For any of you interested in falconry and birds of prey. The annual Ohio Falconry Association Picnic is 9/22/2024 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at 9986 County Road 44, East Liberty, Ohio 43319 at Jeff and Belinda Melsop's house.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1570462773867544&id=392503428330157

Jeff was an apprentice of one of my best friends, when he started out, years ago now. Ive hunted with him many times and he hunts on my farm. He and his wife Belinda are good people.

There should be dozens of hunting birds of prey there including red tail hawks, Harris hawks, Cooper's hawks, kestrels, peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, crossbred falcons, merlins, goshawks and maybe an eagle and great horned owl.

It's a good time. There's a free lunch at noon. There's no fee to attend and everyone interested in falconry is invited.

I've posted pictures from the picnic here before, but they may be gone now.

Keith

Something I’ve always been interested in. Would love to attend this someday. Thanks for posting Keith. Eric

Eric, there should be get togethers of the Virginia Falconry Association you can attend. Most of the associations have Facebook pages now.

Falconry is a lot of fun. I used to do it around 40 times a year. We ran my dogs with my friends red tail hawks. Once the hawk finally learns to work with the dog it goes very well. My feist, Dingle, would duck when she heard bells, because she got stuck by my friend James's red tail hawk, Sally, when Sally got frustrated a few times. We used some of my beagles and shorthairs too, but mostly Dingle.

We mostly wanted rabbits, squirrels and pheasants. The hawks also caught snakes, field mice, deer mice, rats, frogs, snakes, chipmunks, preying mantises and once a screech owl.

You should try it if you get a chance too.

Keith

Here's the Virginia page.

http://www.vafalconers.com/

Keith

Thanks Keith! Eric

You're welcome Eric.

Keith

maybe they are more friendly and open in your area. years ago when my daughter and I wanted to get involved and when she had the time we weent to a few indiana events over a few years. they all talked down to my daughter you know honey it's a blood sport. yes she was young but had killed lots of gang and raised and future her own rabbits for years. then others seemed to talk to her like she just wanted a cool pet.

finally I just wrote them off ad an older good old boys club and figured they would die off not bringing new blood into the sport. at the time there were only 89 licensed falconer in the state.

hopefully it's better in your state. goshawks were my favorite to hunt. they are so fast and flying from your fist. not boring like retails laddering up a tree and missing 75% of the time.

I still would like to get into it but Gave up on finding a sponsor in the state.

There is a fair amount of younger women in the Ohio Falconers Association and older ones. If I was single, there is one female falconer I would pursue myself. Falconers are always trying to dissuade people from getting involved, who they think won't hunt. They try to keep out people who want birds of prey as pets or status symbols. They unfortunately have to deal with a lot of people like that. Falconry is hunting with a bird of prey. Falconers are hunters.

I'm friends with 4 falconers and know a large number of them. I believe all of the ones I know would help a young person, whether male or female, if they thought they were really interested.

If interested, you should give the Indiana Falconers Association another chance. They may be more open now than they were in the past.

Keith

unfortunately that ship had sailed. now my daughter has no time for it with her accelerate nursing program and school 5 days a week and weekends full studying. it's sad because back then she had all the time in the world, mom to drive her and dad's open check book and full support. I was hoping she would bermt her licens and I could learn and be involves and after she had a few years in she could take me as an apprentice. That way I could get my license and we could help each other out when we were busy. It to bad she was really into it and I was also all in. Unfortunately the people though nice were not interested in helping her get involved. I knew that going in and is why we went to several events over a few years to probe the intrest was real and she was worth investing the time in to take as an apprentice. But it just didn't work out and eventually I wrote it off as a good old boys club. most were guys over or about 50. I just figured they would die out if they didn't change their ways.

I really enjoy hunting the birds but it's just not going to be something I'm ever going to be able to get into with the required entry points.

That would be fun.

it's great. if I would have had luck getin involved I would hav got a brace of beagles to get the rabbits moving for the birds. sure better than busting the brush yourself and missing the action with the birds. when it happens it's fast.

well that I'd I would have went with a red tail for my first bird. I liked the idea of a kestrel becus I could hunt them year round on sparrows and starlings. but with the smaller birds you really have to watch their weight more than the bigger birds so may not be the best first bird. but as a beginner you only get a choice between that or a red tail becuse they are so common. you don't get other options tell you have more experience. other birds I liked much more some fly from your fist and are very fast to the kill. Way better that a red tail layering up a tree and waiting on the rabbit you jumped to pounce on. if it sees the rabbit. then they miss about 3/4 of the time.