Falconry Told Podcast: Recent Episodes
Israel Matson and Jonathan Munnier
Falconry is our passion. The desire to tell the stories of falconry has only grown stronger. Now we're looking bigger, aiming to continue the YouTube video productions, but also to create full-length documentaries, a podcast featuring renowned and interesting guests, and curate a photography based blog. Introducing Falconry Told.
Israel and Jon take some time out to announce some very important updates concerning current happenings and the future of the podcast. This is MUST HEAR INFO for everyone who regularly listens to the podcast! As always, thanks for all of your support and we appreciate you all!
In this eighth episode of the Cape Falconry Club series, Zayin Vermaak joins us to talk about some of the experiences he's had in the many years he's practiced falconry. He elaborates some about the species he's flown, including black sparrowhawks and lanner falcons, as well as some of the challenges he's faced with them! We have just a handful of episodes left in this series, and we hope you all have enjoyed the journey with us!
This Cape Falconry Club series continues on with this seventh episode, which features another falconer with a unique experience. Francois Breedt is another falconer who has had the experience of helping to get falconry legalized and a club established in their respective province, which was the Free State province at the time. Along with that experience, in this episode he also discusses his love for pointers, as well as his favorite prey to hunt, amongst other things. Thanks for continuing to join us as this series continues on!
The fun at the CFC meet continues with this sixth episode of the series. This recording was made shortly after a morning of hawking, where Thean Prinsloo bagged the first head of game at the meet. Later in the morning, after his falcon took a duck in a nice flight, we sat down to discuss his first few years in falconry. He talks about his experiences with the CFC and mentorship, some of the lessons he's learned being a relatively new falconer, as well as some of things he's had to do to incorporate falconry around his academic pursuits. A big thanks also goes out to Thean for the transportation to the meet and other places during my time in and around Cape Town!
We're about a quarter of the way through this series brought to you all from the Cape Falconry Club, and in this fifth episode of the series, we bring you a fun new first for the podcast! This episode brings you all Neil and Erin Deacon from Zimbabwe, and they also happen to be our first father/daughter guests on the podcast. They discuss some of the different things that they have to take into account while practicing falconry in Zimbabwe, particularly when it comes to the wildlife, and of course, some of their perspectives as a father mentoring his daughter and a young girl practicing falconry. As always, there's some good stories in this one you won't want to miss!
During another rainy day recording this fourth episode at the CFC meet, Trevor Oertel sits down with us to talk about his lengthy falconry history, and quite a history it is! Trevor is one of the falconers responsible for getting falconry legalized in the Western Cape province, as well as helping to form the Cape Falconry Club and South African Falconers Association. He provides a lot of valuable insight into the challenges that go with that whole process, and why falconry was illegal for a period of time in that part of South Africa. You won't want to miss hearing about some of these experiences!
We're joined by Dr. Kyle Perrin during a very rainy day at the CFC meet for this third episode of the Cape Falconry Club series. Kyle is another falconer who is also a veterinarian, with experience practicing not just in South Africa, but also the UK. He's also practiced falconry in both countries, so offers insights and stories into his falconry experiences from both perspectives. We hope you've been enjoying the series so far, and thanks again to the CFC and Falconry Heritage Trust for helping to make it possible!
In this second episode coming to you from the Cape Falconry Club, we're joined by its chairman, André Cilliers, and he does a great job of going into further detail about how falconry is regulated and conducted in the Western Cape. He also discusses his use of dogs in his falconry and what led him to choose his current dog, his journey to flying longwings, and some of the other challenges he's had to face in his position along with his personal falconry. He was also very instrumental in helping to organize and coordinate this series, and without his help, it probably wouldn't have happened, so we're very appreciative of his invitation to attend the CFC meet! We also thank the Falconry Heritage Trust for their grant to help meet travel expenses for this series, and if you want to find out more about them and help support their cause, please head to http://www.falconryheritage.org.
Thanks for joining us for the start of our journey in South Africa! Our first podcast episode of this series organized by the Cape Falconry Club features a conversation with Richard Huchzermeyer. We were able to get this recorded in between breaks during the joint IUCN/IAF conference being held in Cape Town the first weekend I was in South Africa, and along with hearing about Richard's falconry story, this is the first of many educational and informative episodes of how things work with falconry in the South African provinces. We hope you find the series as interesting as we did, and hopefully hearing how falconry is conducted from another country with different provincial perspectives will peak your interests as much as it did ours! We'd also like to thank the Falconry Heritage Trust for helping to sponsor the travel expenses to make this series possible. For more information about the mission of the FHT and how to donate to their cause, please go to https://www.falconryheritage.org.
This episode was recorded the week of the Archives Spring Rendezvous, and we're happy to finally be able to release it for you all! Joe and Alyssa were kind enough to host us at their home that week, and we took the opportunity to have a fun conversation catching each other up on our falconry seasons during the visit. Since Joe and Alyssa also haven't been guests on the podcast before, they also shared some of their favorite falconry and abatement stories while we were catching up. We hope you enjoy this fun falconry banter between friends before starting on our journey in South Africa next week!
It's only fitting that we conclude this Arizona Falconers Association series with a tribute to the man who kicked the series off, Harry McElroy. When we started putting this series together, it became apparent very quickly that a tribute episode was in order for Harry, who's made so many contributions to falconry and had an impact on so many falconers around the world. We were able to get in touch with some more of the falconers who've had the privelege of knowing Harry throughout the years and give them the chance to share some of their favorite memories and experiences with Harry. Thanks again so much for joining us for this special episode and we hope you've enjoyed the series! Next up: South Africa!!
In this last jaunt of our Arizona Falconers Association series, we're joined by Greg Smith, who discusses how falconry life has been for him during his years in Kingman, AZ. This episode was a great learning experience, since Greg has imprinted and flown a fair amount of accipiters. He also is one of the few people we've been able to talk to thus far who has experience imprinting an ornate hawk-eagle, and it was very informative finding out about how he approached that process, as well as how he's approached imprinting and working with his other falconry birds over the years. We have one very special episode left in this series before we head off to record our series for South Africa, so we hope you join us for the Arizona Falconers Association series finale coming soon!
In this next episode of the Arizona Falconers Association series, we make our next stop in Tucson to visit and talk with Brian Wood. After a long day day of traveling and recording, it was nice to finish the day by getting Brian's take on experiences with Cooper's hawks, quail hawking, and career decisions inspired by falconry. It's always nice getting to hear from anyone who's had success with Cooper's hawks, and his perspective on raising and flying them is another welcome addition to the podcast! It was a pleasure getting to meet Brian's family as well, and we thank them for their hospitality for letting us stay there before having to head back to Kingman the following day to wrap up the series!
