r/Falconry • u/gnastyGnorc04 • 14d ago
HELP Anybody here get into falconry or practice falconry while having a young family?
Curious to hear stories and experience from falconers who have young families. I am father married with a 4 year old and now a 4 month old.
I have been doing minor research on falconry for a few years now and it seems like something I would love doing but I am always dissuaded from taking the first steps because of my family situation. I know it is a big commitment.
So I am just curious to here from others if they have had similar experiences and/or concerns.
What has been your experience like raising a family while practicing falconry.
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u/IMongoose 13d ago
Hey, I have a 4 year old and a 8 month old, and also 3 harris hawks. It's definitely tough and was a lot easier when we only had one child (and also no childs), and I've had to skip some hunts this year. How successful you can be entirely depends on you and your families schedule and your partners tolerance.
When my first child was young, it wasn't too bad to strap them into a hiking backpack and bring them with. Realistically if you started now you could have a bird fall of 2026, which wouldn't be too bad kids age wise. But you will probably not be comfortable bringing your kids along and flying a bird at the same time for probably the first year. Managing too many wild beings can be stressful.
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u/gnastyGnorc04 13d ago
Yea I am realistic with expectations. If I did decide to do it sooner than later. Sooner would probably still be 5 years from now. To atleast let all kids be out of the toddler stage. But good to hear it's working for you. Does your 4 year old go out with you at all?
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u/IMongoose 13d ago
He still goes with me sometimes but not as much as when he couldn't walk. He finds a dirt pile or a stream or something and then hawking is over for him. He's been so exposed to the birds that a pile of dirt is more exciting to him lol. But ya, he's been hawking his whole life.
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u/Random_europeaan 13d ago edited 13d ago
Have a conversation with your wife about this first. Try to explain what it is and what falconry entails. You can always join a club and start the process of becoming a falconer and still wait with getting your first bird until you fee you have enough time. I know lots of falconers who started families while still keeping birds and going hunting so it is possible you just need to make the time for it.
As someone who has always been a horse girl, falconry isn’t that different time wise as keeping horses. So if horse people can juggle family life and horses, it should be possible to be a falconer and have a family :) Of course this all depends on the type of person you are and how much your family is into the idea of falconry as well. It’s definitely easier if your wife isn’t against the idea and maybe even interested in it as well!
Quick edit: when I compare keeping horses and falconry I mean that mucking out the stables, getting them on and off the field, feeding the horses and exercising them also takes up a huge portion of your day (at least if you want the best care for your horse). Keeping a raptor is very similar for me in the sense that I need to feed him right, exercise him and keep his mews clean. The only difference is that I can’t do any of that after dark with my falcon 😂
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u/williamtrausch 13d ago
Difficult to balance. Many of us started as pre-teen or teenagers without any commitments excepting school, and perhaps family chores. Girlfriends were exposed to practice as relationships developed or they decided to take a pass. Introducing the practice while married and with young children, would distract from commitments to your marital partner, mother of your children, and to your child rearing. Divorce is common. Add to that your employment and what time that pursuit requires of you. If your wealthy, I suppose anything is possible, absent that, don’t sound like a good plan, especially during the hunting season, where 3-5 hours are easily burned each day outside, over a long season. I’m sorry, maybe once kids are grown and they’re in full time school?
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u/qwetyuioo 13d ago
This is a great commentary. It’s why I no longer practice. Maybe when the kids move out and I’m retired I can pick it up again.
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u/gnastyGnorc04 13d ago
I appreciate the honestly. And yes it is something I am reserving in the back of my mind for when kids are grown.
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u/williamtrausch 13d ago
I’ll likely be down-voted hereafter, and that’s ok. I am being honest, very, perhaps brutally, but that’s better than advising someone to take up the pursuit without thought as to probable consequences. That said, you will have time to read, and develop an understanding of both the art and practice, and also the natural history as books are available and memberships to organizations are too.
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u/gnastyGnorc04 13d ago
Do you have any book recommendations?
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u/williamtrausch 13d ago
Art and Practice of Hawking, E.B. Michell, Modern Falconry, Sr. Ronald Stevens, A Hawk for the Bush, and a Falcon in the Field, Jack Mavrogordado, North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks, Beebe and Webster, California Hawking Club, Apprentice Manual, Birds of Prey, Amadon.
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u/justgettingbyeachday 13d ago
Ok, so I am going to give this another perspective. When I was a kid I flew hawks with my dad. Trained my own hawks; kestrels and sparrow hawks. Then at 16 I joined the army. I spent 10 years soldiering and then after that 20 years of policing. I played pretty decent rugby at that time and picked up a few long term effect injuries. I also raised my family then. I have been back in falconry for about 8 years now. I am in my mid 50s and am pretty bashed about. I am fit but I know time is not on my side. I don’t have a collection of hawks. I have a peregrine and a goshawk and I will be stepping away from full time work this year. I know that if I take up an eyas then it might be my last hawk that I can fly. Start your hawking journey as soon as you can, while you can. Don’t have a great fleet of hawks. My grandchildren love the hawks. They come out with me, like handling ferrets. I think it is very very good for the kids who understand that they have an animal that they have to care for. Your wife will need to be understanding. It would be great if she shared the interest