2011 HUNTS

To falconers, jingling bells and a hearty "ho, ho, ho" are more often associated with a good chase than with St. Nicholas. After a heartwarming morning with family and a wonderful Christmas dinner, an afternoon of hunting was the order of the day. Mjolnir (my European goshawk) had narrowly missed several squirrels "tree hawking" on the 24th -- so we returned to see if she might be successful this time. Alas, the squirrels had learned at least a short term lesson and were nowhere to be seen. From there, we headed to some very rough scrub for a try or two at rabbits. As every hunt involves training, I spent some time calling Mjolnir through thickets that were challenging for humans to break through on foot. It's fascinating to watch her fly through such 3 dimensional obstacle courses -- and it also hones her flying skills. Today's lesson paid off in short order, as moments after I had called her to the fist through the obstacle course the third time, Mjolnir plunged back into the thicket and struck a cottontail that was just emerging from its burrow.

Merry Christmas and Good Hunting All !

Shorter days, rain, wind and work had combined to seriously hamper my falconry efforts of late. Last week provided a reprieve from most of these, with the opportunity to fly Mjolnir (my European goshawk) on game on a near daily basis. On Saturday the 17th, Steven Roe (Ranger #25) and I beat brush for more than an hour, but the rabbits flushed into heavier cover -- easily eluding the goshawk. As goshawks aren't common in this region, some rabbits demonstrate alternative strategies that work fairly well against the Red Tailed Hawks (aka Red Tailed Buzzards to our European colleagues) that are their primary enemies. A headlong run will often outdistance the slower flying Red Tails.

Mere moments into today's hunt, I flushed a cottontail from a strip of high grass half a bowshot from a wooded knoll. Opting for the headlong run, the rabbit rocketed forty yards toward the knoll across open ground. Mjolnir launched from the fist, closing the gap with each wingbeat. Relying on speed rather than cunning, the rabbit stayed the course -- and lost the race. Mjolnir cropped up on her well earned reward.

I was only able to sit out twice over the long holiday weekend, but I was fortunate enough to take a gray squirrel with my crossbow each time.

Paul Wilburn

I took my crossbow out for an impromptu evening hunt, and I was able to take a gray squirrel with a homemade quarrel with a hand-forged, medieval-style broadhead.

Paul Wilburn

Most years I invite my fellow Rangers to my place for hunting and fellowship around the time of St. Hubert’s Day (November 3). This year I was honored to host Dale Gienow and John Woods from Ontario, Canada. We enjoyed meals featuring wild game taken during my recent medieval-style hunts, and we honored our namesake, St. Hubert, with the annual ‘Ranger’s Prayer’.

On Saturday morning Dale and John sat in ground blinds on my property and each had near misses on gray squirrels using their longbows. That afternoon, Dale had multiple opportunities on gray squirrels from a ground blind, but to no avail. John sat in a tree stand and watched many squirrels go about their business just out of range, and I sat at the base of a tree with my crossbow and saw the only deer that any of us saw while hunting during the weekend. It came within 20 yards behind thick cover before moving away from my position, possibly having winded me. I couldn’t tell if it was a buck or doe.

Sunday morning was mostly uneventful as I sat at the same tree and Dale and John were in blinds again. That evening my guests traded blinds and I sat in a tree stand, switching to my longbow. Dale and John both had shots at gray squirrels and I had a shot at a fox squirrel, but our game bags were destined to remain empty.

I had hoped my guests would each take a deer, or if nothing else, at least see deer, but the squirrel hunting was fun and challenging as a consolation. It was an enjoyable weekend with the camaraderie being the highlight.

Paul Wilburn

Central to the plot of the 14th century Middle English classic "Gawain and the Green Knight" is a three day hunt of deer, boar and fox. In the story, the hunters stay at the residence of Sir Bertilak de Hautdesert.

"the most commanding castle a knight ever kept, positioned in a site of sweeping parkland with a palisade of pikes pitched in the earth in the midst of tall trees for two miles or more."

