OKLAHOMA FALCONERS ASSOC.
2010 SPOTLIGHT
Name? Chris Kimble
OFA Positions? I have been VP, president elect, and president of the OFA.
Where do you live? Hydro, OK
Job? I’ve worked in a clean room at Imation and Kodak in Weatherford, OK, for the last 6 years or so doing various production work, but I’m soon to be working at Danny Ertsgaard’s breeding operation in Oregon.
Family? I have lots of family in western OK. I'm also fortunate to come from a very close knit family. My parents have been married since they were in high school and I have a younger brother and sister as well as an adopted sister. Both of my siblings are married with children and my parents cared for a number of foster children while us kids were growing up.
What got you interested in falconry? I book I use to read in 3rd grade, I don’t recall the name of it, it was some sort of reference book, but it had a picture of a kestrel with a leash on it. Naturally I wanted one and being the book worm that I was, I searched for info about raptors and it led me to falconry….been hooked ever since.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?) Jerry Beales was my sponsor, and Joe Wood was a close friend, pastor and falconry mentor of mine.
What birds do you currently fly? I'm currently working with a passage female Redtail.
What birds have you flown in the past? Redtails, Harris’, Kestrels, a couple Gyr x Prairie Hybrids. Redtails and Harris’ Hawks are my favorites.
What was your favorite bird and why? I get pretty attached to most of my birds but I had a male Redtail named Jake that I was very fond of and a male Harris’ that I still miss. They were just really well mannered and very easy to work with.
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly? I would like to fly a Golden on jacks if the opportunity ever presents itself. And I would like to achieve some level of success with a falcon on ducks...I’ve never killed a duck with a raptor before!
Favorite Quarry? Fox Squirrels, hands down. Starlings are fun too.
Do you have other animals? I’ve had a plethora of animals ranging from insects to pythons. I always have some sort of critters around the house. I really like tropical constrictors and parrots.
Favorite falconry story? There are so many really, but I think my favorite memories are from hawking with my cousin Ryan. He and I have a lot of random misadventures! I think the most fun I’ve ever had was car hawking with him and his kestrel.
Funniest falconry story? Its hard to pick just one, but I guess I would have to say the funniest thing I’ve seen since I started hawking, was the time I unknowingly pushed a skunk out of an irrigation pipe into the waiting hands of David Bell! It wasn’t funny at the time, but looking back I can’t help but laugh about it.
Favorite quote? “What is practiced in moderation in this generation will be practiced in excess in the next.” Not sure if that’s exactly right, or where it came from but I’ve always felt it speaks very true.
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport? Never stop learning.
Who have you sponsored? Randall White, Ryan Christensen, Walter Ginn, and John Dominguez.
What goals do you have for your falconry experience? To give something meaningful back to the sport, whatever it may be. I would also like to produce my own birds to fly one day.
Contact Info? Chris Kimble, 580-302-3905, ckimble_2000@yahoo.com
Social Networks? Facebook
Name?
Heather Clement
How long have you been an OFA member?
One Year
Positions in OFA?
OFA Web Committee
Where do you live?
Blanchard Oklahoma
Job or School?
I am currently going Oklahoma City Community College and will be graduating in May 2010.
Family?
I am still living with my parents, and I have an older brother and sister and a younger brother.
What got you interested in falconry?
My dad has been around falconry off and on since he was about 16
years old. So, I have known a little about falconry since I young. It wasn't until about three years ago that I decided that I want to learn more about it, and finally start working toward getting my license. Which is when I convinced my dad to do it with me since it has been something he has always wanted to do.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
Peter Tirrell is currently my sponsor, and I am very greatly for the time and knowledge he has devoted to mentoring me, and being a good friend to both my dad and I. Every falconer I have been around have been good influences, and I am constantly amazed by how much I learn when I am around them.
What birds do you currently fly?
I'm flying a Red-tailed Hawk, his name is Dharr.
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
After I release my Redtail I will probably be flying a Kestrel, although it will depend on my living situation when I move to continue my education. I would like to eventually fly a Ferruginous Hawk and a Goshawk.
Favorite Quarry?
Well, its always rewarding to get a cottontail rabbit after wading through fields of briars, but you got to love chasing squirrel too. I enjoy chasing anything really lol. : )
Do you have other animals?
I have my Labrador, Yoshi, who always enjoy chasing rabbits too. And he is really good at catching rats. I also have a couple of horses, which I've tried to get Dharr to hunt from, but I haven't had a good place to take the horse. And I have had experience with many different types of animals, thanks to my crazy sister, Raegan.
Favorite falconry story?
I flushed a rabbit up between me and Dharr, where he was perched in the top of a cedar tree. The rabbit had a good fifty to sixty foot start on him and took off into an open field. Dharr chased the rabbit for four hundred yards until they dead end into a large mound of dirt. I took off running after them trying to catch up to him. The whole time I was running I watched them dance around at the bottom of the dirt mound. I saw the rabbit zig zag back and forth while Dharr would mount up on the air and wing over and continuously miss. He finally started chasing it on the ground which was when I lost sight of what happened. I finally caught up to Dharr and to my delight I saw him roused up over the rabbit that he held clutched in his talons.