These next couple of installments of the Arizona Falconers Association series take us down to Tucson, where we met first with Tim Riordan. In this episode, on top of sharing his experiences flying imprint Cooper's hawks and various longwings, Tim also shares some of his initial falconry experiences as another one of the people starting in the sport before a lot of the regulations were put into effect, and what it was like later being involved with the process of getting peregrine take back for the state of Arizona. Being as Arizona was the first state to be able to take eyas peregrines again after being on the endangered list for so long, this is an episode that offers another good perspective on what goes on behind the scenes with falconry organizations as they work to keep our sport active.
In this second installment brought to you all by the Arizona Falconers Association, we make the trek over to Cornville to meet up with Randy Hale! It was great seeing this part of the state again after so many years, and we were fortunate to be able to see some great scenery while also hearing some great falconry stories that Randy was willing to share. During his time in falconry, Randy has flown several Cooper's hawks, as well as other species of hawks and falcons. Some of the stories that he shared with us were truly unique, as well as some of his perspectives resulting from many years in the sport, and we're happy to have been able to have met him during our circuit through AZ! Stop in with us the next couple of weeks as we head towards the bottom of the state to Tucson!
Welcome to another special milestone episode of the Falconry Told Podcast! We've now hit the century mark, and thanks to the Arizona Falconers Association, we were able to do a series featuring falconers from all across the Grand Canyon State, including our esteemed guest for this episode, Harry McElroy! Harry and his wife Beth were kind enough to invite us into their home to discuss Harry's long tenure in falconry, which spanned several decades. At 93 years old, Harry is recently retired from falconry, but he has left behind a long legacy of contributions to the sport. While it's impossible to be able to fully encompass such a long life's worth of stories and experiences into an hour or so, we were happy to be able to share Harry's beginnings in falconry, his experiences living in Mexico, South America, and parts of the United States, and some of the knowledge that he's gleaned over the years flying several species of raptors and incorporating dogs and horses in falconry. We're truly honored to be able to do this series for Arizona and we hope you enjoy the rest of the episodes dedicated to some of Arizona's falconry heritage!
After meeting Krista for the first time at the Spring Rendezvous banquet, it became apparent that she had a unique perspective to offer in regards to her beginnings in falconry, and some of the other experiences that she's had since. We were happy to get a chance to find time late after the banquet ended to record this conversation about some of the adversity she faced initially getting into the sport, some of her many experiences getting to meet falconers around the world while doing falconry photography, and also reminiscing about one of her falconry mentors and sky trial goals. We hope everyone gets something positive from this episode and hope you enjoy! Check back soon for a memorable episode 100, and if you need any new falconry equipment, please check out @babayagagoshawk on Instagram or email maciejdzierwa@me.com for more info!
While at a recent trip to the Archives of Falconry Spring Rendezvous in Boise, ID, we got a chance to meet up with some longtime friends, and make some new ones. Our guest this episode, Tony James, is one of those new friends, and we're glad we got a chance to pull him aside for a bit to discuss some of his past and present falconry endeavors. This episode was going to happen during the UK series, but better late than never! On top of being an established falconer of many years, Tony is an avid falconry book connoisseur with a very large library, and is responsible for recently helping to bring about the English translation of The Art of Taming, Training, and Managing Hawks by P. De Gommer. We also have a few new series in the works for you coming up in the next couple of months, so enjoy! We would also like to introduce a new sponsor for the podcast, Baba Yaga Crafts! If you're in the market from some high quality, handmade equipment, Baba Yaga is worth checking out! Head to @babayagagoshawk on Instagram, or email at maciejdzierwa@me.com for more info.
Our second series featuring falconers from Mexico concludes with Eduardo García Espino. Eduardo was heard previously acting as translator for Leonardo Santana, and before heading back home to the US, we get a chance to discuss his falconry career, consisting mainly of flying Harris's hawks and goshawks primarily on quail. Eduardo also utilizes dogs with his falconry, and he's also known for breeding dogs, particularly his favorite breed, the vizsla. Thank you all again so much for continuing to listen, and to NAFA and the Falconry Fund for the small grant that helped fund us so we could make it for you! We hope you enjoyed the series!
This episode of our second series featuring falconers from Mexico brings you veterinarian Ayax Soleil Camacho, who is mostly known for flying aplomado falcons and Harris's hawks. This is another episode that required translation, provided courtesy of our host Gerardo Calderon. Along with discussing his experiences flying aplomado falcons and Harris's hawks, Ayax shared some of his other experiences with other species, as well as discussing some aspects of his veterinary practice. We thank you for continuing to join us on our journey, and keep an eye out for the conclusion of our second Mexico series next episode!
This fifth episode in our second series featuring falconers from Mexico brings you Gerardo Calderon. Gerardo was our host for the week, having been referred by Rodrigo Munro-Wilson, and his hospitality and planning are largely what made this second series possible. Having flown several species throughout his falconry career, with his current passion being flying peregrines at snipe and ducks, Gerardo's experiences bring a wealth of knowledge to the podcast. Gerardo has used dogs in falconry for a long time too, and his family is known as one of the first to breed Vizslas in Mexico. We can't thank Gerardo enough for his help during this series, and we hope you enjoy hearing about his falconry career!
This fourth episode in our second series featuring falconers from Mexico takes us to our host Gerardo's ranch, where some more amazing duck hawking took place. Shortly after Leo's falcon took a duck, we sat down with Leo to discuss some of the different species he has flown, some of his personal preferences and experiences with some of those species, and some interesting techniques he's used with Cooper's hawks. This episode marks another new experience for the podcast as well, with another new friend and guest on the podcast, Eduardo Garcia, translating for Leo during this conversation. We hope you enjoy! For more info on NAFA and the Falconry Fund, whose grant helped make this series happen, head to http://www.n-a-f-a.com and http://www.falconryfund.org.
Our second series featuring falconers from Mexico continues with Daniel Rassvetaieff, who was kind enough to invite us to his home in Toluca after a good morning hunt. Daniel is most known for his experiences hunting with barbary and peregrine falcons, which he primarily hunts snipe and ducks with. He is also one of the first people in Mexico to fly barbary falcons. On top of being an accomplished falconer, Daniel is also an established lawyer, and was kind enough to share some of his experiences in falconry with us during our trip. Thanks again to NAFA and the Falconry Fund for the small grant program that helps make projects like this possible!
This second episode of our follow up series featuring more falconers from Mexico takes us into Mexico City, where we joined Raul Ducoing Arjona at his home. We then sat down in his library and discussed his massive collection of falconry books and publications, some of his experiences trying to introduce new falconry regulations to Mexico's government, and his beginnings and stories in falconry. This is one that'll be particularly enjoyed by the book collectors and aficionados out there!
