Most Mississippi athletes who hunt small game birds and rabbits use a modern shotgun and a properly sized shot, and have been for nearly three centuries. More than 357,000 Mississippi hunters age 16 and older go to the woods each year, a force larger than the peacetime military of Germany, Britain and France combined. However, of those hunters, only about 25 use a bird of prey rather than a firearm or primitive weapon to harvest animals.

What is falconry?

Falconry is capturing game animals in the wild with the use of a trained falcon. In the past, the term austringer or street vendor was used for a hunter who did the same with a falcon or an eagle, however today the term falconer and falconry is used for the practitioner and the sport as a whole. The pastime originated in the ancient world as early as 2000 BC. C. and predates the use of firearms for hunting by more than a millennium.

Do you have what it takes?

Falconry is time consuming and expensive. You have to start as an apprentice in this sport and become a general or master level falconer. Alan Mumbower, MDWFP’s regional biologist and Falcon Program guru puts it like this on the states website to see if falconry is for you:

“Can you, can you dedicate part of your waking hours to a creature that at best will simply tolerate your presence, is as affectionate as a stone and at worst will cause heart pain and puncture wounds? Can you commit to an average of half an hour a day, every day, and two to four hours in a hunting day, regardless of school, family, or work, as long as you have your bird? “

Being a falconer is more time consuming than many other hunting disciplines and is a lifestyle change that affects you 365 days a year. Let’s face it, no matter how dedicated a hunter is, you still don’t have to feed and care for your rifles, shotgun, or bow every day no matter what. With a bird of prey on the payroll, you will.

How much?

The good news is that the most valuable item that you couldn’t play the sport without is free. You cannot legally buy a bird of prey to hunt, and you must catch your own in the wild. However, before heading out into the woods to capture your new feathered friend, you must first introduce yourself as an apprentice applicant. On the application you must pass a certification review and inspection where you must show your Mews (indoor installation for your raptor), your weathering area where the tethered raptor can fly, your jesses (anklet) for the bird, swivel, strap, gloves . , bath containers, perches, ladders and other equipment necessary to care for and train your animal. This equipment is highly specialized and, like all good hunting equipment, costs money. However, before you even go shopping for your equipment, you must pay with the MDWFP to take your written falconry exam per federal and state regulations, and pay your permits and fees of not less than $ 100 (valid for five years) plus the cost of your regular hunting license.

Your learning.

Current Mississippi state regulations only allow the apprentice falconer, who must be a minimum of 14 years of age, to humanely catch their new bird during the approved times after all previous tests, fees and inspections have been performed. . An apprentice can only own one red-tailed hawk (most commonly used for new falconers), either a red-shouldered hawk or an American kestrel. The new falconer must train his first animal and use it for a full hunting season before moving on to become a general falconer after two years. During this time you must work and be sponsored by a Master Falconer, by definition an athlete with at least eight years of experience in the sport. General falconers can own two raptors and hunt without the tutelage of a master. Master falconers can own three birds.

The reward.

The two dozen Mississippi falconers who practice this ancient sport would not do it any other way. For their time, effort, and money invested, they are today’s beastmasters who are literally one with nature. Many Mississippi falconers practice the most extreme bird hunting and use their raptors to catch ducks and pigeons, as well as squirrels and rabbits effortlessly and with great majesty that must be seen to be appreciated.