Funniest falconry story?
A few weeks ago my dad and I were out hawking together, we were both beating the brush as hard as we could. I'm about forty feet away from my dad when I hear him yell out Ho Ho Ho! I looked up and see his bird fly from one tree to another, and then I see a rabbit flying through the air, and the bird crashing down after it! I run over to my dad to find out what happened and he had whacked the rabbit with his walking stick while he was beating the brush. The rabbit had took off running and then fell over which was when he picked it up and threw it into the air. We decided that one only counted as half a kill. ;)
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
Even though it takes a lot of time and commitment and a lot work getting started, just stick with it because it is definitely worth all of it.
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
I want to continue to learn as much as I can about falconry, and experience as much as I can with every kind of bird that I am able to fly.
Contact Info you want public?
(405) 249-7732
Name?
Tim Jessell
How long have you been an OFA member?
Coming up on 25 years. Wow.
Positions in OFA?
Vice president, president. Alan Jenkins wouldn't let anyone else be treasurer.
Where do you live?
Stillwater
Job or School?
Self employed illustrator. http://timjessell.com, facebook: tim jessell, illustrator
Family?
My wife Ragan, Abby, 15, Ben, 12, Molly, 9
What got you interested in falconry?
Fascinated w/ animals virtually from birth. Was in New York City, and my baseball playing days were now done, so I was subconsciously looking for something. I about literally stumbled onto a statue in Central Park called "The Falconer". As corny as it sounds , it was an epiphany. I said to myself, "That's what I want to do." I pursued it since that day.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
Mark Waller and Richard Day, who was his apprentice at the time (Richard and I hawked redtails together, he helped me a bunch w/ field craft, etc.). It was when I told Mark I wanted to fly a longwing that I finally put Waller to real work. ;)
What birds do you currently fly?
Imprints: Spike, 9 year old Gyr/Peregrine hybrid, Bolt, the off the scale world's loudest 100% peale's tiercel, but a flying s.o.b
What birds have you flown in the past?
Redtails and larger falcons.
What was your favorite bird and why?
Spike. Size, power, speed, ability, pleasure to be around. He often kills grouse w/ one blow. He's pretty darn good.
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
I spent some time w/ goshawks back in Indiana, and really like them, so if I ever gave up longwinging... otherwise my answer would've been a tiercel peale's, but thats' now scratched off the "bucket list".
Favorite Quarry?
Sharptails, Prairie Chickens, Huns.
Do you have other animals?
Do homing pigeons count? 3 dogs (not for falconry - I like to keep it simple there), Kuma, male Shiba Inu, Miko, female Shiba Inu, and the puppy (my wife's spoiled brat), Saki, half Shiba Inu, half Klee Kai
Favorite falconry story?
Gosh, I have lots of great days in the field hawking.... but, I guess, even though it's 2nd hand, but it's just so bizarre (like Mitch Wishon's bird recover story in downtown OKC) --the day Mark Waller was in his office in a skyscraper in downtown Tulsa, and an ex falconer(of all people) walks into his office, and is stunned to see a (wild) peregrine sitting on Mark's window ledge, outside the building. He was wondering how Mark trained a bird to do that. I mean what are the odds of all the windows in Tulsa?
Funniest falconry story?
Easy. Hawking early season ducks w/ Matthew Kirkwood in western OK, years ago. Teal were flying back and forth between two ponds, w/ a gravel road in between. His young bird wanted them but was not "closing". I said to Matt, if you want one of those you better get wet. He stripped right down to his tightey whiteys. Meanwhile, a gentleman pulls up in a van. Casually gets out, and asks what's going on. I tell him we're hawking ducks (he has not spotted Matt yet). He had seen falconers before, so we continued chatting. About then, Matt comes running up from the ditch, in his now dirt brown soaked underwear, sprinting barefoot across the road to the other pond. I say nothing....the guy just slowly turns his head and totally deadpans it, watching this "nutcase" running around in his underwear out in the boonies. He wished us a good hunt and moseyed on down the road. It was sublimely hilarious, Monty Python-esque. Oh, and a wild female peregrine joined the flight that day to boot.
Favorite quote?
"Everyone has a plan...until they get hit in the mouth" - Mike Tyson.
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
You get out of it what you put into it. Falconers are born and not made: The internet makes it almost a little too easy to access info (but it certainly has it upside positives). A falconer's deep seeded desire and initiative, if strong enough, should overcome many many hurdles along the way to becoming a falconer and a good one at that. I'm total old school in that way.
Who have you sponsored?
Matthew Kirkwood (longwing sponsor in effect), Brian Rhitaller(sp?). I don't think he's active anymore.
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
I think I have reached a lot of them? Now it's just balancing quality hawking w/ family life phase I am in (young kids that still sorta of listen to me). It's why many new OFA members have not seen me: Usually coaching traveling baseball during OFA picnics, and coaching traveling football and basketball during the hawking season... and making a living where the vacation pay stinks!
Name?