A two mile perimeter palisade would enclose roughly 200 acres -- a larger than average medieval English deer park.

The Sir Bertilak Challenge? Working together employing well documented medieval hunting weapons and techniques, as a group take 3 species in 3 days or less.

Fox was out of season, but the nearly 2000 acres we hunted in the Cumberland Mountains were modestly supplied with non-native species well suited to our effort.

DEER

Scott Crawford (#17) and I arrived on the 21st and set off into the cool, deciduous forest with crossbows after Red and Fallow Deer (both species were taken in the story). We first spotted a bachelor group of stags bedded in a meadow of grass and low scrub some 60 yards off. It took far less than 30 yards of crawling on hands and knees to appreciate tall hunting boots, and the utility of carrying a quarrel or two in the belt or teeth rather than trying to wrangle an entire quiver. With only 10 yards to go, one of the stags alerted -- and they all took to their heels.

Although we weren't allowed a horse, with the help of our guide we then employed a number of bow & stable techniques described by Gaston Phebus -- as "englished" by Edward of Norwich in "The Master of Game". We pursued the group of bachelor stags at length, but they continued to work together to watch and elude us. Having hunted Red Deer with bows / crossbows without success many times in the past, this was no great surprise. Red and Fallow deer can be very wary beasts.

In the afternoon, we changed tactics to take advantage of hunting in October. During the rut, dominant stags create scrapes and establish territories that they defend aggressively. When alone, they are unable to take advantage of the additional eyes and ears of a bachelor group or herd. Having located one such rutting stag, we employed a classic bow & stable "drop off". Scott, the guide and I walked slowly through the trees well out of range. I dropped off behind a tree, then stalked directly toward the stag keeping one tree after another directly between my body and the stag's head. I had to turn the crossbow on its side, lest the stag notice the limbs protruding from either side of the tree. At 15 yards, I emerged from behind the last tree just enough to aim the single bolt that dropped the stag. We honored him with a solemn mort, a custom our guide found intriguing.

The shadows were lengthening by the time we got the stag back to the lodge, but we set out once more. Ever the purist, Scott had set his sights on ONLY Fallow does or Red Deer hinds -- as this had been the injunction from Sir Bertilak in the original text. Given the tendency of the females of both species to stay in small herds combined with the limited effective range (20 yards) of the crossbows, there were simply too many eyes to allow another success.

BOAR

Hoarfrost covered the fields the morning of the 22nd as Edward Lindey (#7) and Jesse Weber (#18) joined Scott Crawford (#17) and me to face the largest boar we could locate. We spoke with the houndsmen in advance to ensure that the dogs chosen would bay rather than immobilize the boar. As in "Gawain and the Green Knight", our goal was to pursue the boar with dogs, slow it with missile weapons, then finish it with hand weapons. This method, however, permits the boar freedom of movement to spin or charge at any time. This is a very hazardous form of hunting -- but true to the methods described in period literature and hunting manuals. In the story Sir Bertilak finished his boar with a sword. Even in the 14th century this was considered dangerously unwise. We opted for crossbow bolts instead of arrows for deeper penetration through the formidable hide -- and large bladed spears fitted with crossbars instead of swords as this was what was recommended by Gaston Phebus himself for all but the most reckless of hunters.

Once uncoupled, the dogs ranged far and wide in search of scent. Suddenly, the chase was on, with a massive beast (estimated at ~ 400 lbs.) doing its best to outrun the pack. When winded, the boar would turn to face the dogs -- and none would dare risk the flashing tusks. The boar charged one of the houndsmen before we approached. Scott and I closed with our crossbows, with Edward and Jesse providing cover with their spears should the boar charge. The first quarrel struck on the left chest behind "the shield" -- the extremely tough shoulder region known to turn both blades and bullets -- with immediate effect robbing the boar of his wind. Provoked, the boar made a bluff charge, then retreated. A second quarrel struck within inches of the first, visibly weakening him further. It was then that the boar charged in earnest, targeting our guide and some of the other houndsmen. Wisely and quickly, they scattered, as the boar sprinted a few dozen yards before turning to bay again. Edward closed from the front right and struck the boar in the side, then in the face as it charged him -- then struck a devastating chest blow that pierced the boar through. Meanwhile, from the left, a third bolt had buried next to the first two before Jesse moved in with the coup de grace with a second, massive spear blade through the chest. Once again, we honored our worthy adversary with a solemn mort.