Thanks for joining us as we kick off part two of our Mexico series! Taking place mostly in areas around and just outside Mexico City, we start our second series featuring falconers from Mexico by talking with Rodrigo Porraz Medrano, who has been practicing falconry for decades. Rodrigo has flown Harris's hawks, peregrine falcons, aplomado falcons, and other species for a long time, and also has experience breeding raptors along with his brother, who is also a falconer. Special thanks again to the North American Falconer's Association (http://www.n-a-f-a.com) and the Falconry Fund (http://www.falconryfund.org), whose small grants program helps make projects like these possible! We can't wait to share the rest of these new stories and experiences from Mexico with you all!
We kick off our fifth season of the Falconry Told podcast with a golden eagle Q&A with Lauren McGough! In this episode, Lauren tries to address the rising interest in golden eagle take by answering many questions about the current golden eagle take process, manning, how to age eagles, and other important topics! There's a lot of good information in this episode that isn't always easy to find from one source, so if golden eagles interest you, you'll hopefully find this episode very informative. Thanks for joining us again after our short hiatus, and we'll continue on next week by starting part two of our Mexico series!
Our series featuring falconers from the UK concludes with it's seventeenth installment, which features John Mease. John is known in the UK for hunting with golden eagles, and is one of the few currently employed to do so as well! His story of how he has dedicated his life to falconry and ended up in his position hunting with eagles professionally is one you can't miss! We'd like to once again send a very special thank you to Simon Tyers and Neil Davies for helping to make this series happen. Without them, it definitely wouldn't have! Please head to http://www.thespecialistfalcon.com and http://pursuitfalconry.co.uk and check out their respective book and publication if you haven't yet, they're well worth it!
Due to previous time and logistical constraints during and around the time of The Game Fair, the last two installments of our UK series had to be recorded remotely. Fortunately, we were able to get the recordings coordinated, and in this sixteenth episode featuring falconers from the UK, we're joined by Jose and Charlotte Souto! Jose has been a guest previously, and while he's a renowned chef, he also helps his wife Charlotte with their birds of prey exhibition and education business, CJ's Birds of Prey. This episode offers other important perspectives not just for the hunting aspect of falconry, but also for what goes into educating the public and fostering positive perception for it as well. For more info on CJ's Birds of Prey, head to https://cjsbirdsofprey.co.uk. We thank you all for your continued support, and look forward to you joining us next episode for the conclusion of this series!
This fifteenth installment of our series featuring falconers from the UK is the product of another unique opportunity that doesn't come around very often! Simon Tyers was able to coordinate a visit to Falcon Mews, which is currently one of the largest commercial falcon breeding facilities. Peter Gill, who is our guest this episode and a co-owner of Falcon Mews, was generous enough to give us a tour while we were there, as well as discuss his history in falconry and propogation. If raptor propogation is a topic that interests you, this is a can't miss conversation!
This fourteenth installment of our series featuring falconers from the UK takes us to the British Archives of Falconry, where Mark Upton joins us to share some memories and nostalgia, as well as show us the archives! Mark comes from a background rich with falconry heritage, and this episode was a treat to record while surrounded by the atmosphere and aesthetics of the archives. This episode is another must listen, so hope you enjoy! There's only a few episodes left in this series, so stay tuned, and if you want to check out more info on the British Archives of Falconry, head to https://britisharchivesoffalconry.org.
In this thirteenth episode of our series featuring falconers from the UK, Andrew Ellis joins us to discuss his beginnings in the worlds of art and falconry! Those of you who are art collectors are probably already familiar with much of his work, so we're very happy to be able to bring you this episode full of insights into the beginnings of one of the more well-known artists and falconers in our community. It's always a treat to be able to get a glimpse into anyone's artistic world, let alone someone so versed in two artistic worlds at once, so we're very happy to be able to bring this conversation to you all! If you're interested in obtaining any of Andrew's works of art, please visit https://andrewellisart.com.
This twelfth episode in our UK falconry series highlights one of the other important aspects of falconry: camaraderie. Not all falconers are social with their practice, and that's perfectly fine. However, for a large majority of falconers across the world, the friendships and bonds formed in the field with others practicing this art are as important as the relationships formed with their raptors. This episode features one of those lifelong friendships, with Simon Tyers and Ian Butler taking the time to talk about how they formed their friendship in falconry, their falconry routine, and a few of their falconry highlights in the field! Enjoy!
This eleventh episode in our series featuring falconers from the UK was the first of a few recorded after meeting back up with Simon Tyers, who was kind enough to host the following week and offer up his lodge on his property as a recording spot. It was at Simon’s that Dave joined us to share some of his past history in falconry, as well as share some of his knowledge and practices, particularly pertaining to flying goshawks. Some of the things shared in this episode will particularly appeal to the austringers of the world, but everyone should be able to enjoy and get some insight from Dave’s experiences!
In this tenth installment of our series featuring falconers from the UK, our time at the Vowley Expo was at an end and it was time to meet up with Simon Tyers for the following week to continue our UK journey! During this next phase of our visit to the UK, Naomi Johns was able to meet up with us at The Game Fair to talk some about her motivation to pursue falconry, her involvement with Project Lugger, and her experiences with sparrowhawks, which she’s mostly known for. Special thanks to Charlotte and Jose Souto for letting us use their RV to record this episode and to Julie and Simon Tyers for the experience at The Game Fair!
In this ninth installment of our series featuring falconers from the UK, our media partner Neil Davies sits and talks with us after a long weekend coordinating the Vowley Expo and running for a quick visit to Stonehenge. It was great sitting down for a face-to-face with Neil and getting to know more about his passion for falconry and his motivations for having a falconry publication, and we're grateful for his support in helping make this series happen! Please go to http://www.pursuitfalconry.co.uk and check out Pursuit Falconry and Conservation magazine if you haven't yet. You won't be disappointed!
In this eighth installment of our series featuring falconers from the UK, and second to last episode recorded at the Vowley Expo, we're joined by Gordon Mellor. Gordon is currently chairman of the Hawk Board, and he has also served on the committees of other falconry clubs in the past as well. In this episode, he shares some of the aspects of the political side of falconry that has always interested him, as well as some of his different experiences with raptors, and of course, the stories that go with them. If you would like more info on the Hawk Board, head to http://www.hawkboard.uk.
In this seventh installment of our UK falconry series, Alan Greenhalgh takes some time away from the Vowley Expo to talk about his love of gyrfalcons, what led him to start breeding his own gyrs, and some of his more entertaining ups and downs in falconry. We still have several episodes left from the UK and a few left that were recorded at the Vowley Expo before moving on to a different location, so stay tuned!