Jonathan A Coleman
How long have you been an OFA member?
Since 2008
Where do you live?
Tulsa
Job or School?
14yrs @ Bios corp Sapulpa/Tulsa area assisting people with Developmental Disabilities as a Program Mgr. assisting them in residential & vocational training to enhance their lives.
Family?
widower, 2 sons, Jonathan II & Jamil (adults @ least one of them is trying to be)
What got you interested in falconry?
I've always liked hawks & once witnessed a hawk catch a rabbit when I was hunting with my dad & brother. I told dad he needed to get one after the hawk caught one in a spot we had just walked through. Dad told me I was crazy & laughed.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
Larry Duncan Jr. is my sponsor. Ryan VanZant, Dr. Steve Sherrod, writings by Frank Beebe, Bill Oaks, Liam McGranahan, Greg Thomas, Nick Fox, Mike McDermott, & Daryl Perkins--- Also Kent Carbaugh for taking me hawking and helping me to find game in the beginning.
What birds do you currently fly?
Passage Female Red Tail trapped while hanging with Chris Kimble & the rest of “The Elitist Crew!” (joking, lol)
What birds have you flown in the past?
Zip until becoming an Apprentice. With my first bird, Anu, I transcended from a bird keeper into a falconer when he caught that first rabbit!
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
Praire & other falcons, Coop, Gos & maybe a Harris
Favorite Quarry?
So far Rabbits, with their zigzags & quick turns
Do you have other animals?
I inherited 2 white Staffordshire/American Bulldogs & their mother a Staffordshire Terrier when my aunt passed
Favorite falconry story?
On the last day of January 2009, Daniel, my hawking buddy, & I decided we we're going to Bartlesville to go hawking with Kent. On the way up, Shang (Red-Tailed Hawk) is making thuds in the giant hood, to which we both say, “she seems anxious.” Daniel then suggested, “you ought to go for a double today!” Which would be nice, but she's never got a double before. We soon meet up with Kent Ryan & Scott at the “rabbitat” field which is coverd in 10 inches snow on this particular day. Kent's Harris’ is up first we walk through the snow seeing tracks but no bunnies at first. It doesn’t take long though before one flushes and it quickly grabbed up by the hawk near Ryan’s feet. It's that birds first Rabbit! So the day was off to a good start.
Next we get Shang out of her giant hood and head toward the other side of the creek. Just minutes in Daniel spots a rabbit as it runs between me & him. Shang comes out of the tree & nails it. I said, “we got through quick today,” but Ryan & Scott were quick to re-suggest, “you ought to go for a double.” After a quick lesson on how to trade her off. Shang takes a another perch and we don’t even walk another 10 yards before Daniel yells, “HOHOHO, She got it!” Another quick catch so I suggest, “Let's go for #3!” After another trade off she goes back into a tree and we walk maybe 50-60 yards further up the creek. She's still sitting in the tree not following so I called her to the fist. As she is flying toward me she pulls up and immediately turns into a wing over, crashing to the ground. She got another one! ALLRIGHT !!! “Let's go for #4” all the other rabbits had been caught in less than 20min!
After starting the search to flush the fourth, it seems like it's taking forever to see a rabbit and the snow is up to my knees! Ryan & I walked through some briars we've normally kicked bunnies from (this bag is getting HEAVY man)pretty quick. Daniel kept saying, “you've got to be kidding, no rabbits in this?” He kept at it, hitting the brush with Shang behind by a couple of Telephoe poles. Finally something moved. The hawk came pumping over the briar as the rabbit came out, started to commit, then changed its mind and went back to the cover. But it was too late Shang had already locked and had rabbit number 4 before it even knew what hit ‘em. The thought of going for #5 was there, but the bag was heavy, and my legs were getting weak, and it was almost a mile to get to the truck in 10 or more inches of snow. So I decided to call it a day. I was amazed that instead of getting her first double she got a quad, and to make it even better it was witnessed by my friends! She's a good bird.
Favorite quote?
"Falconry IS a preparation & training for life” - Nick Fox
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
I would say know that falconry is hunting with a trained hawk. If you’re not prepared to hunt, that is assist your bird in finding/ killing game, or if you only want to go when the weather is nice (I hate cold weather & anyone that knows me KNOWS this!,BUT I love the way my bird hunts when it's cold .) or go out once a week your doing the bird & yourself a disservice. A wise falconer told me that the bird should be flown at least 5-6 days week, a hour or more a day. The more it flies the more fit it will be both physically & mentally. It also works the same way with the falconer in my opinion, so I now have to get fit to keep up with my bird.
Who have you sponsored?
No one yet, but when I do I want my Apprentice to say, "Man he taught me a lot & he’s still learning himself!!
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
To be able to train a bird in 10 or less days (weather permitting) with no aggression & be able fly it free at game within that timeframe.
Contact Info you want public?
918-740-8637
Social Networks?
Anything Else?
