Falconry: The legend of BBG

[@Mr.Hawkins-falconry]

I feel like a little kid again, at the edge of me seat. Thank you for sharing your stories. Truly inspiring!!!

[@stevesomach]

So glad!

[@GONEHAWKN70]

Can we just stop for a minute appreciate the fact that you(Steve) had a video camera in 1973??!!??……….thanks for sharing this and all of your other videos………Bill Barbour.

[@robconohan3537]

I second this

[@Ashley.falcon]

Seriously!

[@paulreynolds9003]

Thanks Steve. For posting your videos always a pleasure to watch. Very fitting for me as I stared with a gyrkin last season,what I must admit was slow going with our English wet and windy weather. But am looking for to this season with hi expectations.

[@stevesomach]

Thanks 👍

[@gonzorodri]

You looked REALLY happy with the bird hahaha your smiles says it all... I can't imagine how hard it was to losing it this way... so frustating...

[@stevesomach]

Thanks, yes heart breaking.

[@pierreheymans2826]

Nostalgia overload and I wasn't even doing falconry then! Simply beautiful stuff.

[@stevesomach]

Thanks

[@Henry-hy3bd]

Gyrfalcons are my favorite falcons

[@popofamily]

Thanks for sharing!

[@stevesomach]

You bet!

[@RoHanimus-p1l]

Steves channel is like an archive in itself… I hope you preserve it beyond KZbin somehow

[@pedroyrigoyen7735]

It Is really amazing how you have documented all these videos since those years , and Keep them!! Thanks for sharing iit Is a treasure for Northamerican Falconry , I have read some of your articles in some NAFA Journals , and a friend of Mine , Denis, met you in a recent NAFA meet. Regards from Perú. Pedro Yrigoyen

[@stevesomach]

Glad you like them!

[@johngoodell2775]

What a great story and epic adventure! Well done Steve!

[@stevesomach]

Thanks John!

[@tomkeenan945]

An incredible story amazingly documented I literally shed a tear for bbg And such commitment to serving the bird wow🙌

[@stevesomach]

Me too!

[@robconohan3537]

What a great story and beautiful production. Thanks for documenting the history of Falconry in North America for as long as you have Steve.

[@stevesomach]

Your welcome

[@matsfreedom]

This short video reminded me of my early experiences when I was very young. I was driven to become a falconer since the age of 10, and though there was very little info on how to go about that, I didn't give up. After finding a sponsor (John Swift, a falconer that many of you may know, and a very generous man), I embarked on a pretty wild journey. Basically clueless, except for some book reading and some fortunate outings with a handfull of local falconers, I simply 'did it'. That is to say, I gave 100% of my effort every day. I trapped a female passage Redtailed hawk, and by the end of my first season managed to catch 46 blacktailed jackrabbits, 25 cottontails, and two pheasants. Don't ask me how. I figured every apprentice falconer did this. Only later did I realize that I had accomplished quite a lot for a 16-year-old kid. I really miss experiencing the magic of exploration and discovery as a young man.

[@stevesomach]

Are you still flying?

[@patrickleary2389]

You couldn't know it at the time, but when you passed Whitehorse you were already in Gyr country and if you had turned left vs. right at Haines Junction, you were a little more than an hour from Gyrs in the alpine tundra on the Haine's highway. Even today, it seems ironic that you can find Gyrs well south of the arctic in some places. I have not returned to the Yukon since 1971 and so much has changed there now, even the Alcan is paved now and the ptarmigan and Gyrs have declined in many locations.

[@williampinchers]

What a great vidio

[@stevesomach]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@njfalconry]

Excellent video! Glad I'm not the only one to lose a bird to a power pole. The effort required to aquire BBG makes me thankful for the breeders we have these days.

[@stevesomach]

Well said!

[@shanephitides8565]

Steve that was really enjoyable. You paved the way for many of us that followed after you . Thank you for sharing hers and your story.

[@stevesomach]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gyrfalconer1]

I had heard about BBG. So nice to hear the story behind the legend. As usual, great job, Steve.

[@stevesomach]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jujucattys156]

The gyr king

[@parkmaninnc]

Great video Steve. Two legends in one story.

[@stevesomach]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Sunsaintsandwaves]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing, Steve!

[@stevesomach]

My pleasure!

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

I remember discussing one of Steve's articles in a NAFA journal, about BBG with Les Winkler, back in the mid 70's. Les said, I wonder if BBG stands for "Big Bad Gyr?"

[@stevesomach]

Thanks! Yes

[@wolfgangsierla3883]

Great video

[@tokara61]

Two thoughts while watching - how nice you has all these videos to document the story and that I miss Nome! Thanks!

[@ComicusFreemanius]

I got chills when I saw the baby getting placed on the ground to get marveled at back at the camp.

[@stevesomach]

A dream come true!

[@forkehausfalconry]

Unbelievable video! How you took and were able to keep track of these vids all this time later is amazing!

[@stevesomach]

Thank you

[@eipebpeax]

Great video from the golden age of Falconry, now everything is regulated and not in a good way all the time.

[@stevesomach]

Very true!

[@jonahmcbride934]

Loved it! What an experience!

[@stevesomach]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidskinner6670]

❤❤❤❤

[@leonardoobarni6226]

Muy bueno. Saludos de Uruguay.

[@stevesomach]

Thanks!

[@marksellers2499]

What a beautiful story

[@stevesomach]

Thanks!

[@marksellers2499]

Beautiful story

[@stevesomach]

Thank you!

[@marksellers2499]

Steve you’ve gotta write a book !

[@stevesomach]

I did! The Art of Hawking Sage Grouse!

[@davemyers7507]

Cool 😎 thanks 🙏 for the viewing time today 🎉🍻🍻🥃🥃🧊🥡🎬

[@stevesomach]

Your most welcome!