Lupo

From the day he was collected from M&J Raptors Lupo was a dream to handle and train. He was very settled on the fist and perch, and rarely bated as he watched my dogs and family go about their business around him. He breezed through his training and took his first head of game just twelve days after collection.

It was my intention to produce a versatile "hunting machine" that would take on any quarry, and Lupo was more than up for the challenge. At first he struggled a little with rabbits, as it took him a while to realise that he needed to use a head grip, but he was never deterred. Once he learned to hold rabbits properly, he caught and subdued nearly every one that was bolted for him. Lupo's performance on pheasants has always been impressive, and he has flown on a number of field meets where he has more than held his own against the imprint crowd. He has flown over a wide variety of dogs from day one without issues. As well as having the necessary speed for pheasants, he has also shown great agility in flights at corvids which have provided much entertainment.

My only issue with Lupo has been that I have sometimes failed to put his weight up high enough to get the best out of him. It was not until his second season that I realised just how high in condition I could fly him, and how much stronger his flight became with added weight. By the end of his second season he was flying "barrel-chested" and was still very obedient to the fist.

2009/10 Season:
124 head
Rabbit 45
Pheasant 26
Crow 12
Rook 8
Moorhen 8
Magpie 5
Teal 4
Grey Partridge 5
Wood Pigeon 4
Mallard 2
French Partridge 1
Blue Hare 1
Jackdaw 1
Various 2