New Bird

My first Harris, from Matt Mitchell. Something of a revelation as despite the fact he never saw a dog or a human other than Matt until he arrived here 40 minutes from his natal chamber, he is calm and considered. Intelligent bird! And I hope my “shotgun hawk”, like my light 20 enabling my continuing …

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“I smell a bird somewhere…”

My friend Daniel’s new pup Bailey:Daniel is blessed or cursed with pointers, falcons, double guns, good books, and even Spanish pouters, lives in wine country, hunts in Montana. “This would be a man who has ruined his life for sport…”– Tom McGuane of Russ Chatham, on his announcing he was going duck hunting AND trout …

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Another Letter: Fran Hamerstrom

Or in her Beacon Hill accent and at her insistence, “Frahn”. She was a force of nature, a well- born Bostonian who defied convention and became Aldo Leopold’s only female student, a biologist, a hunter, a writer, and a falconer. She and her beloved husband Frederick lived for as many years as I have been …

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Baby

If all works out, my next hawk and first Harris at Matt Mitchell’s last week…

Hunting Eagles

If there is a common image of eagle falconry it is that of a fur- hatted Kazakh or Kyrgiz nomad on a short furry horse, hunting foxes or wolves; this has been reinforced by my own book, by the wonderful art of Vadim Gorbatov, and even by the BBC TV show referenced here a few …

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Old Bird

Last week, Anne Price of the REF e- mailed to tell me that her Harris tiercel Indiana Jones had died, very much of old age and attendant frailties. Anne: “This morning I said goodbye Indiana Jones, a.k.a. Indi, my Harris Hawk. I would be lying if I said I weren’t sad, but he was kind …

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Illustrated Gun (and Asian Hawk Art)

As part of my downsizing/ upgrading I bought my scrimshaw grips a new gun (1911 .45 of course), a Kimber Ultra Carry II with night sights. Mel at Ron Peterson’s threw in an ingenious holster that can be used right or left side, cross or regular draw, with no alterations.The design is based on a …

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Falconry: News & Pix

Paul has suggested I take back and fly my sweet Barb Taita female, the mini- shahin Cheetah (formerly Chicken as in Chicken Little), while he takes up Ms Mean Girl and attempts duck. We are both happy, as our respective quarry better fits the recent switch. One “trouble” with red shahin types is that they …

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