My Falconry journey started 3yrs. ago @ the age of 52 I wish it could've started when I saw that hawk catch the rabbit when I was 13yrs old, but in the social setting I'm from hunting with hawks was thought of as WEIRD. I wish my Dad was alive to see & know that My Red Tail Hawk, Shang, has caught 45 rabbits & 2 squirrels without any buckshot in them this hunting season. And I also would like to thank God for allowing me to meet the Falconer's who were kind enough to let me hang with them & learn falconry!
Name?
Jerry Beals
How long have you been an OFA member?
Mid 80’s
Positions in OFA?
Just a dues paying member
Where do you live?
El Reno
Job or School?
Retired Firefighter
Family?
I’ve been married to Penny for 26 years, the best wife a falconer could ask for. We have two boys in their early 20’s, Jared and Jake
What got you interested in falconry?
I really don’t remember, maybe the Craighead boys.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
I got my first kestrel in 1970. Back then you just mailed your money to the wildlife department (I grew up in California) and just like that, you were a falconer. My younger brother, Jeff, (a falconer in Utah) and I both became interested in falconry at that time, so we had each other to try and figure it out.
What birds do you currently fly?
I’m flying a four year old imprint female anatum peregrine, Hailey.
What birds have you flown in the past?
Kestrels, red tails, coopers, goshawk, peregrine/prairie, gyr/peregrine, peregrines and back as a teenager a changeable hawk eagle
What was your favorite bird and why?
All the birds I’ve flown have turned out to be my favorite. But I’m having a lot of fun flying Hailey; She makes it look so easy.
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
Over the years I think I’ve become a die-heart longwinger, but if I ever change, maybe a Goshawk on ducks.
Favorite Quarry?
I’d like to fly upland game with a brace of good dogs in some wide open county, but I don’t live in that type of area, so ducks are my favorite. They are plentiful and just minutes from the house
Do you have other animals?
Katie, GSP, my one-eyed, hawkin' dog
Favorite falconry story?
After getting out of the USAF and getting my career stared with the fire department I didn’t have the time to devote to falconry but one day in El Reno I saw Rob Summers walking in a park, manning a falcon. I stopped and met him. Wow a falconer in town… I came home and told my wife about meeting Rob and wanting to start hawking again, She knew of my past in falconry and said sure. Then she asked me if this is going to cost much, Well, what could I do??? So, the only time I lied to her, I said “No, this won't cost us much…You can’t imagine how many times over the last 26 years, my darling wife has said ‘ So, this isn’t going to cost us much”….
Funniest falconry story?
Although I’ve had more fun that I deserve, I don’t know if I can pick one out, It wasn’t funny at the time, but one day hawking ducks, things turned into a rat hunt when the duck got in to a creek with the dog and falcon right behind it. By the time I got to where I last saw the dog and falcon and duck there was no sign of any one. I caught an image of a shark fin coming out of the tall yellow grass. It was the wing of my falcon, and right with her was the dog. The falcon was bound to the dogs head, biting her, the falcon was screaming and the dog yapping. I didn’t know what was going on. I called the dog to me and the falcon had one leg thru the collar on the dog and had it in a half twist and was stuck. I got them untangled and started to look for the duck. Katie caught the duck hiding along the bank. The only thing I can think of, was the dog had the duck in her mouth and the falcon went in to take it and got a leg up thru the collar. Hailey was very lucky she didn’t break her leg.
Favorite quote?
From my Dad, when my brothers and I got in to trouble he would say “You can hear me, you’re not blind.” Didn’t make much sense back then either, And when it came to falconry my Dad would say “You can’t do that all your life.”
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
Prepare yourself and your family for a lifelong endevor and make it fun.
Who have you sponsored?
Chris Kimble, John Rule, Steve Gooden, Blake Richardson
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
After every hawking season is over, the only goal I have is to make it to the next season.
Name?
Daniel Murray
How long have you been an OFA member?
Coming up on a year now
Positions in OFA?
Apprentice Coordinator
Where do you live?
T-town! Right next to the river
Job and/or School?
Electrical Assembler @ Geophysical Research Group
Family?
My wife is named Lindsay (Lindz), and I have a son that was born in November of ‘09 named Parker (and he may, just in fact, be the cutest kid EVER!)
What got you interested in falconry?
I volunteered at Three Forks Nature Center for quite a while. The first time I was out there, they let me handle their imprint Great Horned Owl, and it was over for me after that! A few years later, Gary Hale took me hawking with his MONSTER Red-tail (flew at something ridiculous like 57 ounces!), and I have been obsessed ever since.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
Ryan VanZant is my sponsor and mentor (though I don't really like saying mentor....he tends to get a big head!), but I also consider Jeff Byrum, Mark Waller, and Gary Hale to be my mentors as well. Have to mention my good hawking buddies Jonathan and Kent also....when my interest in falconry was peaked again last January, they took me out hawkin’ all the time, and definitely got the ball rolling.
What birds do you currently fly?
Nothing! Summer time is pretty weak.....once all this hot weather leaves us I plan on trapping the smallest male Red-tail I can find, and hawking everything! My main goal will be to catch a duck out of a soar, but I also plan on car hawking him on crows, pigeons, and great tailed grackles (caught depredating property of course). We will terrorize the squirrels and bunnies as well! I plan on ending the season with a late trapped male Kestrel.
