GRETNA, La. (WGNO) – Terry Friedman has a special bond with birds. He hunts with hawks.
“I am a master falconer that qualifies me to have more than one bird,” Friedman said.
Right now, he has 3 feathery friends at his home in Gretna. Nitro and Sparta, both hawks, and Chopsley the owl. Each bird has its own personality. He says the owl is the biggest diva.
Friedman trains the birds in his backyard.
“You drop their weight, and you get them to fly to the glove. Until, they fly to the glove they don’t eat. Once they start flying to the glove the training starts,” Friedman said.
Friedman trains the birds to hunt with him. He told WGNO’s Kris Cusanza, that he prefers hunting with birds over hunting with guns.
The hawks are allowed to fly and when they see small prey they pick up it up. Then they bring it back to Friedman.
“That’s when we take the rabbit let him eat a little bit and take it away from him,” said Friedman.
It takes 7-years before a person can become a master falconer, according to Friedman. He says first you have to get your license from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and become an apprentice for two years. You also have to have a sponsor to train you. Then you can move on to general falconer status. Five years after that, you can become a master falconer.
For more information on falconry in Louisiana click here.
