Yesterday we where heading down the platter road bypassing some very heavy traffic heading north on highway 75 out of no where a coopers hawk flew right across our wind screen with one wing actually hitting it. I couldn't believe how close we came to hitting it. It was flying like a bullet and was gone by the time we looked round no where to be found.
My wife and i have been thinking about some ethics of falconry recently. One conclusion we came to is we never want to pay for a bird of prey and we feel morally obligated not to be potentially responsible for the accidental realse of a bird of prey that is not native to this area.
Whilst the red tail is the apprentices bird i don't want to give up that hawk once my two years is up. however for the above reasons i feel uncomfortable introducing a Harris hawk or a goshawk into the area. Don't get me wrong i love Steve's birds, smash is an awesome hunter and when charlie gets going he will be too, however i feel what a miserable existence not being able to find a mate or one of its own kind. This came to light last year as Steve was hunting in DFW and a female Harris joined them on a peace of flood plain in the middle of the city, wild but either realised or escaped in that area.
In this area there are lots of pecan orchards. One of the biggest problems the pecan farmer has is crows. Someone recently suggested that i should use the RT to bait the crows (as they will mob the RT) bring the RT down and then get someone with a coopers to get the crows. Interesting concept and thoughts. Potentially opening up allot of hunting areas for me in this area.
Also recently when the game warden came by to inspect my mews he left a Game Magazine for me to look out, Two things Car Hawking on public land (including public roads ) is not legal in Oklahoma . During muzzleloader and gun season, the hunter orange has to be warn both a head covering and a vest.




