same. As the years go on, we’ve seen advancements from modern-day falconers who are constantly inventing new ideas for the sport. Plus, the introduction of technology has dramatically changed the way some falconer’s are able to hunt.

It takes devotion, dedication, and pure enjoyment of the sport to spend the quality time needed to care for, train, and hunt with birds of prey to be a falconer.

This sport demands many-many extra hours of a falconer’s spare time.

It is a 365-day-a-year regimen of training and caring for their birds.

In the past, the sport of falconry has not been well understood here in North America.

But through public education, falconry is finally getting the recognition it deserves as a field sport, and people are finding out more and more about this exciting sport.

If you are interested in learning more about falconry, we encourage you to take a look at the Recommended Books on Falconry and Raptors below.

We also encourage you to view our upcoming events where you can meet with current falconers and possibly see the sport in action!

Books on Falconry and Raptors:

• The Art and Practice of Hawking, E. B. Mitchell, CT Branford Co., Newton, Mass.
• The California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide, F. Holderman, (Privately printed) California Hawking Club, P.O. Box 786, Sacramento, CA 95812.
• Hawks, William S. Clark & Brian K. Wheeler, Peterson Field Guide Series, Houghton Mifflin Co.
• A Hawk for the Bush, Jack Mavrogordato, CW Daniels Co. Ltd., Essex, Eng.
• Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey (Two Volumes), Arthur C. Bent, Dover Publication Inc., New York, NY.
• North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks, Frank L. Beebe and H. Webster, Buy it here.
• Observations on Modern Falconry, R. Stevens, Peregrine Press, College Station, Texas.