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Will Brantley and Mike Hanback talk long-range glassing, big bucks in Indiana, and pre-season plans in the Realtree Outpost podcast
It's late August and still hot, but there's hope in the air, too. Kentucky's squirrel season opened this past weekend, and Tennessee's early three-day "velvet" archery season opened today. With luck, I'll be in a treestand this weekend. We're right on the eve of one of the best times of year, and there's no better time to debut Season 3 of Realtree's Outpost Podcast.
This week, I joined fellow blogger and Big Deer TV host Mike Hanback to discuss a variety of pre-season topics. We covered long-range glassing tactics (as detailed here), and discussed why they're still so effective, especially in the early season, and even more so than trail cameras. We discussed plans for this fall, strategies for hunting the drought-stricken West, and personal goals for another season. Then we shifted gears to talk about Josh Honeycutt's recent (and fascinating) story on the record buck that hid in a Pennsylvania garage for 60 years, and Hanback's take on why Indiana is the new top big-buck state in the country. If you're excited about deer season, you don't want to miss this one.
Falconry Equipment Guide: Essential Gear for Hunting with Birds of Prey.
1. What Is Falconry Equipment?
2. Why Proper Gear Matters
3. Core Falconry Tools and Their Functions
4. Types of Falconry Equipment by Category
5. Materials and Craftsmanship
6. How to Choose Falconry Gear
7. Equipment for Different Falconry Styles
8. Maintenance and Safety Tips
9. Where to Buy Falconry Equipment
10. Final Thoughts
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1. What Is Falconry Equipment?
Falconry equipment refers to the specialized tools and accessories used to train, handle, and hunt with birds of prey—such as falcons, hawks, and eagles. This gear ensures the safety of both the bird and the falconer, facilitates effective communication, and supports ethical hunting practices.
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2. Why Proper Gear Matters
Using the right falconry gear is critical for:
• Safety: Preventing injuries to the bird and handler
• Control: Managing the bird during training and flights
• Training Efficiency: Reinforcing behaviors and recall
• Bird Welfare: Reducing stress and ensuring comfort
Inadequate or poorly fitted equipment can lead to escape, injury, or failed hunts.
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3. Core Falconry Tools and Their Functions
Here’s a breakdown of the essential falconry equipment every falconer should know:
• Falconry Glove (Gauntlet): Protects the falconer’s hand and forearm from talons
• Hood: Covers the bird’s eyes to keep it calm during transport or rest
• Jesses: Leather straps attached to the bird’s legs for control
• Leash: Connects jesses to the glove or perch
• Swivel: Prevents leash tangling
• Perch (Block or Bow): Resting platform for tethered birds
• Lure: Simulates prey during training and recall
• Telemetry (Radio or GPS): Tracks the bird during free flight
• Scales: Monitors the bird’s weight for health and performance
• Bath Pan: Allows the bird to clean and hydrate
• Mews: Secure housing for the bird
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4. Types of Falconry Equipment by Category
🧤 Handling Gear
• Gloves (single or double-layered leather)
• Arm protectors (aba or chaps)
🪶 Bird Gear
• Hoods (Dutch, Anglo-Indian, Arab styles)
• Jesses (traditional or Aylmeri)
• Anklets and bewits
• Bells (brass or nickel-plated)
🧲 Control and Tracking
• Swivels and leashes
• Telemetry transmitters and receivers
• Tail mounts and leg mounts
🪢 Training Tools
• Lures (rabbit, pigeon, or feathered)
• Creance lines (long training cords)
• Bow nets and Bal Chatri traps (for initial capture)
🏠 Housing and Transport
• Mews and weathering yards
• Hawk boxes (giant hoods)
• Perches (block, bow, ring, screen)
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5. Materials and Craftsmanship
High-quality falconry gear is typically made from:
• Kangaroo leather: Lightweight, strong, and flexible
• Cowhide: Durable and protective for gloves
• Stainless steel: Used in swivels and telemetry mounts
• Wood and aluminum: For perches and transport boxes
Craftsmanship matters—poor stitching or cheap materials can compromise safety and longevity.
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6. How to Choose Falconry Gear
When selecting falconry equipment, consider:
• 🐦 Bird species and size: A Harris’s Hawk needs different gear than a Peregrine Falcon
• 🧍 Falconer’s experience level: Beginners may prefer simpler setups
• 🌦️ Environment: Wet climates require rust-resistant materials
• 🎯 Purpose: Hunting, display, or rehabilitation
Always prioritize fit, comfort, and durability. Ill-fitting hoods or jesses can cause stress or injury.
