It is officially over. I took Katana out yesterday and hunted 2 different fields. She had some awesome flights and took 2 rabbits. Today it was very hot, so I only hunted 1 field from which she took a rabbit and a rat. I had every intention of marathon hunting her today, but I just could not stand the heat. I fed her up until she could eat no more, and she is sitting in the garage fat and happy. I will put her in the mews soon, but it was so hot I did not want to risk sour crop.
It was a great season, and I can't wait until she finished molting! I just know that she will add a jack rabbit and pheasant to her game bag next year, and look forward to seeing how she molts out.
49 rabbits, 5 snakes, 2 grasshoppers, 3 frogs, 11 mice, 14 rats, 1 crawfish
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
That time of the season
Well, it is getting hotter and the rabbits are getting scarce. Let me add that when I woke yesterday I checked on Katana and found a nice plastic casting. Luckily she has had no ill effects from Wednesday's escapade.
I took her out yesterday to 3 different fields and it was tough finding game. The first field gave us nothing. In the second field she took a rat from her perch atop a building. She was following really well, so when the first rabbit broke she was in position for hot pursuit. After a beautiful flight, she nailed it. We kept on hawking with a few more slips, but that was it. I then took her to another field that we have never tried. It was close to a good field, so I figured - what the hey? No only were there no rabbits to be found, but no sign either. We did flip some rocks and boards (on the hints given by the puppies :) and she ended up taken 4 rats and a mouse. Not a bad day, but I wish we could have found more rabbits.
Today we hit 2 different fields. The first one gave us nothing. Well, I take that back - no rabbits. She did leave the top of a 3 story building to take a large frog which I allowed her to eat. We hit one more quick field that gave us one slip. She got very close and was in great position, but got hung up in the brush as the rabbit got away.
The end of the season is near - game is scarce and it is getting to hot to hunt. Sunday will be her last day before the molt, and I will fly her a bunch this weekend.
46 rabbits, 5 snakes, 2 grasshoppers, 3 frogs, 11 mice, 13 rats, 1 crawfish
I took her out yesterday to 3 different fields and it was tough finding game. The first field gave us nothing. In the second field she took a rat from her perch atop a building. She was following really well, so when the first rabbit broke she was in position for hot pursuit. After a beautiful flight, she nailed it. We kept on hawking with a few more slips, but that was it. I then took her to another field that we have never tried. It was close to a good field, so I figured - what the hey? No only were there no rabbits to be found, but no sign either. We did flip some rocks and boards (on the hints given by the puppies :) and she ended up taken 4 rats and a mouse. Not a bad day, but I wish we could have found more rabbits.
Today we hit 2 different fields. The first one gave us nothing. Well, I take that back - no rabbits. She did leave the top of a 3 story building to take a large frog which I allowed her to eat. We hit one more quick field that gave us one slip. She got very close and was in great position, but got hung up in the brush as the rabbit got away.
The end of the season is near - game is scarce and it is getting to hot to hunt. Sunday will be her last day before the molt, and I will fly her a bunch this weekend.
46 rabbits, 5 snakes, 2 grasshoppers, 3 frogs, 11 mice, 13 rats, 1 crawfish
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Another Lesson Learned
What a rotten day! I took Katana to 2 fields, and though her weight was dead-on and she followed great, we only saw 2 rabbits. The first one she flew hard but missed and the second kicked up when she was down on the ground.
At the end of the hunt, I always go to the car, put my beating stick up, and add a big chunk of meat to the lure. I do all this in the back of the SUV with the tailgate open. Today, as I did this, she was sitting in a tree on the other side of the field. I thought that I was blocking her view but I guess that I was wrong. Despite the fact that I have done this all season with no problem, today was the exception. As I was tying the piece of meat to the lure, I feel a quick gust of air and turned to see Katana leaving the area with the bag of tid bits and transfer pieces. Next thing I know, she was gone. This started my first solo telemetry chase and 10 minutes later I found her hunkered down in the tall grass. By this time she had eaten everything, and I can only assume this included the plastic baggie. When she spotted me she headed to a tree and I immediately called her to the garnished lure. I spoke to my sponsor and he said that she should cast up the baggie and be fine, but I will ask Krys's opinion when he wakes up in a few hours.
I learned the hard way not to take routine for granted, and Katana is much smarted than I give her credit for! Needless to say, this ended the hunt sooner than I planned and we walked away empty handed. At least I have my bird back....and a little piece of new wisdom!
45 rabbits, 5 snakes, 2 grasshoppers, 2 frogs, 10 mice, 9 rats, 1 crawfish
At the end of the hunt, I always go to the car, put my beating stick up, and add a big chunk of meat to the lure. I do all this in the back of the SUV with the tailgate open. Today, as I did this, she was sitting in a tree on the other side of the field. I thought that I was blocking her view but I guess that I was wrong. Despite the fact that I have done this all season with no problem, today was the exception. As I was tying the piece of meat to the lure, I feel a quick gust of air and turned to see Katana leaving the area with the bag of tid bits and transfer pieces. Next thing I know, she was gone. This started my first solo telemetry chase and 10 minutes later I found her hunkered down in the tall grass. By this time she had eaten everything, and I can only assume this included the plastic baggie. When she spotted me she headed to a tree and I immediately called her to the garnished lure. I spoke to my sponsor and he said that she should cast up the baggie and be fine, but I will ask Krys's opinion when he wakes up in a few hours.
I learned the hard way not to take routine for granted, and Katana is much smarted than I give her credit for! Needless to say, this ended the hunt sooner than I planned and we walked away empty handed. At least I have my bird back....and a little piece of new wisdom!
45 rabbits, 5 snakes, 2 grasshoppers, 2 frogs, 10 mice, 9 rats, 1 crawfish
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