What birds have you flown in the past?
Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk
What was your favorite bird and why?
Going to have to go with Dee Dee (RT) on that one. She was my first bird, and we had a blast!!!! No other people, besides falconers, can understand just how special a moment it is, when YOUR first bird comes whipping off her perch, slams into the ground, and gives you that squeal you have been working so hard for. I will never forget that moment.
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
My goal, once I turn general, is to trap a passage peregrine or prairie (whichever one we get is fine with me). I'm planning on winning the lottery at some point as well and flying a cast of Aplomados. Maybe a Red-headed Merlin or two....I also have a thing for Barbary Falcons.
Favorite Quarry?
This one is sort of tough, just because I'm still pretty young in my falconry career and just haven't seen that much yet. The flights on prairie chickens blew my mind! Also small falcons going after doves/snipe/woodcock/etc tend to do it for me as well. I'm pretty sure a RS catching teal would get me jumping in the air hollerin’ too.....
Do you have other animals?
Maggie Mae Murray!!!!! The most ridiculous German Shorthair Pointer in the land. Great hunter of trash cans, kitchen counter tops, and any other place one might find a morsel of food....oh...and I guess she is alright in the field too.....................sometimes.
Favorite falconry story?
Oh man! So we have the whole crew together, and we are out flying Jonathan's Red-tail, Shaung. Well, we had just left a clump of briars (where we had managed a few slips), and where crossing a clearing toward another huge patch. Everyone is crackin’ jokes, flappin’ their jaws, and just generally NOT hawking. All of a sudden, Ryan kicks up a bunny right by our feet, and Shaung comes haulin’ out of her tree, pumping like a mad man (or woman I should say). The rabbit is beginning to cross a little two-track, when Shaung whips out that wing over, we all know and love, and drops like a freakin’ ton of bricks. She doesn't even try to grab a hold of it....her feet stay nice and tucked.....she just hammers the rabbit into the ground!!!! Both the bird and the rabbit had to have bounced at least a hundred feet in the air (alright....so that may be a little bit of an exaggeration....but they went high!), and everyone just starts yelling, laughing, screaming, doing the "Did you see that!?!?!?!?!?!?!?” So far, that's the hardest hit I've seen out of any bird, and that's including falcons out of a stoop. It was pretty sweet! Since she didn't feel her feet where necessary, the rabbit got away, but I'm assuming it died later on from internal injuries.....I was blown away that Shaung hadn't broken a bone or two of her own!
Funniest falconry story?
Can't really think of one off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure it involved a kestrel in some way or another....you can't help but laugh when you are out hawkin’ those little guys!
Favorite quote?
“Is that an eagle?”
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
The best way to make falconry contacts, is to show up with your own beating stick, and a six pack of some good beer.....oh, and if you can trap baggies...your golden!
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
Specked out Prairie Falcon on Prairie Chickens, and a Red-shouldered Hawk off the fist on teal
Contact Info you want public?
Cell phone: 918-906-6819
e-mail: rcklmbr2586@yahoo.com
Social Networks?
Name?
Perry White
How long have you been an OFA member?
I joined OFA in 2001 when I moved from Texas. I joined for 2 years and was not active in the club at all. I attended just one summer event before being readmitted to OSU. I have since rejoined the club this year and hope to be more active in the future.
Positions held in OFA?
None
Where do you live?
LeFlore County, Poteau, OK
Job or School?
I am a partner in a small animal veterinary practice here in Poteau.
Family?
I have a great spouse, Tiffany, and a young son Caleb
What got you interested in falconry?
Growing up in Yukon gave me the chance to see lots of Red Tails and Kestrels. I would watch the Red Tails pound rodents off of the power lines and line up around a field while it was being plowed just waiting for the tractor to get some easy prey up for them. At some point in my childhood I remember seeing a man in Edmond who was flying what I remember to be kestrels and I was fascinated and hooked. I did my research on the requirements and presented my plan to my father who did not want to have a facility in his back yard. So, I dismissed the idea until years later when I bought my first house in Texas. I Called the TPWD and got the list of some local falconers. On the list was a gentleman by the name of Bill Reisch. He really helped me out.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
My sponsor was Keith Buch but I was also heavily influenced by Bill Reisch, John Karger, and Greg Moore.
What birds do you currently fly?
I flew a passage RTH this fall and released her this spring. I also have a 6 year old Prairie X Merlin that I received on transfer one year ago. I am so very close to getting him going on starlings.
What birds have you flown in the past?
Red tails, a Red Shoulder, a prairie and couple of kestrels
What was your favorite bird and why?
I had a 3x intermewed Red tail that was a squirrel killing machine. She was a late trapped bird and didn’t do much her 1st year. Her second season however she came on strong but the 3rd year was the best. It almost wasn’t fair to watch her set up a squirrel. You could put her up and sit down to watch the canopy. She would eventually move and you knew a chase was soon to follow. Just watching her you could find the squirrel and even plot her next move. She was great on the kill and a joy in the mews. I started back to college and felt she needed more time than I would have so I released her after her 3rd season.
