Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: Goshawk on October 24, 2025, 05:26:38 PM

Title: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 24, 2025, 05:26:38 PM
We're up to four mallards so far this year. It's not a lot, but at least they are in the area.  Stay Dry!
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: metlhead on October 24, 2025, 06:14:54 PM
Since you aren't discharging a gun, can you hunt anywhere?
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: X-Force on October 24, 2025, 07:45:58 PM
That’s awesome!
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: full choke on October 25, 2025, 12:32:59 AM
Coolest thread on this forum! Keep it going!  :tup:
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 25, 2025, 07:48:18 PM
Since you aren't discharging a gun, can you hunt anywhere?

Just about, with all due respect to trespassing laws, and of course public interference. I wouldn't take birds, rabbits, or squirrels in a park where others are enjoying them. 
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: metlhead on October 25, 2025, 08:54:36 PM
Funny I was imagining how awesome to go clean out Borst Park
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: 2MANY on October 25, 2025, 09:23:11 PM
Start with the drug addicted homeless.
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 26, 2025, 07:55:31 PM
Start with the drug addicted homeless.

Wouldn't want my bird to get impaled on used meth needles!
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: JBG on October 27, 2025, 09:33:34 AM
"Wouldn't want my bird to get impaled on used meth needles!"

But could you imagine how awesome your Hawk would be meth'd out chasing after birds.   :drool: :IBCOOL: :dunno:
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 28, 2025, 07:58:06 AM
"Wouldn't want my bird to get impaled on used meth needles!"

But could you imagine how awesome your Hawk would be meth'd out chasing after birds.   :drool: :IBCOOL: :dunno:

Just what I need. A falconry bird attacking chip trucks on I-5, and winning!
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: hdshot on October 29, 2025, 03:22:35 PM
Start with the drug addicted homeless.

What an awful thing to say, is the waterfowl hunting that awful? 
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 29, 2025, 05:40:16 PM
#5
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 29, 2025, 06:01:39 PM
So the hawk grabs them by the head in flight?

Cool video
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 29, 2025, 06:49:38 PM
So the hawk grabs them by the head in flight?

Cool video

That's the way it's supposed to work.  Most of the time the duck out flies the hawk.  Being a Harris's Hawk, she's not as fast as a Goshawk. 
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: 2MANY on October 29, 2025, 07:29:09 PM
Real cool and rare stuff.
Congrats.
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: metlhead on October 29, 2025, 09:21:59 PM
Got a Cooper here at my place. Been around for years. I get to watch him nail dove and juncos
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 30, 2025, 07:24:18 AM
Got a Cooper here at my place. Been around for years. I get to watch him nail dove and juncos

There you go! A taste of falconry without all the federal and state paperwork!  Excellent!
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 30, 2025, 08:23:01 AM
Got a Cooper here at my place. Been around for years. I get to watch him nail dove and juncos

There you go! A taste of falconry without all the federal and state paperwork!  Excellent!

We have a Kestrel that just tees up the small birds around here, it gets noisy when they teach the young to fly. Saw it catch a grasshopper hopper one day.
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: TCHunter25 on October 30, 2025, 11:32:24 AM
I've always been fascinated by falconry.  How do you even go about getting your bird?  Are there breeders or do you go out and catch a baby and train it up?  Did you train the bird yourself?

If you're hunting ducks, do you use blind/decoys like a traditional shotgun hunter?
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 30, 2025, 12:43:42 PM
Got a Cooper here at my place. Been around for years. I get to watch him nail dove and juncos

There you go! A taste of falconry without all the federal and state paperwork!  Excellent!

We have a Kestrel that just tees up the small birds around here, it gets noisy when they teach the young to fly. Saw it catch a grasshopper hopper one day.

Our smallest falcon, and pound for pound, a real best! 
Title: Re: Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards!
Post by: Goshawk on October 30, 2025, 12:51:19 PM
I've always been fascinated by falconry.  How do you even go about getting your bird?  Are there breeders or do you go out and catch a baby and train it up?  Did you train the bird yourself?

If you're hunting ducks, do you use blind/decoys like a traditional shotgun hunter?

Modern day falconry is a mix of wild trapped birds and breeder raised birds.  I tend to go with trapping a wild bird over a breeder unless I'm unable to locate and trap a wild bird in time for the season.  It involves a two year apprenticeship, federal and state licensing, written test and facilities/equipment inspection, and sponsor.  If you're in western washington state, you're in just about the worst place to be a falconer. No miles of open fields for long flights. No quail, huns, pheasants, jackrabbits, chuckers, in the numbers needed to get a fresh bird up and running.  The single most important item is having access to great small game hunting grounds.  Anything less, and you're never going to be successful. It takes high numbers of game, time, and the ability to be very patient when everything else is going wrong.

Hunting style is closer to jump shooting. We locate the game, then flush it under the sight of the hawk or falcon.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/requirements/falconry 
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