Steps
1
Do not attempt to try and train any bird unless you have been on a course and have access to a mentor. Too many birds are lost and killed by inexperience. You also must have a license to do falconry. In the United States, you must have state and federal permits along with a hunting license. DO NOT capture a falcon and fly it until you have obtained your falconry license.
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2
Before doing anything, look into the falconry laws in your area. If you live in the USA, contact the state fish and game department and request a Falconry Packet.
3
Make sure you read every book you can, and buy all the equipment you need, before you get your bird. Telemetry is an absolute must – you only lose your bird once.
4
Find a sponsor (mentor) to guide you. This sponsor must already have done falconry for at least two years, and be willing to take the time to teach you.
5
As an apprentice falconer in the United States, you only have the options of a Red-Tailed Hawk or an American Kestrel for a bird (unless state laws state otherwise). It is advisable to start with a Red-Tailed, as they are more forgiving when it comes to mistakes. If you are not an apprentice, but a general, consider a Harris hawk for your first bird, as they are intelligent and capable of catching game. A female lanner makes an ideal first falcon. Do not get a peregrine or gyr hybrid as a first bird, any more than you’d buy a Porsche as your first car.
6
Keep the bird in the house during its first weeks with you. The more it sees of the family, the more ‘manned’ it will become.
7
First, teach the falcon to hop or fly to the glove on your fist. As soon as it eats on the glove then introduce it to the lure.
8
Settle for one quick flight over two flights that only come after much messing around. If the bird won’t come immediately, then put the lure away for a few minutes. The bird should wait for you; you must never wait for the bird. It will try to train you. You must actually train it.
9
When flying to the lure, let the bird catch it quickly sometimes. That way, it will always try hard and think it has a chance. If it catches it, let it have it. A bored bird is a lost bird.
10
Man the falcon to the hood early and even after the hooding goes well, continue to do hood exercises every day. There’s no excuse for keeping a bird hooded if it’s not traveling or in close, enforced company with other people’s birds.
11
Peregrine Falcon
Keep everything clean and neat – all the time. Dirt breeds disease and is a disgrace to the sport.
A ONE DAY PROJECT 
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