Preparing for a first falconry hunt means arranging experienced support, checking permission and local rules, assessing the location and agreeing a recovery plan. Joining an experienced falconer as an observer is a different responsibility from flying your own bird, so make your role clear at the start.
A good first outing gives you time to understand decisions. Catching quarry is not the only event worth noticing. Preparation, a postponed flight and the decision to leave can all show how an experienced falconer works through the circumstances.
Should you observe before flying your own bird?
Ask about accompanying an appropriate outing before assuming you need to own a bird. A local club can be a route into the community; the British Falconers' Club has a newcomer membership route and regional contacts.[1] An invitation still needs arranging with the people involved.
Explain your experience honestly. Tell the organiser if you have never attended a hunt or handled a bird. Ask what you should bring, where to meet and what they need you to do. Leave room for the outing to change or be cancelled.
As an observer, ask when questions are welcome and follow directions about where to stand or walk. Save a question for later if someone is occupied with a bird or equipment. Afterwards, ask about a particular decision you noticed rather than expecting a full lesson during every moment of the outing.
What permission and rules need checking?
Check the relevant location, proposed activity and bird with the appropriate authorities and land contacts. Permission to enter land does not settle every question about hunting there. Keep legal checks distinct from the practical suitability of the site.
DEFRA and Natural England's guidance on keeping wild birds is an England-specific starting point.[2] It is not a universal falconry licence guide or a complete statement of quarry rules. For another jurisdiction, start with its own public authority rather than copying an English or US checklist.
Write down what has been checked, by whom and when. If the plan changes location or activity, revisit the relevant questions. A note that says only “permission sorted” may be difficult to interpret when somebody else needs to understand the arrangement.
| Area | Information to establish |
|---|---|
| Access | Where the group may enter and move |
| Activity | What has actually been agreed with the land contact |
| Bird | Applicable keeping and documentation requirements |
| Quarry | Current rules relevant to the proposed hunting |
| Restrictions | Any additional local or temporary measures |
| Responsibility | Who is resolving each remaining question |
Avoid treating the table as a complete legal checklist. It organises enquiries; it does not grant permission. If an answer remains unclear, resolve it before proceeding with the dependent activity.
How do you assess the location?
Walk through the plan with an experienced falconer who understands the proposed work. Ask what makes the ground appropriate, where access becomes difficult and which nearby activities matter. Do not let an attractive open field substitute for a proper assessment.
Make observations concrete. Note roads, boundaries, people, animals and areas where movement might be restricted. Ask which features would cause the falconer to choose another place or postpone flying. The answer may depend on the bird and the day's circumstances.
If you are bringing your own bird, readiness needs a separate practical assessment. The training-stage guide explains the questions without pretending that a successful recall or a date on a calendar proves readiness. Your instructor needs to assess the actual situation.
What is the recovery plan?
Agree how the group will respond if the bird is no longer where expected. Decide who operates tracking equipment, how people communicate and how they avoid losing track of one another. Recovery can involve access questions as well as electronic information.
Use the telemetry introduction to understand the tools, then practise with the exact system. A map marker, a radio indication and a sound are different observations. State which information you have and how current it is.
The field-kit guide helps connect those tasks to packing. Ask who is carrying the essential equipment rather than assuming it is somewhere in a vehicle. The plan should remain understandable if the person who packed the bag is occupied.
What should you record afterwards?
Record observations and decisions while they are clear. Include what was planned, what changed and what you would ask before another outing. Avoid making the whole entry a verdict about whether quarry was caught.
The British Falconers' Club welfare code is a useful framework for keeping the bird's needs central throughout the outing.[3] In a review, ask how those needs affected the decisions you saw. If you do not understand a choice, ask the falconer to explain its context.
Falconry Scale's activity-record features can help keep a bird's history together. Write factual notes rather than inventing an explanation for an uncertain response. A first hunt is useful experience when it gives you better questions and a clearer understanding of the responsibilities involved.
Questions falconers ask
Can I attend a hunt without owning a bird?
Ask an experienced falconer or local club whether you can accompany a suitable outing as an observer. Explain your experience honestly and follow the organiser’s instructions. Observation can help you understand decisions before taking responsibility for a bird. An invitation depends on the organiser, location and circumstances, so arrange it in advance.
Does landowner permission cover every legal requirement?
Landowner permission is only part of the preparation. Rules about birds, quarry, seasons, access and other restrictions may also apply. Check the relevant public authorities for the location and proposed activity. Requirements differ between jurisdictions, so advice written for another country should not be treated as permission to hunt locally.
What if conditions change on the day?
Reassess the plan with the experienced falconer before continuing. Permission, access, weather or nearby activity can change what is appropriate. Agree beforehand who can call off the outing and how the group will leave. Having travelled or packed equipment does not create an obligation to fly a bird or attempt a hunt.
Sources
- [1]Becoming a member, British Falconers’ Club (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [2]Keeping wild birds or animals, DEFRA and Natural England (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [3]Falconry Welfare Code, British Falconers’ Club (accessed 2026-11-04)
