1) Research

Initially you should start at the library. Learn as much as you can about the sport and carefully consider the demands it will have on you and your family, especially in regards to time. Some good introductory books are:

1. Frederick W. Holderman (ed). 1995. Apprentice Study Guide. There are sections on keeping hawks: their care and maintenance, equipment, facilities, health, training, hunting, regulations, laws and administration. California Hawking Club (about US$25 to buy). Soft cover. 112 pp.
2. McGranaghan, Liam. 2001. The Red-tailed Hawk: A Complete guide To Training and Hunting North America's Most Versatile Game Hawk. This is a comprehensive book on training a Red-tailed Hawk. Recommended for every apprentice falconer (and sponsor!) anticipating his or her first large hawk. The author has been a falconer for over 25 years, has experienced many other species of gamehawks, but returns home to the Red-tail for truly satisfying hunting. There are chapters on natural history, trapping and selection of the passage Red-tail, training, rabbit hawking, squirrel hawking, avian quarry, health maintenance and equipment (great diagrams for mews, giant hood, hood patterns, jesses/anklets and a pigeon harness). Soft cover. 180 pp. (about US$30 to buy).
3. Ford, Emma. 1992. Falconry Art and Practice. A comprehensive guide to the art and practice of falconry; ideal for apprentice and experienced falconers. Almost everything one needs to know from building a mews to entering at game, with detailed illustrations. Ford, with her husband Steve, run the internationally-acclaimed British School of Falconry. 115 illustrations. Soft cover. 191 pp. (about US$20 to buy).

You should also meet with local falconers in your area if possible.

2) AFA membership

Contact the membership secretary of the Alberta Falconry Association. You will be sent a "Novice" package outlining the requirements and an application form for membership. Initial membership to AFA is $70. Subsequent renewal membership currently stands at $35 per year and is due in November 1st.

3) Get a Supervisor

Once a member of the association, the club secretary will help you find a qualified club member who will work with you as a supervisor.

4) Noviceship

As a Novice you will be expected to work with your supervisor for at least one year. On occasion a novice and supervisor may be live in different regions of the province. If this is the case, the novice will be expected to keep the sponsor adequately appraised. Once you have met the requirements of the novice-ship you must pass a written examination in order to advance to the next level.

5) Facilities and Equipment

In order to obtain a recreational falconry permit you will be required to construct an appropriate facility to house your bird. This facility must meet be approved by Fish and Wildlife (Form WA 232). Your supervisor will assist you with this and the acquisition of basic equipment (glove, weighing scale, jesse's, swivel, leashes, perches). You should expect to spend $400-$600 in start up costs.

6) Falconry and Capture Permits

A falconry permit costs $20.00 and can be purchased from Fish and Wildlife. When you have trapped a bird you must also purchase a possession permit ($50:00) from Fish and Wildlife. As a novice you will be restricted to flying a Kestrel, Red-tailed hawk or Swainson's hawk. If you find that falconry is not for you, you will be expected to release the bird or transfer it to another falconer.

7) Other Recommended reading

1. "North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks" by Beebe and Webster (privately published). An all time best seller and the most thorough modern falconry book.
2. "A Hawk for the Bush" by Jack Mavrogordato (published by Neville Spearman Ltd.) Difficult to come by, but one of the best books on flying accipiters, particularly the sparrow hawk.
3. "The Art And Practice of Hawking" by E.B. Mitchell (reprinted C.T. Banford Co. Newton Mass.) An old classic based upon UK falconry.
4. "The Hunting Falcon" By Bruce Haak. (Published by Hancock House 1995). An advanced book emphasizing the prairie falcon, from eyas and captive breeding and management.
5. "Hawking Ground Quarry" By Martin Hollinshead. (Printed by Hancock House Surrey B.C.) An advanced book on hawking with shortwing's and eagles.
6. "Understanding Birds of Prey" By Dr. Nick Fox. (Published by Hancock House 1995). An excellent book covering details on animal biology, anatomy, behavior, captive breeding and management.
7. "The Falconers Apprentice: A guide to training the passage red-tail hawk". By William Oakes. (Eaglewing publishing, Elizabeth, Colorado). A good guide for the novice and supervisor also covering important philosophical underpinnings of the sport.
8. "Falconry and Hawking" By Phillip Glasier. (Published by Batsford Press 1978). An excellent beginners book. Covers all aspects of falconry in detail together with equipment making.
9. "Falconry" By Jemima Parry-Jones. (Published by David & Charles-London). Like her father, Phillip Glasier, Jemima is a world renowned raptor breeder and runs the Bird of Prey Centre in Newent, Gloucestershire, UK. Good book for beginners covering birds used in falconry, housing,management, equipment and captive breeding.
10. "Dessert Hawking" by Harry McElroy. (Private printing). Getting difficult to find but an excellent book on flying small accipiters and Harris Hawks.

See our Links page for merchants where these books may be purchased