this is so so cool, u gotta see this

[Tinman507]

I've never seen an owl take anything on the run but I have seen red-tailed hawks take squirrels on a dead run. It's cool to watch the squirrel try to make himself really small while hauling butt. It's even cooler to watch the hawk silently swoop down and nail the furry tailed lil bas*ard almost effortlessly.

[jlottmc]

We have several Red Tail Hawks around here (great to see them again), I have seen them take some unusual items, and miss a couple of times. It just amazes me how they do it. Best one I saw personally was a small stray cat. The cat was ok until about 100' off the deck, then it started to fight back. The hawk just looked down and dropped kitty. Picked it up and did it again about four times, no more fight from kitty. I also love how all the critters know real quick when a hawk is in the area, and how they get real still and quiet, real fast. I had some great pictures on my old phone until I dropped it, you can get really close to them around here.

[jocko]

I was at a Indiana falconry gathering a few months back and one fella hunted his redtail and it attacked a squirrel. The squirrel tore off two of the Red tails talongs before it finally got away. They told us squirrels are real hrd on hawks. The Harris haws is so muc smaller and they will try anything they see, so the hawksl don't always come out on top. They told me a full grown cat will stand its ground and normally win, so the try not to hunt their hawks around hme ares where cats are. A parair cat is just a minature MT lion. I love those Red tails though, but they hanbdles tell us that they are neverr ur friend EVER. they only come to you for food, nothing more, it is allabout hunger when u hunt them. Hunt them on a full stomach and u might not see ur hawk again. hunt ghem hungryt and traided to the wrist and they will obey, again it is all about food. They tell me the birds weight and then backed off 3 or 4 ounces before a hunt and the bird hunts and returns. I leanred alot, takes 2 years apprentice ship in Indiaa before u can actully have a hawk, then by Indiana law u must trap the bird which is 99% a redtail juvenile, u CANNOT buy by law a Redtail hawk. Lots of B. S/. Regs behind owning a hawk of any species. Hawks also do not like each other, as at this gathering NO one hunted when another was out with his bird, I guess that is a NO NO. If I was 20- years old, i would endeavor to get into the sport but just to old to go through all the hoops even. But up close those fokkers are just beautiful

It was very interestihng to see this one owner with his Red tail. he would release it and it would fly up in a tree kand watch the owner like a hawk , the owner would try to ick up a rabbit the burh etc or a mouse or something. As we moved maybe 50 yards down the wood line the bird would fly to another tree near us and watch like a hawk. If u kiced up anthing, that bird was well aware and would not allthe time be sucessfuyl.as rabiuts run in holes etc, But the owners toldme the Redtail was the most popular hawk to hunt in Indiana due tpo popularitey and that most huntinng was done in burshy areas and they were not afraid to plow into the brush after their prey. and oh yes when they kll, DO NOT DISTURB for a few minutes, then the hunt is over for that day, Bird eats his prey, box the birdup and head home,he's done..