California Hawking Club – Study Guide & Apprentice Manual

One of the most commonly recommended books for aspiring apprentices is often the CHC (California Hawking Club) Apprentice Study Guide. The book, which sells for $24.95 (the price is stand-alone from the apprentice manual but they are sold as a package as well; if you click the images of the books it will takes you directly to Western Sportings purchase pages) is a summary of falconry regulations in a study guide format. It intends to teach the information purely from a question and answer method.

The books table of contents is as follows:

• READ FIRST
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION TO FALCONRY
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• RAPTORS
  • GENERAL
  • HUNTING AND FALCONRY TECHNIQUES
• KEEPING HAWKS
  • CARE AND MAINTENANCE
  • EQUIPMENT
  • HEALTH
• TRAINING AND HUNTING
  • TRAINING
  • HUNTING, GAME AND QUARRY
• REGULATIONS, LAWS AND ADMINISTRATION
• GLOSSARY
• REFERENCES

As you can quickly tell by this table of contents the book is pleasantly simple and does not beat around the bush. It goes through one question at a time with a paragraph below explaining the answer. This is a great way to learn, although I would prefer if it was published with the questions on a single section and then a summary. It's pretty much impossible to "take the test" without looking right at the answers.

All in all, there's a reason this is a staple purchase and in most falconers libraries (if they haven't passed it down to aspiring apprentices already). It is certainly a must read prior to your test.

Unlike it's partner publication the Apprentice Manual is just that, a manual. It's written in a chronological order to help you understand falconry and it's processes. I personally preferred the Apprentice Manual over the Study Guide from a learning standpoint, although the Study Guide is much more applicable to test preparation. This Apprentice Manual sells for $16.95 standalone.

The table of contents is as follows:

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DEDICATION
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• BEGINNING
• INTRODUCTION TO FALCONRY
• CHRONOLOGY
• SPONSOR AND APPRENTICE
• HAWKING CLUB CODE OF ETHICS
• FALCONRY IN PRACTICE
• MANNING
• HUNTING
• FOOD AND HEALTH
• LESSONS OF AN APPRENTICE
• RECOMMENDED READING
• TRAINING LOG
• WEIGHING & FEEDING
• CALIFORNIA HAWKING CLUB: WEBSITE INFORMATION

All in all the CHC Combo package is probably the best bang for your buck as an aspiring apprentice and is a key piece of your study material in preparation for the exam.