# Falconry field kit: what to pack before leaving

> Plan a falconry field kit around your bird, location and recovery plan, with a practical packing routine and checks before leaving home.

Source: https://falconryscale.com/blog/gear-and-tech/falconry-field-kit

**Key takeaways**

- The kit depends on the outing.
- Packing and testing are separate tasks.
- A recovery plan belongs in field preparation.

A falconry field kit is the equipment and information prepared for a particular bird and outing. Pack around handling, tracking, communication and recovery, then check the actual equipment before leaving rather than relying on a bag that was ready last time.

The most useful checklist describes your routine, not an idealised photograph of someone else's kit. Ask what you will need to do, who will do it and where the necessary item will be when that task arises.

## What should stay in your field bag?

Keep a core list for the tools you regularly use, then review it against each outing. A glove, appropriate handling equipment, a training target where relevant and tracking components may belong in the discussion. Your mentor should help decide what applies to the individual bird and activity.

Separate the list from the bag's current contents. Writing “receiver” does not establish that it is present, usable and paired with the correct equipment. The [starter-equipment guide](/blog/gear-and-tech/falconry-equipment-for-beginners) explains what the main items do if you are still learning the vocabulary.

Give commonly needed items a consistent place. That makes a check easier and reduces the need to empty the bag while someone waits for equipment. If several people use it, agree the arrangement rather than assuming everyone knows your system.

## What depends on the outing?

Location, duration, access and the planned work should shape the additions to the core kit. An outing near familiar facilities raises different preparation questions from one where returning to the vehicle takes considerable effort. Discuss those differences before packing.

| Planning area | Question to resolve |
| --- | --- |
| Location | Where can we lawfully go, and how do we get back? |
| People | Who is responsible for the bird and the equipment? |
| Communication | How will we reach one another if separated? |
| Tracking | Which complete system are we using? |
| Recovery | What access and contacts could we need? |
| Change of plan | What would make us stop or cancel? |

Keep the plan specific enough to act on. “Bring a phone” leaves unanswered who has the relevant contact details and what happens if that phone is unavailable. Discuss a practical backup without turning the bag into a collection of untested gadgets.

## What should you check before leaving?

Check presence, condition and operation as separate tasks. A charger in the bag is not evidence that the device has been charged. A receiver switching on is not evidence that the complete tracking arrangement has been tested.

Marshall's GPS quick-start guide demonstrates the importance of connecting the parts of its system and learning the operating process.[1] Follow the current manual for the model you actually own. Avoid borrowing settings or assumptions from a different receiver because its controls look familiar.

Use a packing routine with your mentor:

- Lay out the items required for the planned activity.
- Identify the correct equipment for the individual bird.
- Inspect the items you are competent to check and refer uncertainty.
- Perform the maker's readiness checks for electronic equipment.
- Put contact information and permissions where they can be retrieved.
- Confirm who carries each essential item before leaving.

The [telemetry guide](/blog/gear-and-tech/falconry-telemetry-basics) explains why different systems provide different information. Practising their use belongs outside the packing routine too. Finding an unfamiliar menu in the field is a poor substitute for learning it beforehand.

## How should you prepare for a remote location?

Work backwards from a possible delay or recovery. Ask how you would describe your location, contact the right people and leave the area. Check access arrangements with the appropriate people rather than assuming an electronic map shows permission.

For mapping and tracking equipment, ask the maker what remains available without mobile coverage and how earlier information is labelled. Do not generalise from the word GPS. A system's position source, communication link and map display can have different requirements.

> **Keep emergency information accessible.** Include relevant contacts and an agreed way for another person to know your plan. If veterinary help may be needed, know whom you would contact. This is preparation for obtaining help, not a guide to diagnosing or treating a bird in the field.

The British Falconers' Club welfare code places the bird's needs at the centre of falconry practice.[2] Use that principle when deciding whether the available equipment and arrangements support the proposed outing. A full bag is not an obligation to fly.

## What should be recorded afterwards?

Record equipment problems while you can still describe them clearly. Note the item, the circumstances, the effect on the outing and the follow-up required. Put an uncertain item aside for assessment rather than returning it to the bag as though nothing happened.

Review the checklist when something was missing or difficult to find. A useful change might be a clearer label, a different storage position or an extra question before departure. Record the reason so the next person understands the arrangement.

For an early outing, the [first-hunt planning guide](/blog/hunting-and-field-craft/first-falconry-hunt) connects packing to the wider decisions. Falconry Scale's [activity and bird-record features](/features) can help preserve what happened afterwards. Record the facts you observed, and keep unresolved questions visible for your next discussion with the mentor.

## Questions falconers ask

**Is there one field kit for every species?**

A shared checklist can help with planning, but the actual contents need to suit the individual bird and outing. Discuss handling equipment, tracking and recovery preparation with your mentor. Start with your intended work in the field, then check whether the bag supports it, rather than copying someone else’s packing photograph.

**What changes for a remote location?**

Think through how distance changes access, communication and recovery. Check routes, permissions and ways to contact help before leaving. Confirm what your tracking and mapping equipment requires in that location. Do not assume that an app loading at home demonstrates that the same information will be available in the field.

**Should a packing list include emergency contacts?**

Yes, include the contacts relevant to your outing and keep them accessible if your usual device becomes unavailable. Discuss who should know where you are and how to contact local veterinary help. A contact list is preparation, not a substitute for suitable instruction, first-aid training or professional veterinary care.

## Sources

1. GPS Quick Start Guide, Marshall Radio Telemetry (https://marshallradio.com/eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/06/2020-GPS-NEW-USER-START-UP-NOTES.pdf)
2. Falconry Welfare Code, British Falconers’ Club (https://britishfalconersclub.co.uk/falconry-welfare-code/)