Name?

Daniel Murray

How long have you been an OFA member?

Coming up on a year now

Positions in OFA?

Apprentice Coordinator

Where do you live?

T-town!  Right next to the river

Job and/or School?

Electrical Assembler @ Geophysical Research Group

Family?

My wife is named Lindsay (Lindz), and I have a son that was born in November of ‘09 named Parker (and he may, just in fact, be the cutest kid EVER!)

What got you interested in falconry?

I volunteered at Three Forks Nature Center for quite a while.  The first time I was out there, they let me handle their imprint Great Horned Owl, and it was over for me after that!  A few years later, Gary Hale took me hawking with his MONSTER Red-tail (flew at something ridiculous like 57 ounces!), and I have been obsessed ever since.

Who was your sponsor? (or mentors and influences?)

Ryan VanZant is my sponsor and mentor (though I don't really like saying mentor....he tends to get a big head!), but I also consider Jeff Byrum, Mark Waller, and Gary Hale to be my mentors as well.  Have to mention my good hawking buddies Jonathan and Kent also....when my interest in falconry was peaked again last January, they took me out hawkin’ all the time, and definitely got the ball rolling.

What birds do you currently fly?

Nothing!  Summer time is pretty weak.....once all this hot weather leaves us I plan on trapping the smallest male Red-tail I can find, and hawking everything!  My main goal will be to catch a duck out of a soar, but I also plan on car hawking him on crows, pigeons, and great tailed grackles (caught depredating property of course).  We will terrorize the squirrels and bunnies as well!  I plan on ending the season with a late trapped male Kestrel.

What birds have you flown in the past?

Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk

What was your favorite bird and why?

Going to have to go with Dee Dee (RT) on that one.  She was my first bird, and we had a blast!!!!  No other people, besides falconers, can understand just how special a moment it is, when YOUR first bird comes whipping off her perch, slams into the ground, and gives you that squeal you have been working so hard for.  I will never forget that moment.

What birds do you plan to fly or would like to fly?

My goal, once I turn general, is to trap a passage peregrine or prairie (whichever one we get is fine with me).  I'm planning on winning the lottery at some point as well and flying a cast of Aplomados. Maybe a Red-headed Merlin or two....I also have a thing for Barbary Falcons.

Favorite Quarry?

This one is sort of tough, just because I'm still pretty young in my falconry career and just haven't seen that much yet.  The flights on prairie chickens blew my mind! Also small falcons going after doves/snipe/woodcock/etc tend to do it for me as well.  I'm pretty sure a RS catching teal would get me jumping in the air hollerin’ too.....

Do you have other animals?

Maggie Mae Murray!!!!!  The most ridiculous German Shorthair Pointer in the land.  Great hunter of trash cans, kitchen counter tops, and any other place one might find a morsel of food....oh...and I guess she is alright in the field too.....................sometimes.

Favorite falconry story?

Oh man!  So we have the whole crew together, and we are out flying Jonathan's Red-tail, Shaung. Well, we had just left a clump of briars (where we had managed a few slips), and where crossing a clearing toward another huge patch.  Everyone is crackin’ jokes, flappin’ their jaws, and just generally NOT hawking.  All of a sudden, Ryan kicks up a bunny right by our feet, and Shaung comes haulin’ out of her tree, pumping like a mad man (or woman I should say).  The rabbit is beginning to cross a little two-track, when Shaung whips out that wing over, we all know and love, and drops like a freakin’ ton of bricks.  She doesn't even try to grab a hold of it....her feet stay nice and tucked.....she just hammers the rabbit into the ground!!!!  Both the bird and the rabbit had to have bounced at least a hundred feet in the air (alright....so that may be a little bit of an exaggeration....but they went high!), and everyone just starts yelling, laughing, screaming, doing the "Did you see that!?!?!?!?!?!?!?”  So far, that's the hardest hit I've seen out of any bird, and that's including falcons out of a stoop.  It was pretty sweet!  Since she didn't feel her feet where necessary, the rabbit got away, but I'm assuming it died later on from internal injuries.....I was blown away that Shaung hadn't broken a bone or two of her own!

Funniest falconry story?

Can't really think of one off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure it involved a kestrel in some way or another....you can't help but laugh when you are out hawkin’ those little guys!

Favorite quote?

“Is that an eagle?”

What is the best tip that you would give someone new to the sport?

The best way to make falconry contacts, is to show up with your own beating stick, and a six pack of some good beer.....oh, and if you can trap baggies...your golden!

What goals do you have for your falconry experience?

Specked out Prairie Falcon on Prairie Chickens, and a Red-shouldered Hawk off the fist on teal

Contact Info you want public?

Cell phone:  918-906-6819

e-mail:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Social Networks?

www.rcklmbr2586.blogspot.com

Facebook