Favorite Quarry?
At this time squirrel is still my favorite quarry. The 3D chases give the birds the ability to show so many of their flight capabilities.
Do you have other animals?
I have a lab mix, a Shar Pei, 2 Jack Russell terrier’s, a double yellow head parrot, and a small pigeon coop.
Favorite falconry story?
My favorite story happened while attending a THA Abilene meet several years ago with a 2 x intermewed redtail. She was chasing a squirrel and it had gotten into its nest at the top of a large oak. She sat there for a few minutes and then jumped to flight. She started ringing up and almost hit some power lines while climbing up. Everyone there was telling me to pull my lure because she was going up into a soar. She made several spirals and was maybe 150 -200 feet up. I just kept watching her and she was watching that nest! She finally soared over the top of the tree, folded up and pounded that nest. Of course the squirrel shot out of the bottom of the nest never to be seen again while she was bound to a stick.
Funniest falconry story?
My buddies red tail stooped a rabbit but there was no squealing going on while making in. Manny looked at me and said “this rabbit has no head!” She had hit it so hard that the head had popped off and was a couple of feet away!
Favorite quote?
Health is the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
Ask questions of as many people you have can find, read as many books you can find. Observe others and when something happens that you don’t like or think went poorly, realize it is probably your fault. Analyze the situation and think of what you can do in the future to change this outcome.
Who have you sponsored?
My one and only Apprentice is Don Collins of Cameron, OK
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
I would like to do some breeding at some point, not for profit but just for personal achievement and enjoyment.
Contact Info you want public?
perry.white@windstream.net, Cell 918-649-4261
Anything Else?
I look forward to meeting the current and future members of this club and becoming more active making this one of the best clubs in the nation.
Name?
Mitch Wishon
How long have you been an OFA member?
25 years
Positions inOFA?
Secretary and Treasurer
Where do you live?
Edmond
Job and/or School?
Production Manager of a Machine shop
Family?
Wife Jan, two daughters Laine and Adele
What got you interested in falconry?
In third grade we read a book about two boys that had two owls. A long time friend of mine, Rob Rainy and I had a couple of barred Owls. We kept the owls for over a year before hacking them back to the wild.
Rob’s Dad still likes to tell a story about a local real estate developer who was headed to work one morning after hitting the bottle a little too hard the night before. He encountered a boy riding his horse backwards along the road with an owl on his shoulder. He said to Rob’s dad. “Jim, I just turned around and went back home thinking to myself I must be seeing things. “ Rob’s dad just laughed knowing that I would often ride my horse backward, and I always had my owl along for the ride. I always had some sort of raptor growing up, but did not get serious about falconry until 1985.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
Howard Stutte was my sponsor. I have had many mentors and influences in addition to Howard, including several OFA members that I have had the pleasure of going hawking with over the years. From my first OFA meet in 1985, until present, I have always been impressed with the willingness of Oklahoma falconers to share their knowledge of the sport.
What bird(s) do you currently fly?
I am currently flying my Gyr/barbary Tiercel he will be starting his 19th season.
What birds have you flown in the past?
Redtail hawks, Cooper’s hawks, Gos Hawks, Harris hawk, Peregrine, & Gyr x Peregrine
What was your favorite bird and why?
Has to be Princel, my gyr/peregrine.
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
I would love to fly a passage Gos and also a passage Peregrine.
Favorite Quarry?
Pheasant
Do you have other animals?
I have 3 dogs & a few pigeons
Favorite falconry story?
It was September 15, 1985. I had jumped through all the hoops, and now it was time to go trap my first falconry bird. It was to be a Redtail hawk. The problem being, I had been looking for a few weeks around our area and had not seen a single passage bird. Rob and Howard assured me we could drive out west and take our pick of birds. They had made a trip out to the panhandle a year or so earlier to try and trap a
Prairie falcon and had all their pigeons killed by Redtails. I was determined not to run out of pigeons on this trip. After several outings to downtown town OKC, and a few encounters with law enforcement and local vagrants, we had our pigeons. We were off for what was sure to be the trapping trip of a life time. We drove all the way out to the panhandle of Oklahoma without spotting a single passage Redtail. We tossed a harnessed pigeon out at a Prairie falcon. After a short wait I walked out to recover the pigeon.
As I was walking back to the truck, I looked up to see two passage redtails waiting on over the truck that was full of pigeons. As I looked up I could see their beautiful banded tails spread wide as they were looking down into the back of my truck. I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
I jumped into the truck, and as we drove off we tossed a fresh pigeon. One of the RTs folded up and went into a long horizontal stoop. The pigeon was flying strong as he crossed an old fence. The rod attached to the string and pigeon harness, caught on the wire and the pigeon came crashing to the ground with the RT right on his tail. We went down the road a bit and waited what seemed to be a very long while.
