ccm75
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Flushed three rabbits last weekend and my brother shot his first game ever. We were driving them....no dogs. Going again tomorrow morning. Rabbits seem to be on a high in the population cycle.When all the woodcock have headed south and we can’t find anymore leftover Phez.... we chase cottontails.
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I haven’t done nearly enough late season pheasant/cottontail hunting due to work.Flushed three rabbits last weekend and my brother shot his first game ever. We were driving them....no dogs. Going again tomorrow morning. Rabbits seem to be on a high in the population cycle.
I was out scouting a potential turkey area this morning and I couldnt believe how many rabbits I saw. I was actually going to take a shot at one with my CCW but couldnt get closer than 15 yards.Flushed three rabbits last weekend and my brother shot his first game ever. We were driving them....no dogs. Going again tomorrow morning. Rabbits seem to be on a high in the population cycle.
Hey there, where are you guys seeing all these rabbits? I'm a new falconer looking for places to fly a hawk on some game.I was out scouting a potential turkey area this morning and I couldnt believe how many rabbits I saw. I was actually going to take a shot at one with my CCW but couldnt get closer than 15 yards.
That’s awesome. I was at my gun club in Metrowest Mass. I was pretty deep in the woods. All the vids I have seen of Falconry has been in fields. Do you need woods or fields? How do you get started in it?Hey there, where are you guys seeing all these rabbits? I'm a new falconer looking for places to fly a hawk on some game.
Very cool.Hey there, where are you guys seeing all these rabbits? I'm a new falconer looking for places to fly a hawk on some game.
Woods or field, depending on the quarry. As an apprentice, I'll be flying a red-tail hawk next fall and they go for cottontail, squirrel and pheasant mostly. To get started you contact the MA falconry coordinator (Erik Amati at Fish & Game) and request a falconry packet. That gets you started with some basic info and a long list of reading material. You have to take a test administered by the state and get an 80% or above to pass, find a sponsor who will agree to take you on for two years, build a mews and gather required equipment, have said mews inspected by the state then you get to trap a bird. Unfortunately, I was late in the year getting a sponsor and trapping season ended on the 11th so I won't have my own hawk until late next summer. In the meantime, I go out hunting with my sponsor and his red-tail. There's a lot to it but since I'm in a holding pattern for now, my focus is finding rabbits because if you can't put your bird over game, after awhile they won't really find any benefit to the relationship.That’s awesome. I was at my gun club in Metrowest Mass. I was pretty deep in the woods. All the vids I have seen of Falconry has been in fields. Do you need woods or fields? How do you get started in it?
That’s pretty awesome...Hopkinton Sportsman AssociationWoods or field, depending on the quarry. As an apprentice, I'll be flying a red-tail hawk next fall and they go for cottontail, squirrel and pheasant mostly. To get started you contact the MA falconry coordinator (Erik Amati at Fish & Game) and request a falconry packet. That gets you started with some basic info and a long list of reading material. You have to take a test administered by the state and get an 80% or above to pass, find a sponsor who will agree to take you on for two years, build a mews and gather required equipment, have said mews inspected by the state then you get to trap a bird. Unfortunately, I was late in the year getting a sponsor and trapping season ended on the 11th so I won't have my own hawk until late next summer. In the meantime, I go out hunting with my sponsor and his red-tail. There's a lot to it but since I'm in a holding pattern for now, my focus is finding rabbits because if you can't put your bird over game, after awhile they won't really find any benefit to the relationship.
**edit to ask...Metrowest gun club? Southborough Rod and Gun?
Very cool. A buddy of mine is a member there.Hopkinton Sportsman Association...
That’s pretty awesome...Hopkinton Sportsman Association
New Hampshire.Hey there, where are you guys seeing all these rabbits? I'm a new falconer looking for places to fly a hawk on some game.
Hey there, where are you guys seeing all these rabbits? I'm a new falconer looking for places to fly a hawk on some game.
Yeah, the land viewer is great. I've been to some places already (MacCallum WMA in Westborough) and found some rabbits. I was just curious about this thread as they sounded almost abundant. So far that has not been my experience but I am also just starting out. Thanks!The Mass Land Viewer is a great way to get started finding lands that's available to the public to hunt.
MassWildlife Lands Viewer.
There's a couple of guys on some upland hunting FB groups I'm on that use Hawks/Falcons in addition to a dog to hunt upland birds and it's pretty good to watch.
Good Luck and keep us u to date on your progress.
I have seen his videos. He's very enthusiastic! I know he ended up releasing his hawk as they never really got hunting since he has so many other pursuits.@GameHawker71 have you checked out any of the Max Powell YouTube vids.
A fireman that chronicles his falconry training adventure.
very informative
Yeah, the land viewer is great. I've been to some places already (MacCallum WMA in Westborough) and found some rabbits. I was just curious about this thread as they sounded almost abundant. So far that has not been my experience but I am also just starting out. Thanks!
My experience with hunting them without dogs is they flush and run when you are almost on top of them. Can't even see em till they bolt.....they are good at hiding.They're very good at hiding in plain sight, sitting still and pretending they're invisible. Check for tracks/droppings to confirm they're around. Doing so after a light snowfall is a helpful.
I have seen his videos. He's very enthusiastic! I know he ended up releasing his hawk as they never really got hunting since he has so many other pursuits.
Found this guy on my back porch one AMI have seen his videos. He's very enthusiastic! I know he ended up releasing his hawk as they never really got hunting since he has so many other pursuits.
Thanks! Today I was out at Bolton Flats WMA looking for signs. Found a bit of poop and what looked like runs through brush but not as much as I was expecting.They're very good at hiding in plain sight, sitting still and pretending they're invisible. Check for tracks/droppings to confirm they're around. Doing so after a light snowfall is a helpful.
That is awesome! I had the same thing happen but the red-tail had a squirrel. This is a blurry screenshot of the video I took through my window. He sat on my porch rail for about five minutes before he flew off.View attachment 435763
Found this guy on my back porch one AM
I have or had quite a few rabbits around my property !
Best of luck with your falconry questThat is awesome! I had the same thing happen but the red-tail had a squirrel. This is a blurry screenshot of the video I took through my window. He sat on my porch rail for about five minutes before he flew off.