The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-08-04
HUNTING WITH HAWKS.
The Oid-Time Sport of FaIcOnrH
has Been Revived In
the East.

What strange fascination men can
find in the old sport of falconry, that
cruel swoop of a fierce monarch of the
air on the track of a bird whose only
safety lies in flight, is mystery to those
whose knowledge of the pastime is linz
Tied to what they have read about it in
old books. Sportsmen who have taken
to this method of capturing game birds
declare that this is the essence of ex-
citing sport. They argue that the man
who goes shooting with a modern
breech-loader may kill more birds, but
he has only the satisfaction of knowing
that he has trained himself to be ex-
pert in the killing process, while the
falconer has educated one of the wild
est and most unlikely creatures in ex-
istence to obey his will and kill as he
directs. Besides, say the falconers,
what is the shooting of a bird on the
wing compared with the exciting spec
tacle of falcon swooping with light
ning-ike swiftness on partridge that
as speeding for all its wings are worth
to get away.
Whatever its opponents may say, GER
tain it is that the sport of falconry, the
noble old sport that has been sung
about by ancient poets and pictured on
numberless canvases by famous paint
ers, is becoming a fashionable country
pastime, whose followers are as en-
thusiastic over their favorite amuse-
ment as ever was golf crank or yacht
ing fend. 1t is essentially cruel sport,
but no sport that has for its ultimate
object the killing of a bird or animal
can be considered humane, and the
death of a quarry by the talons of a
hawk is probably as painless an end
as being killed by rifle shot
A party of falconers will start from
the country house at which the meet
takes place with half a dozen or more
hawks, carried on the cadge, wooden
frame, on which they are transported
to the field. The birds are hooded. The
hoods are of silver, and the tuft enables
the owner to readily single out his bird
from others. When the moment for ac-
ton comes the falcon is taken from the
cadge and carried on the gloved hand of
the falconer, ready to be freed at any
instant for the flight after the game.
When the covey is reached the falcon
is relieved of its swivel, hood and leash
and released. She will dart up in the
air and wait there until the quarry is
sighted, circling round and round the
spot where she has been released. When
it is seen that the falcon is ready, rush
is made by the falconers and the dogs
that accompany the party to the spot
where the covey of cartridges has been
located.
Up rise the frightened birds, and, see
ing their enemy, the falcon, waiting to
seize them above. while unknown dam
gers confront them below, the birds
wing their way forward. bent on escap-
ing. 1t must be fast-fying partridge
that can outstrip the falcon in a race
The old and crafty birds of the covey
know this well, and their tactics are to
head for the densest bushes and seek
safety in concealment. The falcon,
with similarly active instinct, singles
out young bird that has sense enough
dSly to fly blindly on in hope of its
wing saving it from the falcons foot.
1t is usually short race. With a swoop
that the falconer who is an enthusiast
watches and admireS, as the angler does
the experts csSt of line, or the yacht
ing man the swift sweep of boat in
race. the hawk is down on the part
ridge, picking it up with her foot,
and carrying it off to a place of safety
where it can gorge at ease on the prize
Sometimes, as a reward for clever work.
the falcon is allowed to continue it's
meal, but if other work is required of
it the dead bird is added to the bag of
the party and the hunt is resumed.
When the next covey is reached an
other bird is allowed to show his Prov
ess. Rarely will bird kill more than
one bird out of a covey, point that the
falconers use in answering their crit
les who assert that the sport is a cruel
one, for say the falconers: I'VE get a
great deal more sport than the man who
shoots birds, with less killing than he
considers necessary to a successful
day" But occasionally a bird will kill
two cartridges from the same covey.
This was feat accomplished by Black
Lady recently, when, after killing one
bird, she was after another like flash.
The second one she was eating when
the falconers come upon her. The first
was caught by the dogs, the blow of
Black Lady having broken one of it's
wings.
A good days sport with trained birds
will result in the bagging of dozen
cartridges, not much of a result from a
hunters point of view, but still bag
of comfortable observation-disclosures
Enquirer.
Gannrn