After doing a 5 year apprenticeship under my dads wing helping him with his BOP he finally decided that I was ready for my own Goshawk, After speaking to his friend Mick Kane at M&J Raptors Mick & Julie agreed that they would let me have 1 of there stunning male Goshawks!
I was so excited when my dad told me, I could hardly sleep for weeks I was counting the days away.
The end of July finally came around and my dad and I made the 2 1/2 hour drive to Mick & Julie’s, I was so excited but nervous at the same time and it seemed to take for ever to get there, when we arrived we had to wait while Mick & Julie went and got 4 males out for me to choose from but as soon as I saw Buzz I knew he was the one I wanted, he was very pale in colour and a lovely long bird with a great pair of feet on him and both Mick and my dad said what a classic game hawk which I was glad of as I had my heart set on him.
We put him on the scales and weight 2lb 3 1/2oz so he had the weight to go with his looks! After a quick cuppa we said our good byes and headed home and got straight on with waking him and the fun then began with his manning and training.
He went free at 1lb 11 1/4oz and was a very fast and tenacious hunter and there wasn’t much that got away from him, he loved pheasants and would chase them from 40/50 yards head start and would give it his all to pull them in great style!
I just single killed him and I think it has given him great confidence and helped with him giving it 100% on every slip!
He finished his first season 1lb 13 3/4oz which I was over the moon with.
I can’t thank Mick, Julie & my dad enough for letting me have him and for all there help and guidance, it’s really appreciated and I’m looking forward to many more years hunting with my boy Buzz!!
Pheasants 38
Partridge 2
Corvids 10
Duck 3
Rabbits 2
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