In the sixth episode of our series featuring falconers from the UK, we got a chance to nab Dr. Tom Dutton before things got too busy at the Vowley Expo and got some information on some of the diseases that greatly impact us as falconers. There's a lot of good information in this episode, so hopefully you find it insightful and informational! If you're in the UK and want to find out more info about Tom's practice, head to http://gwexotics.com.
In this fifth episode of our series featuring falconers from the UK, Scottish falconer Kevin Robertson joins us after another long day at the Vowley Expo to discuss some of his experiences with various falconry equipment, running a bird of prey centre, and some of his different experiences while hunting in Scotland. If you're ever in Scotland and want to check out the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre, head to http://www.llbopc.co.uk for more info!
In this fourth installment of the UK falconry series, we're joined by long-tenured and well-known falconer Ronnie Moore. Ronnie is mostly known for his experiences with his golden eagle, which he was fortunate enough to be able to fly for many years. He's also a new author, and his new book is filled with many stories like the ones you'll be hearing in this episode, so you'll want to pick it up when it's released! This is another indispensable conversation you won't want to miss out on, so come join us for some more amazing stories from across the pond!
In this third episode of our UK falconry series, we spend some time with known author and founder, chairman, and trustee of Project Lugger, Bob Dalton. Bob was nice enough to take some time away during the Vowley Expo to discuss more about his conservation efforts involving Project Lugger, as well as talk some about his initial falconry experiences, and what inspired him to become an author. For those of you who've read and enjoyed any of Bob's books, this is one you can't miss! For more info on Project Lugger, please head to http://www.projectlugger.org.
In this second installment of our UK series, Calvin Crossman joins us after another busy day at the Vowley Expo to talk some falconry! Calvin is another known falconry equipment maker in the UK who is known particularly for his gloves, but also is regarded for some of the dog equipment and accessories he makes as well. Calvin shares some great experiences in this conversation, particularly in regards to golden eagles, so come join us while we continue our trek through the UK!
The start of this new international series kicks off at the Vowley Expo, where several episodes were recorded over the weekend of July 22-24, 2022. While attending the Vowley Expo, Steve Halsall took some time to sit down with us after setting up his booth to discuss, amongst other things, his passion for hood-making, his start in the sport, and of course, some of his experiences hawking in the UK! This series wouldn't be possible without the generosity of Neil Davies and Simon Tyers, who sponsored the airfare so that we could help get the stories and experiences of UK falconry out to the rest of the world. We hope you enjoy this new set of collective experiences from another part of the world!
This episode took place at the end of the hawking season after some classic Tennessee squirrel hawking! Jeff Fincher has been a guest on the podcast multiple times previously, but this is the first time David Hudson, Jeff's longtime hunting partner and former apprentice, has gotten a chance to share some of his experiences and stories. Good times always ensue when these two are around, and this time was no exception! You won't want to miss this fun conversation between friends about personal milestones, pearls of falconry wisdom, and of course, the hilarious new stories shared!
Our first ever international series comes to it's climactic conclusion in Monterrey, Mexico, with our host for the week, Rodrigo Munro-Wilson! On top of being an established falconer, raptor breeder, and rehabber, Rodrigo is also an accomplished plastic surgeon. In this episode, Rodrigo elaborates more on how falconry works in Mexico, and of course, shares some more great stories! He also has earned special thanks because without his kind generosity, this series couldn't have taken place. Special thanks also goes out once again to NAFA and the Falconry Fund for their small grants program, and to Tom and Jennifer Coulson for assisting with the introduction with Rodrigo. Enjoy!
After our short visit to Aguascalientes, our journey through Mexico comes to a conclusion back in Monterrey, where the final two episodes of our seven part series were recorded. This sixth episode of the series features Enrique Medel, known around Mexico for his falconry, abatement, and hoods. He had some unique stories to tell, so we're excited to share them with you! Stay tuned for our last episode from this series in Mexico, coming to you soon!
This second episode recorded in Aguascalientes features Carlos Cruz, and is the fifth installment in our international series showcasing some of the great falconry Mexico has to offer! It was fun to watch Carlos take a duck with his peregrine the same day as Martin's, and afterwards, he was kind enough to join us and share some of his experiences and stories, including some of his favorite peregrine flights and experiences with passage aplomado falcons. We still have two episodes left to conclude our adventures in Mexico, so stay tuned!
This fourth installment of our international series featuring Mexico takes us next to Aguascalientes, where Martin Guzman showed us some great flights with his peregrine falcons, then was kind enough to host us for dinner, and of course, shared some of his stories and experiences from his 40 plus years of falconry! Stay tuned, we still have three more great episodes coming to you from Mexico!
This third installment of our series featuring some of Mexico's finest continues in Monterrey, just before hitting the road again and making our way towards Aguascalientes! Eduardo Muñoz Sheridan continues the series by sharing some of his experiences hawking with Harris's hawks around Monterrey, while also sharing his perspective on falconry and the changes that have occurred around Monterrey. We still have four episodes of great falconry content left coming to you from Mexico, so stay tuned! You won't want to miss out!
This second installment of our international series featuring Mexico continues in Monterrey, where we get to meet Antonio Miguel Musi. Antonio shares some of his background, different perspectives on the growth of Monterrey and how that has affected falconry around that area, and reflects on some of the more exceptional flights he's witnessed in falconry, particularly with his Harris's hawks. Stay tuned, we have many more installments left in this fascinating series delving into the world of falconry in Mexico!
This initial installment of our first ever international series begins in Monterrey, Mexico. Here, Diego Arpee launches our Mexican falconry journey by discussing his passion for falconry, falconry education, and of course, sharing some of his most memorable falconry moments! Special thanks again to NAFA and the Falconry Fund for their small grant program, which helps opportunities like this to happen, and to you the listeners, who have continued to help us achieve yet more milestones! Your support and kind words have been the foundation upon which this production has been built, and we hope you continue on this journey with us!
Recorded in early September, 2018 by John Goodell. On February 5th, 2019 Tom passed away at the age of 91. This episode was originally published, in part, on the Northwest Nature Matters podcast. Now, Goodell has provided us with the rest of the audio that was never shared. Featuring international falconry icon Tom Cade, founder of The Peregrine Fund. With additional commentary by Kent Carnie, founder of The Archives of Falconry.
Kent Carnie, 91 years old. His age is a big part of what makes this episode so special as it gives us a rare glimpse into early American falconry, and a career in falconry beginning before most listening to this episode were even born. Kent is to thank for the world-renowned Archives of Falconry, and in this episode Kent takes us through his life’s story, and the story of the Archives.
When we consider falconry, we think of great adventures pursuing wild game with trained birds of prey. But we also think of its rich history, we think of conservation, the arts, biology, and so many other facets of a sport that encompasses but also transcends the mere act of chasing quarry… And in this episode, John Goodell brings us through his career as a biologist, conservationist, falconer, museum curator, and now Curator for the Archives of Falconry… So much of everything we love as falconers, in one conversation with one great guy.