(About 10 minutes). As we were sneaking along looking for the bird, she got up and flew with the pigeon a short distance before dropping it and flying off. I was just sick. If I had just been a little closer I could have grabbed her. We went back to the truck. Howard said she may come back if we got out of there. I was not to sure, but since this was the first passage bird we had seen in 6 or 8 hours of driving, we went down the road for another wait. After several more minutes, we were sneaking back up to where we had left the pigeon. Much to my surprise, there was my bird with a couple of toes hooked up in the pigeon harness.
Not only was my bird hooked, I was hooked also. I have loved falconry ever since.
Funniest falconry story?
Posted on OFA server July 2nd 2003
Yesterday I gathered up my dog, my bird and all gear and drove to a field to fly my bird. The plan was to just go walk for a short distance and then to serve a bagger. As I was walking along, I caught a glimpse of something that appeared to be a fledgling starling in a low juniper tree. I got my bird ready, sent the dog in, and sure enough it was a starling. It flushed perfectly out the other side of the brush with my coop in fast pursuit.
She bound to it just as it made cover. This was too good to be true. Here I was with my bird about 10 days from hard pin, and she had caught her first head of wild game. I was on top of the world. I could not believe it! As I sat there basking in the glory of just catching my first head of game with my new bird, and wondering who I should call and brag to first, I noticed that the primaries on the bird we had just caught appeared to be trimmed back a little. I franticly dug through my hawking bag, only to find one of the baggers that I had brought along to serve had escaped with out me seeing it.
Well that's the way it goes some days!
Favorite quote?
From McDermott’s book The Imprint Accipiter While Talking about robbing Accipiter’s from their kills he says
“Why not rob? How will you spend the rest of your day? Arranging your sock drawer?”
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
Make sure your spouse and children are in for the long hall. Hence, new screaming eyass, dead animals everywhere, live animals everywhere, down still appearing in the house years after the eyass moved outside, and many other small factors that are too numerous to mention. Jan helped me answer this.
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
To get that passage gos someday.
Anything Else?
My favorite story is about what happened with Princel last year. Click here to read.
Name?
John Peadon
How long have you been an OFA member?
5 Years
Positions held in OFA?
None
Where do you live?
Owasso, OK
Job or School?
American Airlines
Family?
Wife, Linda, and 3 grown sons
What got you interested in falconry?
I started falconry in 1962 thru 1965. I quit falconry for fast cars. My youngest son, Mark, started dating Rob Summer's daughter, so I found the Tulsa falconry community and decided to re-start falconry.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
Sponsor: Rob Summers
Mentors/Influences: Jeff Byrum, Mark Waller, and Scott Dillon
What birds do you currently fly?
Hannah, Kestrel that I have flown at starlings for 4 years; Bullet, Gyr-Peregrine - this will be my second season flying at ducks
What birds have you flown in the past?
Red Tails
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
Aplomado
Favorite falconry story?
This year, Hannah went out the car window, returning to the car chased by two Robins. The Robins came straight into the the car after her. I grabbed one and pitched it out the window. Before I could reach the second, Hannah enacted the "let it lay" law.
Funniest falconry story?
Bowling for Starlings. Jeff Byrum, Mark Waller, Rob Summbers and I were car hawking. One kestrel went out the window and caught a starling; a secon kestrel was sent out to catch another starling but went to the kill in progress. Out of the tree darts a squirrel headed to lend assistance to the starling. just before it reached the birds, it rolled up and "bowled" itself into the birds, scattering the kestrels and setting the starling free!
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
Talk and listen to as many falconers as you can. That way, you can learn different methods and theories and figure out which works best for you.
Who have you sponsored?
Alex McKinstry
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
Hunt as long as I can and educate the public on falconry and raptors
Name?
Rob Summers
How long have you been an OFA member?
since 1985
Positions in OFA?
Past President during our first NAFA Field Meet in Woodward, V.P. prior to that.
Where do you live?
Owasso Oklahoma
Job or School?
Air Traffic Controller/ Tulsa Int. Airport
Family?
Wife Gina of 24 years and two daughters Kayli 21 and Taylor 19
What got you interested in falconry?
I was working for a Veterinarian through High School in Southern California. We did a lot of rehab with wild animals from the Big Bear Mountain region. We treated golden eagles on a regular basis and nobody wanted to handle them. I thought they were impressive creatures and worked with them daily. The head Vet. at our clinic bought me the North American Falconry- book and handed it to me saying "you are our new Falconer". That was all it took.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
John Chubb was a california falconer who showed me the basics.
What birds do you currently fly?
I have a three year old Gyr/Peregrine hybrid (bogie)
What birds have you flown in the past?
Wow that is a long time to recall: To the best of my recollection I have flown. Kestrels , Redtails, Red Shoulder, coopers hawks, Harris Hawk, Gyr Falcons, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcon, Merlin, Peregrine/Prairie, Gyr/Prairie, Gyr/Saker, 3/4 Prairie 1/4 Gyr, 3/4 Peregrine 1/4 Gyrs, and many Gyr/Peregrine tiercels.
What was your favorite bird and why?
The Gyr/Peregrine tiercels are my favorite.
