This is the last of the episodes recorded at the THA meet earlier this year featuring falconers from Texas, and it's a fun one! Tony and Mel Lyons joined me to talk about their unique experiences getting introduced to the world of falconry, particularly in regards to their respective apprenticeships and the harder path they had to take during that time. We have some fun at this expense of our mutual friend Sheldon, who you all heard from earlier as a guest, and they also talked about their experiences flying falcons, Cooper's hawks, and other fun stuff! Thanks again to Corey Roelke and the Texas Hawking Association for having me down, and join us next week for the last episode recorded at the THA meet!

We're down to the last few episodes that were recorded earlier this year at the Texas Hawking Assocation meet! In this episode, Nichole Moore sits down and discusses hawking with Harris's hawks, Cooper's hawks, and also what it's been like to pursue her career in zoology. These last few episodes that were recorded at the THA meet were just as fun as the rest, so look forward to getting them out to you all!

We're taking a short break from Texas and heading back briefly to Iowa! Earlier this July, I had a chance to meet up with Ian Anderson, and during that time, while kindly hosting me for a couple of days, we got a chance to sit down and talk about his experiences flying goshawks and some of the different lessons he's learned during his time in falconry. As an added bonus, we also got a chance to run our dachshunds while I was up there! Special thanks again to Ian for helping to coordinate the recordings with Lance Christensen, and a few others you haven't heard yet! If you'd like to follow Ian's falconry, head to Instagram and follow @iowa_gamehawker.

While at the THA meet, I was able to connect with longtime falconer Don Roeber for another great episode! Don took some time out of one of his meet days to talk about his many years of falconry experience flying hawks, falcons, and even talks about his experience flying a falcon he rehabilitated at one point. Don has also sponsored some well-known falconers during his time in the sport, and we cover that some as well during our conversation! Like many of these episodes with longtime falconers, there's some great stories here you won't want to miss!

We're heading back to Texas again for a bit! This episode brings you all Jay Lehmer, who took the time out of his schedule at the THA meet earlier this year to talk about some of the adversity he's had to overcome in recent years with health issues, and some of the help he's received from fellow members of the falconry community to help face those issues. His story is another very touching one, and is another great example of what the falconry community can do when it comes together to help each other out. He also talks about his favorite form of falconry, flying longwings, and other topics. This is another one of those conversations you'll want to hear if you want to instantly have a better day folks, so come join us!

The first time I had a chance to record with friend and guest for this episode, Jenni Buckley, was at the 2019 NAFA meet. Four years later, we caught up again at the 2023 NAFA meet and talked more about our dachshunds, Harris's hawks, environmental concerns, and other things. Jenni is also putting together the 2024 NAFA meet, and we plan to record another NAFA Hawk Talk episode soon to let people know more about the details for the upcoming meet. It's always fun getting a chance to catch up with Jenni, and can't wait to see her and other friends at the upcoming meet!

Our guest for this episode, Brett Rees, was one that I was happy to get a chance to record while at the Texas Hawking Assocation meet earlier this year. Being the creative mind behind the Devils of Dirthawking Club, I've been a big fan of Brett's work for awhile, and it was a pleasure getting a chance to talk to him more about his inspiration behind starting the club, his artwork, and his beginnings in falconry. If you want to pick up more of his merch, head to devilsofdirthawking.com. He just came up with some new designs, including a limited edition collaboration with another friend of the podcast, Baba Yaga Crafts!

This unique episode is one of several more that will be coming to you from earlier this year at the Texas Hawking Assocation meet! Jimmy and Kyle share their unique story of how they came to know each other personally and in falconry, and eventually become family. They also discuss experiences they've had as dirthawkers and also longwingers, and some of their more influential moments in falconry, both individually and together. This is another unique episode you'll want to make sure and hear!

Shortly after landing in Dallas late last year to record the first of many episodes in Eastern TX, I made a stop to sit down and talk with the maker of fine shivs, Ryan Corlew. Many of you may have such a shiv from Shivalrous Designs, Ryan's company, and know how awesome they are, especially you squirrel hawkers out there! I'm a proud owner of one as well, and definitely put it to good use! Ryan also incorporates dachshunds into his falconry, and amongst other things, discusses some of the different things he's had to do to get his team of Harris's and dogs working together, and also some of his different experiences hunting and living in different parts of the country. There's going to be many more from Texas coming soon, as I continue to try and rollout the episodes recorded from earlier in the year from the Texas Hawking Association meet, so enjoy!

This is officially the last of the episodes that were recorded in New Jersey last summer for the ongoing episodes inspired by dachshunds in falconry! You'll still be hearing about dachshunds off and on for a little while, but as far as the falconers who use them in and around that area, this episode with Zack Bohn will be the last one featured from there for a bit. We of course cover other important topics in this episode, particularly Zack's background studying environmental sciences and working in parks and recreation for a town he resides in, and some of the issues he's had to deal with in that realm, like invasive feral cats wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. Special thanks again to the New Jersey crew and Casey Everett for helping to orchestrate those recordings!