Falconry: Can owls be used in falconry? #owls #falconry

When I was first starting to research falconry I contacted a falconer and said. “Hey I want to do falconry but I want an owl and want to do education”. He basically said “yah this sport probably isn’t what you are looking for. Owls aren’t really used. Hawks and falcons are way more reliably used and hunting with them is a requirement” I didn’t even know that falconry ment hunting with your bird and I instantly thought “that is way cooler that what I was originally thinking!!” Anyway he let me join him on a hunt a week later and within 6 months I got my first redtail and hunted with him like crazy. 4 years later I still hunt with my birds 5-6 times a week and I’m absolutely addicted. Falconers, please be nice to those who start by saying they want an owl. Take them on a hunt and their perspective on falconry is likely to change.

Thanks for the video, you don’t see many people taking owls in falconry seriously:))

Thank you, Ben!!..As always, Great info!!

This is excellent information! Thank you!! 🫡

Way back in old times here in Europe, when list of birds for falconry were limited to only local species. There was common to see people train Bubo bubo females on fox same way as its done with Goldens nowadays. Yet its rare to see now🤔

Had a rehab Pygmy Owl once that I raised until it could fly properly. Absolute pet. It loved sitting on my wife's shoulder in the morning as she was having her coffee. We hated to turn it loose as he seemed too tame to make it in the wild. I went back to check on him for a few days until he left town.

When people tell me something can be done but it's not recommended makes me want to do it more.

I’m actually looking at a saw whet or eastern screech. Both VERY tiny species. Not traditional by any means BUT I still plan to hunt them. A friends barn (she’s also a falconer) has a mouse problem and I have deer mice that come in to my basement every fall and winter so it would be indoor barn hunting, which would practically eliminate the biggest concern falconers have expressed with those species, which is predation by larger owl species, but we also do educational presentations at a local small zoo which I would like to also have an owl to show and talk about. I also have a red tailed hawk and our group has red tails, a hybrid falcon, and multiple Harris hawks, and all 3 of us are interested in a smaller owl species, but I work 3rd shift so I’m often up at night anyways. I’ve had falconers try to steer me away or tell me that if I want to do an owl that larger species (one specifically suggests a barred owl would be best, mainly saying they’re super easy and docile) but I also have to work around what my husband will let me get (size wise) and until we can get some acreage, I can only have a second bird if it’s a micro type species. Either way though I’m more than willing to do the work for them.

In our place in croatia people hunt with barn owl egle owl they hunt rabbit small birds an others Because there is no big choseo of hakws but there are so many owls

Ben, please please please do a video on "nano hawking" Using niche species like Shrikes!

owl falconry would have been much more successful if humans were a primarily nocturnal species

Falconry is hunting. Many newcomers do not understand this... It is already complex to have success with common speicies we use, even on an accessible and aboundant prey that fits your bird... Owls are wired different and are harder to hunt with. To not start with one is a good advice.

The only falconers I've talked to who have had success with owls all hunted at night -- can be a real pain

I actually raised a white face scops owl like the one in the picture.

Do you do live educational programs and how can I contact you privately pls

Hey Ben, hope this message finds you well. Would you be willing to have a quick video chat to discuss the topic? I have a GHO that i have been flying with some success and would love to talk with you and share the knowledge I get from it to other Portuguese speakers.

I’m just new to anything but dogs and I read Goldrn Eagles aren’t good to start with. So I figured an Owl might be better. Also, I do want to hunt with it on the homestead at night just gotta wear nods.

Do you think it would be possible for me to contact a falconer to let me tag along for a hunt, if I am not actually intending to become a falconer? I've been a birder for years and I love raptors, and I casually follow falconry-related things, and I would love to just see how it is done.

Owls are forbidden to hunt with in France except for Eurasian eagle owls, and it's a really recent add to the list ! But I don't think that they make the best specie to hunt with - our way that is- but maybe burrowing owls or other more diurnal owls would do wonder. Especially the ones that catches birds.

😎