This first episode kicking off season four was recorded at Kentucky's recent annual field meet, where Tyler Rankin joined us again to fill us in on the latest with the Kentucky Falconers Association, talk about how his current falconry season has been going, and of course, share a few more of his favorite falconry stories!
This remote episode brings another guest from across the pond! Hailing from the UK, Jose is a falconer, renowned chef, and author of the books Venison: The Game Larder and Feathers: The Game Larder. He and his wife Charlotte, who also runs CJ's Birds of Prey, have also successfully bred many birds. This is another great episode from a new friend in the UK you can't miss out on!
In this finale of the New Mexico Falconer's Association Series, we took some time to talk with Steve Bodio to get a few collective words of wisdom, as well as hear how he got his start into falconry. This is also largely a tribute episode, with falconers Paul Domski, Lauren McGough, and Matt Mullenix kindly taking the time to discuss some of the aspects of Steve's writings that have inspired them, as well as some of their favorite memories with Steve. Thanks again for listening and we hope you've enjoyed learning more about New Mexico's falconry history!
In this fifth installment of the New Mexico Falconer's Association podcast series, Tom Smylie discusses more of his early falconry inspirations, experiences with falconry around the world, and of course, more insights into New Mexico's falconry history. This is a man with a huge wealth of knowledge and experiences, and like the other episodes in this series, there's plenty of stories you won't want to miss out on!
This episode featuring Madison Haley is the fourth installment of the New Mexico Falconer's Association Series. Madison has been a falconer for 50 years, so he had a lot of good stories and insights to share, including the evolution of the falconry landscape in New Mexico that once included a lot of premium prairie chicken and duck hawking. You won't want to miss out on some of these experiences brought to you by another of New Mexico's finest!
This third installment of the NM Falconer's Association Series features Greg Rabourn. At a young age, Greg moved to New Mexico with his family, where he quickly discovered his love for hunting jackrabbits. In his early twenties, he relocated to Farmington, NM, and started his falconry career. After flying goshawks, he was introduced to hawking jackrabbits with falcons and dogs, and has been at that for the last 15 years. There's some great stories and experiences in this episode you won't want to miss!
Thanks for joining us for the second installment of the New Mexico Falconer's Association Series! This episode features Matt Mitchell, who is a native New Mexican that has been involved in falconry since 1968. He has since flown most species of raptor, starting out with Harris's hawks before discovering his love for falcons. He has also captive bred raptors since 1989, and continues to breed and hunt with raptors in central New Mexico. We still have plenty left to go in this series, so keep tuning back in!
This is the start of a series of episodes featuring falconers from the New Mexico Falconer's Association. This first episode in the series features Paul Domski, a falconer of 22 years, and president of the NM Falconer's Association of 10 years. Paul was also on the NAFA board for 7 years, and is also known for running his multiple salukis on jackrabbits and his work with that particular breed of dog. These are very insightful episodes that shed light on the world of NM falconry that you won't want to miss!
This week, Jon records a special remote episode with the author of The Specialist Falcon, Simon Tyers. A falconer for over 50 years, Simon's journey has amassed a ton of experience as both falconer and dog trainer. Always setting the bar high for himself and seeking perfection, he was inspired to share his culmination of experiences with his book, and Jon was fortunate enough to get to discuss these things with him during this episode, along with a special opportunity from the Falconry Fund! For more info on that, go to https://www.falconryfund.org/redgrouse-sweepstakes. To get Simon's book, head to www.thespecialistfalcon.com.
Al Ross, warmly known as "Mr. Merlin" amongst his peers, has long been a pioneer in the sport of falconry. Growing up without the knowledge or access to information later falconers would enjoy, he discovered and learned much of what he's now recognized for developing, almost entirely from studying the raptors in the wild themselves. From being the first to make a game hawk out of a Harris's Hawk, to "outer-mewing" Merlins season after season, to showing the world new things that these capable little falcons were able to do... Even those who have known Al Ross from the beginning still have a hard time keeping up!
While hanging out at the Coulson's, Jon was able to catch up face to face with Matt Mullenix after almost exactly two years to discuss his new book, Four Falconry Fundamentals, and the principles, stories, and mindset that inspired him to write it. It's another fun episode that current and prospective falconers can benefit from! To get your copy of Four Falconry Fundamentals, head to amazon.com, or to get your hands on a copy of his previous books, American Kestrels in Modern Falconry or In Season, head to westernsporting.com.
This marks another big milestone for the Falconry Told Podcast, which features widely known Harris's Hawk breeders and curators of the Baywing Database, Tom and Jennifer Coulson! You won't want to miss this conversation with them as they discuss their falconry origins, their breeding project, and some great falconry stories! Enjoy, and thank you all so much for the support over three years and 50 episodes!
This episode, Jon reconnects with friend and environmental consultant Tyler Rankin, who is also the current president of the Kentucky Falconers Association, to discuss a range of topics from sharp-shinned hawk research, dirt and squirrel hawking, and of course, Tyler's path to falconry. As always, it's another episode you'll definitely want to check out!
Howling winds buffet us as Jeremy Kessler and I hunker over my podcasting equipment at the table in Steve Jones' customized school bus. In this episode, we learn about Jeremy Kessler. At the time of recording, Jeremy is flying a cast of falcons… and brings a very interesting perspective into this episode. Despite the most careful planning and preparation, falconry often spirals into a chaotic sport. Many of us spend our days doing everything we can to avoid chaos, to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Jeremy embraces the chaos.
While working in Wyoming, Jon was able to meet up with Vahé to check out his facilities and discuss a myriad of topics, including his prior life in photography, abatement, sky trials, and of course, his falconry journey. This is definitely another can't miss episode! For more info about Vahé and his abatement services, please head to http://www.falconforce.com.
Each year, a hardy group of falconers tow their campers and teepees far into the remote southwestern Wyoming desert, where they situate them around Steve Jones' customized school bus. In this episode, we learn about Steve Jones, widely known for his American Falconry Magazine. From his falconry origins, to the beginning of their annual grouse camp tradition, flying casts of falcons, and so much more!
Jon makes a short trip to Idaho to do some flying and trapping with friends Brad and Kelly Smoot! Long time falconers and falconry equipment makers, Brad and Kelly shed light on their path to falconry, their favorite falconry preferences, and what's next on their falconry journey! We hope you enjoy the animal cameos and stories, which are sure to make any falconer feel right at home!
