2016 Desert Hawking Classic

[spooby]

2016 Desert Hawking Classic Falconry meet is in the books! Had an awesome time with my wife and friends! All together we had just under 100 falconers show up from Az and a couple other states. Took over 175 game in 3 days of hawking. My Harris Hawk took 3 jacks and 4 cotton tail. She had a rough start as she crashed a concrete pile pretty hard so had here on rest for some time. Got to watch golden eagles catch jack, gos hawk, cooper's hawk, sharpy, aplo falcon, and a feruginus. Looking forward to the next meet! Got some great videos I will post later.

[Swivelhead]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see the videos.

[brademan76]

That bird (sorry don't know what species) is eating that cottontails face off! Never seen that before.

[Big Browns]

Very cool! What kind of Hawk is your wife holding? That's a huge bird!!!

[rossislider]

Using bada$$ trained bird to hunt. This is awesome!

[spooby]

Aplomado falcon is the one eating the cotton tail.

My wife is holding a male golden eagle. Females are even bigger

[4Falls]

Awesome!!!

[mattys281]

What a great hobby! Id love to see something like that one of these days. Beautiful birds!

[3rd gen native]

Had a red shoulder that came within five feet twice this last weekend while hunting scaled quail, Handsome fellow would land close and watch as we cleaned birds. Acted as if he had been handled at some time in the not to distant past.

Sitting on the tailgate talking to him he would cock his head and listen, I made no attempt to get closer, Short sleeved shirt and no face protection was not good enough odds. That was the closest I've ever had one in the wild approach.

[Tres]

I think that is bad butt. I'd like to watch that

[mbiewer]

yeah, is that something open to spectators for next time?

[spooby]

Yea there are non falconers that come out to watch and help kick the prush. Also have apprentice workshops for people interested in learning about and how to get into Falconry. Season is over right now. Everyone is either releasing there birds or putting them up for the molt. Won't start hunting them until September/October

[hoghntr]

Very cool but im skeeeered of birds. :]

 

I volunteered at adobe mtn wildlife center in 97 and just knew a golden eagle we had was gonna eat my face like that hawk is eating that rabbits face. 😧