What is Falconer?

Falconer is someone who practices falconry, sport persecution of live prey with a raptor such as an eagle, hawk or falcon. Most parts of the world have extensive laws involving falconry to ensure that birds are properly treated to continue to be practiced by enthusiasts. In most areas, the Falconer traineer must undergo apprenticeship with an experienced falconer for at least two years of training and plan for several years before he can certify. Most places also have falconry organizations where falconers can meet to exchange information and compete together. Falconry, however, involves the use of a wild animal, rather than a domesticated and trained dog or horse, as in other forms of hunting. In fact, Falconer captures his bird in the wild and before removing it to the field, perform a large training process. Falconer must train a bird to get live prey and then return to his master and captivity.

Most of the professional falconers place great emphasis on extensive training and protection, so sport has a positive reputation in the communities in which it is practiced. Because falcons are wild animals, most falconers must get special licenses from the areas in which they hunt.

Individuals who are interested in becoming a falcon should plan for at least seven years of training. The first two are usually very exhausting and test the true interest of Falconera in sport. If the potential falconer successfully completed training, he must still plan to devote time to the care of falcons every day of the year. Falcon in active training is even more time and may be difficult to find someone who could take care of falcons when Falconer wants to take a holiday or need to travel. Most falconers claim that falconry is not a sport as lifestyle: for every hour in hunting, Falconers can spend much more on routine care.