New Year

This is my second year of being an apprentice falconer, in October i could up-grade to general falconer if my sponsor and i feel I'm ready.My view point right now is i'm not and would be happy to spend a third year as an apprentice. I want to fly accipters but that can wait at least another year. It's also my third year of being involved in this sport. It's funny how it's Monday morning and all i want to do is go hawking. The world is at peace when your out there in the filed no worries about the kids, money the job everything becomes focused on the one thing flushing game and catching game.

I would say the only regret i have this year is is falling out with a fellow apprentice. Falconers get very passionate. We don't see eye to eye on how we go about training our hawks but i can be hard headed when it comes to being shouted at and my back is against the wall. I tend to shut down and push back. Being angry at someone is against my being i don't like the feeling and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, and like most people i also hate not being liked. I would like to go hunting with that person but I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome i think that's sad, the apprentice is pretty sucessful in his environment and more kudos to him ...

Falconers can be pretty passionate there are highs and lows it comes with the territory it is like no other sport. My son in law wants to get into it. He's been out with me a few times, even got lost but that's another story. He takes pictures and videos into work and shows people they don't understand. He tries to explain the thrill of the hunt and that its like no other... its just different. Sometimes when im out in the filed either entering or leaving its amazes me the looks on peoples faces when they see a 2-3lb bird on your fists mouths agape and in awe it's a pretty special feeling certainly not like owning a dog or a cat. Even more special when you know only about 4000 people actually do it in the whole of the USA.

The weekend brought some highs and lows  , Some good flushes on Squirrel and Rabbit, I found a new Squirrel spot some hunters had been telling me about and willow went for it and came close.  I also went to another squirrel spot and flushed a rabbit which wasn't expected, and  again willow came close but we lost it in the re flush.

The lows are we lost control a little so going to bring her weight down a little more and just hunt the briar field for a little while, less distraction and more focus on me. I also need to work on hooding its been nothing but a disaster. I can't take her out tonight as i have to baby sit so we will work on that and hunt tomorrow.

May you all have a prosporus New Year and may your game bag stay full..........