Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-05
HAWKS TRAINED TO HUNT oeeR.
The eirds Pursue and Worry the Game
Until the sp6ytsmen Arrive.

Until the SpoStSm0n Nrrtvo.
Hunting deer with hawks has long
been a favorite sport in India. Many
native chiefs train the hawks for var.
ious species Of game. The hawk can.
not be trained for more than one sort
of sport. and those which are taught
to attack deer will not fly after other
game.
In deer la viking the aim II to let the
hawk worry the prey until hounds can
catch II. A couple of hawks will make
such vigorous assault ON deer that
further running Is impossible, and 1t
will easily fall a victim to the hounds,
which would bc unable to catch II by
| themselves.
The training of the hawk Is slow
matter. The bird must be caught
when exceedingly young. 1t Il brought
up on dccrskin and In company with
the hounds. The lure Is made Of. the
ears and skin of the head Of deer.
and the bird is taught that its life Is
intimately connected with that animal.
When the hawk has attained It's
| growth II Is taken out with an old bird
for a trial. II possible the first night
Of the bird Il ut q fawn or wounded
deer. where escape Ii impossible. I'm.
mediately after the deer 10 killed the
bird Ii fed some of Its nest, and then
the training Is over, ana the hawk
will never fly at any other animal.
Colonel II. Ward writes Interestingly
Of the sport In a recent issue Of the
Badminton Magazine. He gives the
following account Of days sport:
AT the head Of the party rides the
Bashi Bazuk. two hawks on his hand.
or carried by an assistant on foot. who
leads the two long haired Persian grey.
hounds In n leash. Just behind them
follow n brace Of handsome English
grcylountls, looking like thoroughbred
race horses beside cart horses. The
country. to all appearance. II n nat
plain. stretching away northward
some twelve or fifteen miles to the
range of mountains from 5000 to 5000
feet high. one Of the passes Of which,
the Malakund. has lately become fa-
nous as the scene Of Gen. Lows FIRST
battle on his march to Chltral.
''Aftcrriding some few miles. looking
over the top Of one of these low hills.
the Bashl Bazuk signals that deer nre
In sight. They are very wary. and nj.
though some 500 yards or. are moving
about In n restless state Of alarm: so
It Is decided to fly the two hawks. and
send with them the English race
hounds. while the party keeps perfect
~ still until the birds have singled out
their deer.
"Thec Is always an element Of I'm.
certainty II to which deer will Inc So.
lected: this time. as luck will have II.
out Of the small group Of five the
hawks chose the only buck. From
where we stand we watch the birds
taking q bee line for the deer. flying
low enough for the grcyhounds to see
them easily. The deer ARE not Mt NIL
disturbed about the hawks. they are
only anxious about tho hOrscmcn;
while the hounds. favored by the I'm.
evcnness Of the ground. run unseen,
with their heads In the air. watching
the hawks until they run into sight Of
; the deer. about 200 yards of.
"Tlien the race begins In earnest
and we follow mt our best speed. The
buck had not gone quarter Of mile
when one Of the hawks swOoped down
on him from a considerable height
striking him on the side. ana rolling
hounds were too far of to take advan
tagc OF this opportunity. the buck wal
up and or In an instant. The hawks
seemed TO realize the futlllty Of strik
Ing until the dogs were ne1ircr, fol
they changed their tactics; one perched
on the dcers back. and was carried
along with his wings stretched out
after the deer had tried In vain Il
shake the bird OF with succession
of bounds. the other buffeted the CHI
kara about the head until he was com
plctely bcwiidcrcd. and ran first Ont
way and then another. finally rushing
almost into the mouths OF the grey
hounds. who pulled him down Just q,
J we got up The Bashi Baxuk gave thu
coup do grace and fed his hawks; they
were hooded up. and the deer wal
strapped ON to saddle"
, Occasionally the deer escape through
; the Intervention Of another Of theil
, enemies-the eagle. That bird. o.
. which there are several species In In
|, dia. often walt until the hawks hav,
the game caught, ana then seize II. L
, an eagle appears while the hawks ar
flying after deer the hawks will I'm
nfediately desert the chase and hld'
, under any available object.
! So long as the eagle remains In sigh
,, It will be impossible to induce tn
hawks to fly. A days sport will Oftel
: be spoiled In this way unless It Is pos
: sible to kill the eagle, and that 4
: sometimes hard to do, as the eagle 4
wary, aud will not come within gun
shot.
Hawks are also trained to hunt va
riOus birds. the bustard, which
; about as large as a turkey, being Oftel
: caught In that way. The hawk can H.
much faster than the bustard, an,
; when the larger bird discovers thi
fact, he alights and prepares to fight
), He Is no match for his agile an
wiry antagonist, however, and Is 500
{ crippled. Hawks intended for hunt
D ing bustards need not be taken Will
e young, as It Is possible to train tn
o old birds for that work.
Hospital Tor Dogs.