Equipment

Required Equipment under Pennsylvania Game Code:

Bath Container - Serves a dual purpose the raptor has access to bath and drink from the container. This in mind it is important to always keep fresh water available for the raptor.

Jesses - These are the thongs that are placed around a trained raptors legs. These serve as a "handle" in which to hold the raptor, as well as tethering the raptor in facility or on perch. There are 2 types of jesses commonly used those being slitted and slit-less. The slitted ones are used for tethering hawks. Slit-less are the kind used while hunting. The lack of slit helps reduce the chances of a jess snagging on something while flying free.

Leash - This is a leash designed to fit in arrangement with the jesses and swivel to tether the hawk.

Scales - The scales are used to help measure the weight loss in trained raptors. Falconry relies on careful weight management. A proper scale is indispensable in assuring the difference between fat, hungry and starving.

Suitable mew or weathering area (Outdoor Perches) - These facilities are quite large when compared to the raptors body size. They are laid out to provide both a healthy exposure to the environment as well as protection from extreme weather. There are many variations of shape and size depending on the species of raptors being housed.

Swivels - The last part of most tethering arrangement. These are strong high quality swivels. They are included between the jess and the leash to keep the raptors from tangling themselves up while they are tethered.

Bells - These are commonly used in trained raptors to help identify the location of the bird while hunting. They are also valuable indicators of what the raptor may be doing at other times as well.

Gauntlet (glove) - This is the falconers protection. These gloves are to keep from being injured by the raptors talons. Many times they are more a precaution then a necessity with some people not wearing any glove for the smaller raptor species.

Giant Hood - Is a large well ventilated "box" used primarily for the transportation of trained raptors. These provide a comfortable and protected area for the raptor to be house during transport to and from the daily hunting fields.

Hoods - These help provide control. Not only over an overly excited hawk but also of what, where and when a hawk will be exposed to certain things outside of your normal control. For example, during a hunt you find that you are of considerable distance from your car. They only way back is to walk the berm of a road. An unhooded hawk may be frightened by the proximity of the passing cars. Whereas a hooded hawk usually sits quietly on the fist while the cars pass.

Lure - These are generally found in two types. The first being a lure for exercising a trained raptor. This is a lure which is mostly used with falcons. The falcons are stooped at the lure many times providing physical exercise. The lure is finally "given" to the falcon and the raptor receives it's reward. The second being a retrieval lure. This lure is used to retrieve a trained raptor. Some use it as a reward to transfer the hawk to after a successful hunt others use it as a tool for multiple uses during a days hunting.

Perches (bow, ring, block, etc.) - These are usually used as temporary perching arrangements. This could be for weathering in the yard or for use inside your home during manning sessions. They provide a safe and comfortable perching arrangement for trained raptors when they aren't in their larger facility.

Telemetry - Is a tracking system based on radio technology. It consists of a transmitter that is attached to a hawk and a receiver that is carried by the falconer. Sometimes during a hunt the hawk will become separated from a falconer. These two items allow the falconer to use the radio signals from the transmitter to guide the direction of the search to where the bird is located.