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
I hope to fly a Jerkin again when I have more time and can travel to cooler climates for training. Some of the designer birds like Gyr/Merlins or Peregrine/Merlins seem really interesting for small quarry. I see Falconry changing rapidly. The future of local hawking seems to be moving toward smaller birds hunting smaller quarry.
Favorite Quarry?
I really enjoy time in the grasslands hunting Grouse.
Do you have other animals?
I have two French Brittney Spaniels I use in Falconry
Favorite falconry story?
I think back when I first started training birds. I had a male Kestrel training him in suburban L.A. I went to the High School football field and served him sparrows. When he missed he would start climbing and waiting on at 100-200 ft. Not knowing how desirable this behavior was I would start swinging the lure to bring him down. I would love to go back and see what would have been!
Funniest falconry story?
I was out in western Oklahoma on a OFA get together flying my Peregrine/Prairie on ducks. She was a hard imprint and known to run spectators out of the field. She took a high pitch (for her) of 300 ft. Suddenly I heard a yipping sound and in the middle of nowhere came a toy poodle down the road upset we were in his domain. I looked up to see my falcon in a stoop heading toward the poodle. The first impact was head on! The poodle was 2 feet in the air doing a backflip before I could get the lure out. I could only watch as my falcon rolled the poor pouch half a dozen times as it tried to retreat from where it came. Each time he was pummeled a big dust cloud was visible on the dirt road followed by a yip. My bird returned to catch a gadwall in a lights out hit over the same road. I checked on the poodle after the flight and he was OK, a little ruffled but nothing serious.
Favorite quote?
I watched a Falconry video years ago of a guy flying a Prairie on something, I don't remember what. He cast the bird off and it never climbed over head high. There was lots of hooting and hollering as the bird coasted around then landed beside the lure. This was the point the Falconer says " I'll take that any-day!" So that has always been the default quote when everything goes wrong and I am standing there with the bird on on my fist at the end of the flight. I'll take that any-day!
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
Make sure you have a competent sponsor, read as much information on Falconry you can find. Remember you chose your bird not the other way around, A bird is completely dependent on you to provide food and shelter. If you don't have the facilities and time to have a bird wait until you are prepared. Falconers are the top tear of sportsmen our sport requires unbelievable commitment and can be incredibly rewarding, appreciate the opportunity to practice this sport and realize many in the world cannot. Enjoy every minute in this fulfilling sport.
Who have you sponsored?
John Peaden most recently. Several others over the years.
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
To spend more time when I semi-retire enjoying the sport. To travel and see other falconer flying a wide variety of birds on an even wider variety of quarry..
Contact Info you want public?
Rob Summers (918) 409-3053 E-Mail: okrobsummers@yahoo.com
Social Networks?
Name?
Scott Dillon
How long have you been an OFA member?
6 years
Positions in OFA?
current treasurer
Where do you live?
Copan , Ok
Job or School?
Oilfield lease operator
Family?
Wife of 17 years Rhonda, 16 year old son Kyle
What got you interested in falconry?
I grew up in the country watching wild raptors. The first time I watched David Eslicker fly his tiercel Gyr/peregrine hybrid (Spade), I was hooked.
Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)
Sponsor was David Eslicker mentors: David Eslicker, Mark Waller. influences: Tim Jessell, Rob Summers, Jeff Byrum, John Peadon and Ryan VanZant.
What birds do you currently fly?
4th season Gyr/peregrine tiercel (Bullseye) & working with a male Finnish Goshawk
What birds have you flown in the past?
Redtails & Kestrels
What was your favorite bird and why?
Bullseye, I like to fly ducks
What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?
Merlin or a tiercel Prairie
Favorite Quarry?
Ducks
Do you have other animals?
3 dogs and a lot of pigeons
Favorite falconry story?
Trying to hawk chickens with Summers when my bone-head hybrid bound to a snow goose... long story
Funniest falconry story?
I was with Eslicker on a 14 degree, WINDY day, in the snow, kiting his tiercel hybrid. It was COLD!! We were yelling as loud as possible trying to get him to look down as we served him a pigeon. Too windy for him to hear us?? (he was 1000' or higher and it was blowing good) but not too windy for the cowboys to hear us from 1 mile away in a shop with closed doors.. Three of them got in a feed truck and came to see if someone was stranded in the snow and calling for help. Dave said "Hey it's the three stooges" when they pulled up. The ranch foreman replied "Hey it's the two dumb-asses". It was hard not to agree.
What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?
Find a good sponsor, hunt your birds as much as possible, and have fun.
What goals do you have for your falconry experience?
Simply to enjoy hawking
Contact Info you want public?
918-440-6185
Social Networks?
OK Falconers Assoc.com
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EVENTS COMING UP
2024 OFA Picnic & Business Meeting
Sat. June 1, 2024
Edmond, OK
2024 Apprentice Workshop
TBA
2024 GSP Trapping Week
TBA
2024 Fall OFA Meet
TBA
2024 Winter OFA Meet
TBA
November 14-20, 2021
The State no longer registers our falconry birds. You now must register them with the Federal Govt. The link above is a tutorial on how to do so.