After doing some morning trapping, Jon sits down with Stephanie to discuss her falconry journey thus far. Whether it was starting her falconry path in 2016 after graduating with her Bachelor's degree or recently pursuing her Master's degree in wildlife biology and conservation in Scotland, Stephanie's stories and perspectives were insightful to hear! We hope you enjoy hearing about her falconry journey thus far, and thanks for joining us for another episode of the Falconry Told Podcast!
If you know Gary, you know how he wants the spotlight anywhere but on him… But with such a wide-ranging reputation, it was only a matter of time before we would catch him on his trips to Wyoming to hawk Sage Grouse. Between hawking, working his Setter “Hope”, fishing for trout, arrowhead hunting, or competing with Steve at a thousand games of cornhole, pinning him down was no small task. Boberg is widely known, and loved. Decades of hard hawking alongside his California peers and his positive, genuine personality have made him a staple of West Coast falconry friendships. In this episode, we get to know Gary’s story… A lot of you will know many of the names he drops. We experience California as it once was, through Cooper’s Hawk hunting exploits and the golden age of duck hawking in the state, as we follow Gary’s illustrious falconry journey from boyhood to his latest endeavors with eagles and chasing the pinnacle moments of grouse hawking.
In this episode, sit in with Jon as he meets Kris Klosterman of Springfield, Ohio, a professional fire fighter (amongst other things) and falconer of seven years, for the first time to discuss the ever challenging balance between falconry and careers, red tail hawking with squirrels, and other stories! This is definitely a diverse and fun episode you won't want to miss!
Join Jon as he meets up with Colombus, OH falconer Joe Dorrian to discuss raptor education, as well as the other traditional aspects of falconry! Joe’s fascination with falconry started at an early age. Unfortunately, life got in the way and it wasn’t until he completed his MA that he seriously pursued the sport. Since that time, Joe has served as Ohio’s first Apprentice Director and started only the sixth school of falconry (the Ohio School of Falconry) in the United States in 2014. Tune in to hear his story!
Pinning Dave Marshall down proved to be no small feat. But with the request being heard so many times, I persisted. “We want to know the story of Marshall!” Being the premier designer and manufacturer of a falconer’s most important, aye, crucial kit, Marshall Radio is a titan in the falconry world. To them is owed not just the salvation of many a falconry bird, but more so the newfound joy that GPS has brought to falconers around the globe, as we can watch and marvel at our bird’s prowess, with the freedom and security only real-time data can provide. The story of this company is intrinsically tied into the story of its namesake, Dave Marshall. That’s the story we all wanted, and the story episode 40 of the Falconry Told Podcast has only just begun to tell.
Emmy-winning composer, sound designer, and falconer Jason Hausman joins Jon for this special Coronavirus edition of the Falconry Told Podcast. Jason is the owner of Hot Sake creative sound boutique that specializes in scoring, foley, and sound for film, TV, and other media. Jason also produces music for other artists, with a focus on Hip-Hop and R&B. Along with being Eastern Director of AFC for two terms, one term as VP of the NC Falconers Guild, and a founding board member of the Carolina Hawking Club, he has also volunteered with the Carolina Raptor Center working with golden eagles and other raptors. He has been a falconer for over 15 years and is mostly known for squirrel-hawking with red tails and hunting with passage peregrine falcons with Scout, his German Shorthaired Pointer.
How do you pay your respects to someone who drastically impacted the course of your life? Inspiring you to pursue your own journey of discovery, along the same lines of passion this person set? We’re not sure, but in this episode, Israel Matson pays his respects to William “Bill” Davis, the first falconer he watched practice the art, and a true giant of a human. So we look at a short glimpse into the man who Bill was, as well as at his favorite form of falconry, pursuing squirrels with Red-Tailed Hawks.
Because Israel’s story regarding Bill has to do with the impact he made on him as a pre-apprentice, this podcast is also dedicated to the would-be, curious, interested pre-apprentice falconers out there. The ones interested in the sport, but looking for a better understanding of the process to becoming a licensed, practicing falconer.
Practicing falconry for over 20 years in Germany and Spain, Björn Eilers joins us to share a glimpse into the world of high flying, hard hitting gamehawks in his corners of Europe. This episode covers everything from Björn’s early days in falconry, to his pinnacle moments, to his ambitions for the future, with a little dose of history and day to day European falconry mixed in. Steve Chindgren, longtime friend of Björn, recommended and arranged this episode, and the timing was impeccable. In the US for business, Björn would also attend the Utah Sky Trials as guest speaker, after spending time out hawking with Hub Quade and Chindgren.
Jon recently had a chance to attend Jeff's annual squirrel hawking meet where he was able to sit down with Jeff to rehash some of his funnier falconry and abatement experiences, plus talk about his recent trip to Scotland and other recent events! Tune in for some great stories, and thanks again to Jeff for returning for another episode!
Hub Quade, you’ve heard the name, you’ve seen the world-class sculptures, you’ve heard the legends of what passage prairies, peregrines, and gyrfalcons are capable of, now with the Falconry Told Podcast, you get to know the man himself. I titled this episode, “Natural Falconry” though I don’t provide a definition for this term… It’s just the way I began to describe my experience out hawking with Hub Quade with Steve Chindgren and Bjorn Eilers in Wyoming. I dare say, and believe those who know them would back me up, that Hub is known for his desire for things to be as natural as possible. His artwork looks natural, while he’s flown them in the past, he doesn’t feel hybrids are natural, he likes to hunt natural quarry in their natural habitat, with their natural predators. It’s all very organic,
It’s all very organic, he seems to hunger for that connection to nature, to the circle of life, to the wild—that we as falconers can all relate to.
Very few falconers don’t know what a Steve Tait hood looks like. The product of decades of honing a skillset and design, Tait is internationally renowned in the falconry community for his obsession with fitment. A good, proper, and beautiful hood, must fit well above all else. But Tait is so much more than a hoodmaker, he’s an artist in so many mediums, give him a canvas and you’ll get a drop-dead gorgeous piece, give him clay and he’ll do the same. A falconer from way back, he’s also earned a name for himself in recent times for the same obsessive approach he’s brought to his line of English Pointers, with over a dozen falconers flying falcons over dogs produced by Steve that they claim are “among the best.” But we’ll let him do the talking, enjoy!
Frank Taylor has become somewhat of an American falconry icon for his decades of work trapping and banding raptors on the North Shore. Hailing from Minnesota, Frank’s contributions to the sport of falconry and to the study of birds of prey and their migration patterns has earned him the respect of falconers everywhere. Episode 33 of the Falconry Told Podcast dives into Frank’s falconry origins, the development of his career and touching once again on the subject of art in falconry, see some of his pieces below!
