In this episode I talk to Scott about how he uses the drone to shape high flying behavior in his falcons.

Scott Larsen email:
[email protected]

YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP6YnvrdxRk

Quick release clip
https://www.westernsporting.com/FE3017/balloon-kite-quadcopter-release-parts-complete-or-replacement-parts.html

E. ($15.95): Black Sure-fire Bait Release works flawlessly and is easy to adjust. It is used for food items on the kite or balloon and will give you the confidence to know it will release easily when the hawk grabs the bait. This contains the release clip, snap swivel and custom-made Sampo swivel.

6 instructions for the Perfect Pigeon setup:

1. Never fly your falcon to the drone without bait .  
2. Always have a full charged battery .  
3. Use the “home” function on the drone 
4. Use care and caution in big wind .  
5. Use about an 18” to 24” diameter parachute with about a 20’ to 25’ leader  
6. Make sure the chute can slide out of the release tube with almost zero effort .

10-step routine from start to finish

1. Phase 1 - drone then falcon

• Only fly a Falcon to the drone that has learned to kill and feed itself.  Get that accomplished first.
• Get your Falcon “made” to the drone to where she will chase it up with gusto every single time.  
• Make her chase the drone up.  Make her miss it and have to keep mounting up to catch up to it.  (Don’t over-do it though.  Let her be successful each day before she gives up.  You have to watch this very carefully.) 
• Once she is very fit and taking the bait either in an angled stoop or just on level flight, but enthusiastically every flight, switch her to flying with no drone in the air.

1. Phase 2 - falcon then drone

• Cast her off, with the drone totally ready to launch over behind your truck or somewhere close by.  As she is leaving and wondering what’s up, launch the drone and make her chase it up.
• Each day wait longer until the day when she has the height to overtake the drone in a stoop.  Count that flight as your first real big success.  You WANT her to catch it!
• The next flight, place your drone a couple hundred yards away from where you think she’s going to be mounting up and launch it over there and make her chase it up.
• Keep increasing the time you let her fly and mount up and keep increasing the distance away from you that the drone is launched.  I’ve launched my drone from 500 yards away, no kidding.
• Once she is going the height you want her to mount to, either go hawking, or throw her a bagged “something-or-other” and then, Go Hawking with her!  
• Get her off it as soon as you can .  Don’t let her get Drone Bound!