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7. Equipment for Different Falconry Styles
🏹 Hunting Falconry
• Lightweight gloves for mobility
• GPS telemetry for long-range tracking
• Camouflaged gear and silent swivels
🎓 Display and Educational Falconry
• Decorative hoods and bells
• Custom perches for public settings
• Portable hawk boxes
🧪 Rehabilitation and Research
• Adjustable jesses and scales
• Minimal-stress hoods
• Data-logging telemetry
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8. Maintenance and Safety Tips
• Clean leather gear with saddle soap and condition regularly
• Inspect jesses and leashes for wear before each flight
• Store hoods in dry, ventilated areas
• Calibrate telemetry devices before use
• Replace worn swivels and bells promptly
Proper care extends the life of your gear and protects your bird.
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9. Where to Buy Falconry Equipment
Trusted sources include:
• Specialized falconry suppliers (e.g., Mike’s Falconry, Mac Falcon)
• Falconry clubs and meets
• Custom leather artisans
• Online marketplaces with verified reviews
Avoid generic pet stores—falconry gear requires precision and expertise.
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10. Final Thoughts
Falconry is a centuries-old tradition that demands respect, skill, and the right tools. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned falconer, investing in quality falconry equipment is essential for success, safety, and the well-being of your bird.
From handcrafted hoods to high-tech telemetry, each item plays a vital role in the art of hunting with raptors. Choose wisely, maintain diligently, and fly responsibly.
Wide Open Spaces — Engaging Outdoor Stories and Practical Hunting Coverage, Rewiews
Wide Open Spaces delivers outdoor stories, hunting news, gear reviews, hunting videos and field tips for backcountry hunters, conservation-minded readers and gear scouts.
📰 Site type & overview
Wide Open Spaces (https://www.wideopenspaces.com/) is a news & editorial portal / lifestyle site focused on outdoor stories, hunting news, fishing and adventure lifestyle — not a forum or pure e-commerce store. It blends news aggregation, original features and gear-oriented content for a broad outdoor audience.
🔎 Functionality: key sections & tools
The site organizes content into clear sections: Hunting, Fishing, Gear, Travel, Conservation, Videos and Photo Galleries. Search and tag filters help locate hunting gear guides, seasonal hunting updates or specific how-tos. Embedded videos, listicles and social-sharing tools make fast consumption easy; some posts link to affiliate partners or retailer pages for purchases.
🎯 Audience & practical value
Wide Open Spaces targets recreational hunters, backcountry adventurers and gear-minded readers who want approachable hunting tips, hunting videos and outdoor stories. It’s useful for quick field tips, gear research and discovering conservation news or destination hunts.
📚 Content analysis: articles, reviews, videos, photos
Content mixes short news briefs, longform human-interest features and practical how-tos. Gear reviews are often first-look or buyer-guide style rather than exhaustive lab tests. Visual content — hunting photography, photo essays and short hunting videos — is a strong suit, useful for technique demos and inspiration.
🔐 User features: accounts, subscriptions & commerce
Readers can subscribe to newsletters and follow authors; most content is free. Commerce is indirect: review posts and buyer’s guides include affiliate links to retailers. Community engagement runs via comments on articles and active social channels rather than a native forum.
✅ Strengths
Wide Open Spaces excels at storytelling, visual content and fast, shareable hunting news. It’s a go-to for hunting photography, concise field tips and discovery (gear reviews, hunting videos, outdoor stories) that inspire trips and purchases.
⚠️ Weaknesses
Depth on technical topics (ballistics, advanced gear testing) is limited compared to specialist portals. Occasional aggregation of syndicated content means readers should verify technical claims in in-depth reviews elsewhere.
✨ Unique edge vs competitors
Its strength is accessible storytelling combined with strong visual assets — photo essays and short videos that engage beginners and veterans alike. Wide Open Spaces is more of a boots-and-stories portal than a lab-test resource, making it ideal for inspiration, quick hunting tips and seasonal hunting updates.
🛠 How to use it effectively
• Scan Hunting and Videos for quick field tips before a hunt.
• Use Gear posts as a first filter, then consult technical review sites for final specs.
• Follow Conservation pieces to stay informed on wildlife and season changes.
🏁 Conclusion & recommendation
Wide Open Spaces is recommended for hunters, outdoor photographers and casual gear scouts who value engaging outdoor stories, hunting videos and practical field tips. Bookmark it when you want visual inspiration, seasonal hunting updates and approachable gear guides that point you toward deeper technical sources.
Official link:
https://www.wideopenspaces.com/