Tanner Baird is a falconer from Indiana who had graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science. He currently studies law at the University of Texas. Dane Erickson is an outdoorsman and student at Purdue University studying agricultural economics and political science. In May of 2019 Tanner and Dane were selected to participate in a study that confirmed Golden Eagle depredation of lambs in Wyoming, which concluded with the USDA confirmation of 7 separate eagle kills and the issuance of permits to capture 2 Golden Eagles for use in falconry.
Dr. Pat Redig is known and respected by falconers and raptor enthusiasts pretty much everywhere. He’s widely recognized for his central role in bringing about the dawn of modern bird-of-prey medicine and veterinary practice… We look back at what steered a young wildlife lover into the direction of falconry and avian veterinary pioneering, and as you can imagine, it has to do with inadequacies in the field concerning raptor healthcare that left an impression on him. We’re all thankful for that, because before he came along, the best science we had to lean on to care for our birds came from the middle-ages.
Originally from Illinois, Todd is a recent transplant to the Palmer Divide in Colorado, where he's been learning to adapt to hunting jackrabbits with his Harris's hawk after flying red tails on squirrels and cottontails for years. Once part owner of a stable isotope lab, Todd also utilized the lab to analyze feathers of migrating, juvenile sharp-shinned hawks trapped at the Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station as part of his thesis research at the University of Illinois. He continues to participate in raptor research when possible.
Second generation falconry in California, a young boy who’s heart and mind were chosen by a hawk circling above, and the relationships only falconry can forge. Eloy Carlin, widely known for his finesse in duck-hawking, joins us for this installment of the Falconry Told Podcast to talk childhood falconry, how the falconry landscape has changed over the years—resulting in his move to New Mexico where he continues to fly his falcons on ducks—and so much more. I have to admit this episode is touching, it’s no wonder everybody who knows Eloy, loves Eloy.
This week's episode brings you all Chase Delles, well known for his experiences with eagles, including the importation of species not common or native here in the United States. Chase's long history with falconry and his unique perspective into how he began his path towards flying eagles makes for another can't miss episode! Thanks as always for joining us!
Joining us from the Land Down Under is Peter Nolan, a face now familiar in the United States for his annual visits, especially to NAFA meets, and his extended stint of living here. Falconry is not allowed in Australia, and we spend much of our time exploring how Peter gets his fix. Of course, that’s after I learned falconry is illegal in Australia, and we discussed why… We look at Peter’s falconry story from his early days as a rehabber to his time living in the US, how he ended up as the Kangaroo leather vendor at every NAFA, and what he’s doing now that he’s back in the Land Down Under.
Greg Thomas is a familiar face in the circles of falconry, his regular attendance at NAFA meets has spanned decades. This is where many of us met him, and doubtless, where many of you probably will in the future. Greg’s a natural storyteller, and his recollections of his adventures over his long career make this a spectacularly interesting episode. Known far and wide for his experience and enthusiasm for Red-Tailed Hawks, Greg discusses his early roots to his first kill (at a competitive NAFA meet, which he then won), to the impact the sport has on one who becomes intoxicated with it, this episode is a journey into the heart and soul of falconry.
This week we bring you all a special milestone double episode edition of the podcast! To celebrate our 25th episode and another productive NAFA meet, we give you both Jenni Buckley and Anne Price, both accomplished falconers from Colorado! Jenni has been flying a Harris's hawk over a dachshund for multiple seasons and has held positions in NAFA previously, and Anne is a regulatory liaison for the Colorado Hawking Club and Curator of Raptors for the Raptor Education Foundation. Both have a lot to offer, so have fun and enjoy this special edition of the Falconry Told Podcast!
Based in New York where he flies multiple long-wings primarily on duck, Anatoly Tokar originally hails from Ukraine, where his falconry story begins. Falconry in post-Soviet Ukraine was interesting, if not challenging. Limited to no access to any established falconry culture or literary works, two World Wars had left Anatoly and other Ukrainians with little choice but to figure out falconry on their own... No small task. From exercising his birds atop the downtown high-rise where he lived, to flying goshawks as if they were falcons. Anatoly is now an American falconer with a passion for long-wings, and perhaps for the big western skies as well. We'll see how long New York can hold him.
Bon has been a falconer and musician for decades, with both pastimes giving meaning to a large part of his life. Join us this week as we dive into his many falconry and musical endeavors!
Join us for the immersive storytelling of Manu Carrasco, a larger-than-life artist whose work takes direct inspiration from falconry but more-so nature in general, where he spends his time amongst the big cats of the world, his first love and passion. This episode comes on the tail of Manny’s recent trip back to Africa, a continent he just can’t seem to get enough of, specifically this time he was exploring the Maasai Mara together with his organization Expedition Art. In this episode we explore Manu’s roots as an artist and falconer, and navigate the subject of passion amongst a variety of exciting topics.
Longwings galore in the sunshine state! Eric Edwards has been flying merlins, peregrines, and barbary falcons for a long time. Join us as we discuss beach trapping, various experiences had with some of the 30 plus merlins flown, and even some crazy bird show stories you won't want to miss!
Diving headfirst out of an airplane with no experience, flying airplanes himself as a pilot, orchestrating falconry hunts at the airport by communicating with the control tower via radio, this guy is a FLIGHT FANATIC. Rob Summers of Oklahoma joins Israel Matson for this episode of the Falconry Told Podcast, and boy is this an interesting episode.
Tim Neese of Indiana joins Jonathan Munnier for this episode of the Falconry Told Podcast. Catching the fever in the 70’s, Tim has been in the pursuit of wild quarry with trained birds of prey ever since… And he recounts his early, pre-regulation falconry days as well as a variety of topics centered primarily on all-things Indiana hawking. A hard-at-it career with many exemplary goshawks, red-tailed hawks, and more to show for it, Tim’s insight and accounts of nest-hunting and more are not to be missed!
Caleb Stroh joins Israel Matson and Zane Muhlestein for this episode of the Falconry Told Podcast. A Utah native, Caleb’s story has been about hunting from a young age, when he’d go for elk hunts in the rugged Uinta wilderness with his dad, eventually discovering Forest Grouse and then pretty much every conceivable type of Upland Game hunting. Watching a hillside for elk and deer wasn’t enough, but eventually even the challenges of hunting Snowcock, Ptarmigan, Chukkar, etc., wasn’t that satisfying either. Then he discovered falconry and the rest, well, you’ll hear the rest in this episode of the Falconry Told Podcast!
osh and Sarah Hoos are a husband and wife falconry couple from Tennessee who are also well known in the horse training community. They join Jonathan Munnier for this week’s episode of the Falconry Told Podcast to offer their experiences in falconry and how they've incorporated it into their lives. Enjoy!
Rob Palmer joins Israel Matson & Steve Chindgren on this episode of the Falconry Told Podcast. Meet one of the most well-known and respected photographers in the falconry community, but also in the wildlife photography community at large. This episode dives into his falconry story, how he followed his passion for photography through some of the greater challenges in his life, and so much more!
