We went out Saturday to a local falconers’ meet. Early morning was devoted to falcons over ducks in the valley, and late afternoon to Harris hawks and rabbits. But in the late morning it was time for the real fanatics– we who run longdogs with falcons on hares. The coursing ground was a huge block …
Tag: Falconry
Colonel Cooper and the Kazakh Eaglers
Colonel Jeff Cooper was a crusty old marine, shooter, and writer, one of the most influential firearms thinkers of the twentieth century. He wrote an enormous series of entertaining and informative essays, observations and quips called his Commentaries, a sort of proto- gunblog. But he could be a bit set in his ways, at least …
“Pigeons” 2: New Gorbatov
At Al’s Eagle Hunter site is among other delights the biggest gallery of Vadim Gorbatov prints available on line. He has just added two new ones: Kublai Khan’s Hunting Trip and Frederic II’s Hunting Trip: I have a huge artist’s proof of the Kublai, but you can get a smaller version for pretty cheap, and …
Pigeons Plus
Or, from pigeons to eagles to art. The whole thread started when artist Graeme Boyd of my pigeon discussion group emailed us this video of Chinese pigeons being flown with whistles. Everyone knows that this is an interest of mine. I even have a collection, sent to me by a German scholar who taught in …
New Bird
Another male Gyr X Saker, but this one rather than a stout Gyr resembles a long, lean, long- tailed Saker. He weighs virtually the same. He is looking a bit nervous and indeed is wild for an imprint, but I suspect he’ll come around shortly. Update: Our friend Patrick “Terrierman” Burns asked some good questions …
News and…
Been busy but not blogging. Some good news: the eagle book that occupied me (and drove me crazy) last year looks to have a new publisher. And another publisher in the same state is interested in doing a new edition of rage for falcons. I’ll keep you posted. And I have a new Gyr- Saker …
Hunting with Rio
From a bird who “snarled” at all dogs (you have to hear a Harris to believe the noise they make), Rio has progressed to a hunting partnership with Ataika. He is sitting on top of the cholla cactus above the bank beside Taik– apologies for photo quality. He usually rides on a T- perch walking …
The last of Cat’s Mongolia
The two-day eagle festival outside Sagsai was a thrilling event, with 82 hunters on horseback with their birds, flying to the fist and to the lure. There were other events, including a camel race, a horse race, goat tug, and other fun events, but the eagles were what had brought us all to that valley. …
Cat’s Mongolia, Part II
On my first morning out in the Mongolian countryside, I awoke when the top of the ger was pulled back by Kazna, the lady of the house, letting in the morning light. I could hear someone moving livestock, a man’s voice, singing to his animals as he rode horseback. In celebration of our presence, and …
Cat’s Mongolia, Part 1
Since this is my first official post, let me provide a short introduction: I’m a sheep rancher, writer/photographer from western Wyoming who is fascinated by animals of all sorts, and by the humans who interact with them. I’ll leave out the details of my journey to get to Mongolia, but delve right into some of …