By Meagan Duffee-Yates, Guest Blogger
Hunting is my passion, as I can imagine it is the passion for most everyone here. I was born with this drive to pursue wild game, to harvest an animal and bring to my table the meat provided. Ever since I was old enough to remember I have been hunting. Growing up in Dallas, Texas with a father who has a passion for the outdoors I can remember long sits in the deer blind, the pre-dawn hours nestled into the tall milo fields waiting on the first signs of doves and of course the great fishing that the lakes around our house provided. I am 28 years old now and it seems that the older I get, the more this passion grows. To introduce myself to you all more formally, my name is Meagan Duffee-Yates, and I have called Missouri my home for almost ten years now.
I was born in raised in Texas, moving here to Missouri to attend college, where I met my now-husband, and nestled down to stay. I am happy that I did so. I love this state and all that it has to offer. I have always been an outdoors woman, hunting deer and dove mostly back home, and fishing for large mouth bass, crappie and catfish. But moving here to Missouri provided me with a new avenue of adventure, a new way of experiencing the outdoors in a way that most other hunters can only imagine. I am a falconer. If you are not familiar with this word I am not surprised. There are less than 120 of us here in the state of Missouri, and only 5,000 in the United States. I am permitted by the USFW and the state of Missouri to use a trained bird of prey (hawk, eagle, falcon and owl) to hunt wild game.
It is a long process, involving taking a test, getting yearly inspections and using my birds 4-6 times a week to hunt wild game. I currently hunt with a female red-tailed hawk, Autumn, who has been at my side and allowed me to see into the private world of predator vs. prey for the past 8 years. We hunt mostly squirrel and rabbit, though we have chased and taken wild turkey, pheasants and even a woodcock. I am her beagle, I help flush the prey in an attempt to have her catch it. Just like with any other form of hunting, there is a 50/50 chance that the quarry will escape. She does not bring back the animal to me after a successful hunt, she goes to the ground with her prey, and attempts to hide this animal with what we call mantling, meaning she spreads her wings out to the sides in an attempt to hide her food.I must “make-in” to my bird, help to dispatch the prey as quickly as possible, for in the wild most birds of prey consume their catch alive. Just like with other forms of hunting, we want our birds prey to have the least amount of suffering possible. Our game of choice is the squirrel, what we also call “the bushytail”, a tough animal to chase who provides a more three-dimensional aspect to the hunt. It’s fun, exciting and sometimes a single chase can last an hour or more.
Falconry is the oldest hunting sport known to man, even older than the spear. And this lead me to wanting to learn how to bow hunt, which is a great passion of mine as well. And there is no finer place to chase big ol’ toms than the state of Missouri! I am an avid spokes person for hunting, doing many programs a year on falconry, archery and hunting with youth. I want to see more kids get involved in the outdoors and I want to see more women take part in this sport. My passion for the outdoors is strong and I hope that we can all share and learn from one another. If you have never seen falconry I suggest you find videos on this sport. Its a fun and very exciting method of hunting. I have yet to harvest a mature white-tailed buck with my bow, though I have harvested many does. I hope to learn from you all as you learn from me! Take care of yourselves and I hope you are all preparing for the thunderous gobbles of spring!
