Working with Xena the Red-Tailed Hawk on the Creance (Also Hood Training and Hooding Explained)

Today I show some work on the creance with Xena and also how I hood train and hood the bird. With many things, there are several different methods - but this is what has worked for me. Hooding helps if you have a long walk to a hunting spot or you have a long walk back, and it will keep the bird calm on your glove. It also helps if you want to take multiple kills in a day. Hooding directly after a kill and a small meal, letting the bird rouse, then taking the hood off "resets" the hawk and she does not feel that she's been robbed of her kill (no screaming, wing beating, or dragging kills away from you). I give credit to Gary Brewer and the late Dan Denham for this method - who I also believe are/were some of the best Red-Tail falconers in this country. Happy hawking!
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*I am a licensed falconer through the State of Ohio. It is a state and federal offense to tamper with or possess a bird of prey without proper licensing and/or permission from state or federal authorities. It is also illegal to injure or kill any bird of prey in the USA. If you believe you see an injured bird of prey, contact your state's falconry club or state game warden.

[@rookbirdblues]

Hoods are such an important part of falconry, as a welfare tool as much as anything else. I have sensory issues and loud noises cause me to get overwhelmed, so I wear noise cancelling headphones. Raptors' eyes are so powerful that sensory overload in some places is inevitable. The hood makes it possible for raptors to coexist with humans! I always look forward to your videos and seeing Xena progress, keep up the good work

[@FinsandTalons]

Thank you very much, and yes I agree. It seems that hooding is quite common in the UK.

[@rookbirdblues]

​@@FinsandTalonsIt is in serious falconers, but with some 'weekend falconers' with HHs especially there's an attitude that they don't 'need' to hood their bird. I worked with an eagle who hated the hood and would be extremely spiteful about being hooded because her first owner of a decade had never hood trained her!

[@FinsandTalons]

@@rookbirdblues Yeah it would be tough to hood a bird of 10 years that's never been hooded for sure.

[@FarmCountryLife2024]

Jeb woulda been late to the airport.

[@FinsandTalons]

Yeah I can't always be babysitting him.

[@hoodbillyjohn9589]

Thank you for sharing with us , always educational , always handle your bird with true care and respect also.. As for the fam , hope everyone gets well soon , and may you have a blessed Sunday !!

[@FinsandTalons]

Thank John I appreciate that. Have a great weekend!

[@waynewalters5813]

Great content about falconry. Retired and I enjoy watching your training progress. Watched my local Coopers hunting my songbird feeders today. He has to eat also.

[@FinsandTalons]

Thank you! I really like watching the Coops chase birds. I've seen some cool chases on pigeons before.

[@waynewalters5813]

@ it’s amazing watching him chase here. Total kamikaze!

[@Cookingwlilsho]

Awesome job

[@FinsandTalons]

Thank you!

[@starryeyedfalconry]

Excellent job. Good info.

[@FinsandTalons]

@@starryeyedfalconry Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@Tonyhawkin]

Nice update she looks great! There’s definitely something going around, myself and family as well as guys at work got sick and it’s making the rounds! Hopefully your family is feeling better. Can’t wait to see this monster on squirrels 👍

[@FinsandTalons]

Yeah tis the season for all that. Yeah should be a good time with Xena!

[@kenbadgett8383]

Great info hope everyone in the family gets well soon..

[@FinsandTalons]

Thanks Ken, they're on the upswing. 👍🏻

[@Averagebanger]

god lord what a unit

[@FinsandTalons]

Biggin 😬

[@Averagebanger]

@@FinsandTalons can't wait to see y'all in action

[@FinsandTalons]

We're getting close to free flight.

[@mohammadshahin9139]

Awesome! What type and size of hood are you using? If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get it from?

[@FinsandTalons]

This one is a size 25 Anglo Indian hood from Mike's Falconry.

[@ScottH22175]

Looks like she could hunt right out your backdoor?

[@FinsandTalons]

Oh yes! We have rabbits and squirrels around the house. My neighbor and I actually make piles of limbs / brush for cover for the rabbits (just so we can hunt them with the hawk 😂).

[@mixedup72]

How do you like your hawking vest? I'm currently using a hawking bag and it can be a pain to use sometimes.

[@FinsandTalons]

I love my vest. I've used the same style for years. I like the bags on the front and the big game bag on the back.

[@FRamirez1A]

Nice video! I started hood training a couple of days ago. Where do you order yours from? I need one a bit bigger, but they are out of stock. kzbin.infoYEHGMFcqiFs?feature=shared

[@FinsandTalons]

This one is from Mike's Falconry Supplies.

[@FRamirez1A]

@FinsandTalons yes, I love Mike’s Falconry. Mike is super nice and helpful, but they don't have the Anglo Indian in sizes 23 and 24. What size does Xena use? I have a dutch hood size 64, but is a bit too small.

[@FinsandTalons]

She has the Anglo Indian size 24.