Hunting with the Hawk: With its warm and soft colors, Andalusia has been hosting for decades the numerous falconers who have put away their rifles and accompany their trusted friend, the falcon.
Not that in Italy there are no reserves dedicated entirely and exclusively to hunting with falcons, yet Spain proves to be particularly well-versed in surprises. The territory of Andalusia is especially rich in reserves within which it is a must to hunt exclusively with the hawk, and sometimes with the galgos, Spanish greyhounds.
These areas, locally called Cotos de Caza, offer more than one advantage to falconry enthusiasts and to all those who are approaching such a suggestive technique. The advice is to visit one of them at least once: the experience will be unforgettable.
The first element that pushes to organize such an unusual hunting trip is represented by the territory, beautiful, bucolic, natural, which drags and immerses the hunter in a remote time, rich in silent nature that he kindly hosts. Not least is the aspect linked to game; given that within these special reserves the guns are strictly banned, the wild present is usually more abundant and the species present are exclusively native and born on site.
Finally, an important element is the equal challenge between game and hunter. One knows perfectly the territory in which she was born, and knows how to make the most of her experience during the escape and in the search for hiding places and the other to succeed in the capture will have to prove capable, full of initiative, patience and with a trained eye, but above all it must be accompanied by a shrewd and well muscled hawk, with whom the feeling must be total and unconditional.
The hunter who practices this kind of technique knows well that the capture will be demanding and tiring and that the game bag will not abound in game, but he also knows well that the satisfaction of hunting is amplified exponentially, because catching a hare or a partridge in these conditions qualifies immediately the participant in the hunt as a true hunter falconer.
The Spanish reserves are excellent hunting grounds for hares, rabbits, red grouse and ducks and offer an exciting challenge between hunter and game.
Often these enchanting hunting reserves are surrounded by greenery, isolated, far from the daily grind, and in many cases they are immense noble estates reviewed and open to a much wider audience than the restricted circle of friends.
Rooms and lodgings are usually present within the reserve, and take advantage of ancient renovated rooms that offer warm hospitality, comfortable and fascinating environments to live and visit.
When booking, however, it is advisable to ask for specifics on the rooms made available, on meals, on transport and above all on the presence or absence of fenced falconers who will give hospitality to your hunting companion.
The game that can normally be hunted is that commonly found in the region of Andalusia: hares, rabbits, red partridges and ducks. It is a game, as already mentioned, well integrated in the territory rich in olive groves, prickly pears which represent an excellent hiding place for rabbits, coniferous forests and natural pools, an ideal habitat for ducks.
The hunter will be able to take advantage of the experience of the gamekeepers who will recommend the richest and simplest areas to deal with, together with the best strategies to be adopted, possibly accompanying him during the hunting mornings.
As a rule, for the capture of hares and rabbits it is recommended to hunt sketch with the hawk in hand or possibly on the oaks to follow. Both species, being small and no heavier than 3 kg, prove to be very fast, they know the territory and hiding places perfectly and will test the breath of your hawk in chases up to 500 meters long.
For partridges, on the other hand, in this kind of territories the use of the dog is not recommended, almost totally useless, rather it is advisable to sharpen the eyes or to use a maximum of binoculars. Only after identifying the prey will it be advisable to raise the hawk.
The traveling hunter will be able to organize his trip in a completely independent way, but if time does not allow it, an excellent solution will be to rely on a hunting association that will really think of everything.
Only commitment? Enjoy the journey and collect adventures to tell your friends after your return.