If you are still convinced that your interest is more than casual and you are willing to undertake the study of falconry before getting a hawk, you must also be prepared to fulfill the additional requirements of becoming a falconer. Time and patience devoted solely to training and flying a hawk are among the most important demands. A bird in training requires substantially more time. Raptors, unlike a rifle or a bow, cannot be hung on the wall and forgotten until the next hunting trip. You must be able to provide food, shelter, equipment, and travel as a falconer.
Hawks have very specific requirements for fresh, lean, raw meat.
A library of falconry-related books is not required, but most falconers spend considerable amounts of money on books as a source of vital information and enjoyment. You must have permission to enter adequate and convenient locations in which to fly a hawk. The short-winged hawks are best flown in woodlots, hedgerows, and briar patches that make up their natural habitat. The falcons, or longwings, require wide open expanses of land where they may be flown high over the falconer. Areas that are gun hunted may render an otherwise suitable location unusable because of the potential threat to the hawk.