Clint Carpenter joins Jonathan Munnier in the studio on this episode of the Falconry Told Podcast. A lifelong Kentucky native, Clint’s strong small-game hunting background made transitioning to falconry a sure thing. Hawking rabbit and squirrel with Red-Tailed Hawks and then imprinting Cooper’s Hawks and more earned Carpenter a reputation of being one of the more hard-core hawkers in the region, and as newly elected Kentucky Falconer’s Association president, he looks to continue the work of revitalizing falconry in his home state.
Tim Jessell, the popular Oklahoma based falconer & illustrator behind Marshall Radio's larger than life new mural, joins us for this episode of the Falconry Told Podcast. Hosted by Israel Matson, this episode takes a look at Tim’s falconry beginnings, as well as how falconry has inspired and shaped his career as an illustrator. There’s something about falconry that inspires so many falconers to pick up a pencil and draw, sculpt beautiful sculptures, and so many other artistic mediums of expressing, that it caught Tim’s attention early on in his career, and as we explore this topic, we learn more about the magic of falconry.
Be sure to visit timjessell.com and thanks again to marshallradio.com for bringing this episode together!
This episode of the Falconry Told Podcast hosted by Jonathan Munnier features Jeff Fincher. Jeff Fincher has been a falconer since the late 90s and has had a successful career in bird abatement. He's primarily known in the Tennessee area and other parts of the midwest for hunting squirrels with red tailed hawks, which is his passion.
This week's episode comes to you from the Kentucky Falconer's Association annual picnic with two falconers. Dave Tuttle is an award-winning taxidermist with a wide array of animals he's worked on to craft his art. As a falconer of several years, he's also flown a variety raptors in various states. Jared Smith also has experience with several different species of raptors from red tails, Harris hawks, kestrels, Cooper's hawks, and goshawks.
Hosted by Israel Matson for The Falconry Fund, Inc. Doug Pineo joins us for the next installment of the Falconry Fund Podcast. Carter Wilford of the Falconry Fund joins as co-host on this episode, as we learn about Pineo's falconry beginnings, his world-renowned falconry gear, his work serving NAFA, and why he believes the Falconry Fund is of vital importance to the future of the art he's dedicated his life and career to.
Hosted by Israel Matson for The Falconry Fund, Inc. Lauren McGough joins us for the next installment of the Falconry Fund Podcast. Lauren's falconry career drew early fame after her adventures hawking foxes with Golden Eagles in Mongolia caught the attention of many. Since then, she has dedicated the entirety of her career to these magnificent birds of prey, hunting jackrabbits in the wide open spaces of the United States when she's not exploring other falconry abroad, such as her most recent adventure which I can't give away any details for, you'll have to listen to find out! Listen in to hear about Lauren's experiences, and the chain of events that lead to her ending up on 60 minutes!
Hosted by Jonathan Munnier for The Falconry Fund, Inc. Mark Hermann of Indiana joins us for the next installment of the Falconry Fund Podcast. Mark is well known in Indiana for his experience with accipiters, particularly goshawks. Mark also serves as the Southern Director for the Indiana Falconer's Association, Indiana's state falconry organization. Listen in to hear about Mark's experiences in how he got into falconry, training goshawks, and nest hunting!
Jamaica Smith joins us for an especially epic episode of the Falconry Fund Podcast: Talking horseback hawking in Arizona, defining experiences with Harry McElroy, slope-soar hawking cottontails with a Ferruginous Hawk, and applying falconry techniques to Golden Eagle rehabbing. This one is action packed!
Episode 7 brings you Matthew Mullenix, the author of American Kestrels in Modern Falconry, to discuss kestrels, aspiring apprentices, Harris's hawks, and crawfish boils!
A roundtable discussion on the topic of "Why the Falconry Fund" with Carter Wilford of the Falconry Fund, Sheldon Nicolle - President of NAFA, Martin Geleynse - VP of NAFA, James Maynard - NAFA Legal Counsel, and a segment with Ralph Rogers of the Falconry Fund.
Falconry as we know it is a relatively new thing. Tom Smylie entered the American falconry scene as it was just decades old, and the landscape for the sport was literally Wild West. There were no regulations, no rules, hardly any clubs or organizations, and all of this had to be made up as these falconry pioneers went along. Tom donated the first two pairs of breeding Peregrines to the cause of saving the species from extinction by DDT. He was also there at the founding of the North American Falconry Association, and faithfully served the organization for many years. But we’ll let Tom tell his story!
Squirrel hawking, Merlins in the Southeast, finding and getting access to hunting land where public lands are scarce, and monitoring loads of falcons in the remote Nevada Desert!? Episode 4 of the Falconry Told Podcast has it all! Nick Yashko is relatively new to the sport of falconry, 22 years old with 3 seasons under his belt, but he’s already experienced his fair share of adventure and his perspective is great to have this early on in our podcast season. Enjoy!
After recording the previous episode, that was Episode 2 with Steve Chindgren, I was on my way home late that night and I get a text, t’s Steve, he wanted the man who joins us for this episode, Dr. Jeff Broadbent, to come on. Well here we are, what you’re about to hear changed me, and I believe it will change you as well. Dr. Broadbent has a reputation of being among the most excellent of falconers to ever refine and polish the sport, and his experiences and speaking eloquence are powerful, and he is a Setter guy, so I’m thrilled and extremely honored to join Steve Chindgren and Jeff Broadbent for Episode 3 of the Falconry Told Podcast. In this episode we talk a little bit about Dr. Broadbent’s career, the highs and lows of falconry, and trapping the wild Alaskan Gyr falcon he now flies.
Steve Chindgren is one of those "larger than life" figures in the sport of falconry. He's the author and photographer behind his signature book, "The Art of Hawking Sage Grouse" and is a Sage Grouse hawking phenom. His movies and social media posts about the famous House of Grouse have made us all feel like we know him; and this podcast episode will further solidify that notion, as we get a glimpse into his childhood, early falconry, accomplishments, and more. This episode just scratches the surface, and future episodes with Steve are in the works.
You can pick up a copy of Steve’s freshly released book at your favorite falconry supplier, or from Steve directly via stevechindgren@comcast.net. If you do email him, thank him for this podcast episode and beg him for more!
Joe Wilcken has been flying Merlins for the past 5 years, he is also a founder and co-host of the famous Utah Merlin Meet. Joe joins us for an in-depth exploration of Merlins, Merlin falconry, and Merlin falconry the way he does it.
In this podcast, hosted by Zane Muhlestein and I, we learn about Joe’s trapping, training, and hunting with Merlins, as well as brief examinations of Merlin history, taxonomy, and basic husbandry.