SPANISH GOAT

Gaston Phebus speaks of hunting Ibex and Chamois -- and Maximilian I was quite fond of hunting chamois with both crossbow and javelin. Although not as wary as deer, they trust to their surefooted speed over steep terrain to evade most predators. In the afternoon, Jesse chose to hunt with a crossbow while Edward wielded his longbow with hand forged arrowheads. I carried a spear to discourage any boar in the area, with the primary intent of supporting and documenting Edward's and Jesse's efforts. After more than 3 hours of crisscrossing the largest of the areas, we finally located the herd well up on the mountainside. Only the comparative silence of the longbow permitted both hunters to get off shots before the herd spooked and was gone. Both Jesse and Edward brought down their quarries -- and gained newfound respect for how quick and agile these animals are in their preferred habitat.

EPILOGUE

With each hunt, we all seek to better understand the unique challenges and traditions of Medieval Hunting. I encourage each hunter to explore the wealth of literature and history and pursue those hunting practices that are well documented -- but not limit their diligence simply to weapons and quarry. Please consider other elements of the medieval hunting tradition as well, including largesse. Because of the success of this hunt, more than fifty pounds of game meat will be donated to the poor.

Years ago I put together a period kit for trekking and overnight camping, but I never got around to actually putting my kit to the test...until now. I conducted a 2 day, 1 night trek/hunt through Reid Lake Foot Travel Area, which is part of the Huron National Forest, near Glennie, MI. Over the two days, I hiked nearly seven miles through sometimes challenging terrain. Outside of the 2 parking/trail head areas (I traveled from one to the other), I never saw another person; I had the forest all to myself.

On the first day, I scouted for a couple miles until I found a promising area near Big Marsh Lake where I could hunt that evening, set up camp nearby, and retrieve water to boil. I was very satisfied with my lean-to shelter and camp, and I spent considerable time collecting firewood. That evening, after enjoying a meal of dried venison, dried apple slices, and a rye biscuit, I hunted near a good deer run I found along the edge of the marsh. I didn't see any deer, but a large black squirrel fed his way towards be until he was within range; I loosed an arrow, just missing him by a hair. Excited that I even had a shot opportunity at game, I headed back to camp with a pot of water to boil, and I started a fire using my flint and steel. I boiled a couple pots of water to replenish my leather costrel, then I nestled in under my shelter, listening to the yelps, barks, and howls of nearby coyotes and the hoots of a great horned owl.

The next morning while I was breaking down my camp, 2 spike bucks walked by at about 40 yards, and during my hike out I had close encounters with a few more deer, I flushed a grouse, and I saw a red-tailed hawk and pileated woodpecker. Originally, I had planned on spending two nights in the forest, but I had to adjust my plans because of conditions. I'll discuss that, and I'll go into a lot more detail about my trek/hunt and the various components of my kit, in an article I'll post on the 'Research' page shortly. But I will summarize the trip by saying...all in all, it was an awesome experience.

Paul Wilburn

In the SHR article "Medieval Hunting in Modern Times: New World Challenges - Prey, Seasons and Methods" I addressed many of the conflicts that exist in pursuing period hunting. I may have to compose an appendix dealing with falconry, as similar conflicts exist there as well. The 14th century advice book "Le Menagier de Paris" clearly places hawking of quail, partridge and pheasant in August and September. Even allowing for the 10 day difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars, there's no way to reconcile that with the local pheasant season of the first twelve days of December. Although accidentally taking quarry out of season is both understandable and legally permitted in falconry in the U.S., deliberately hunting wild game out of season is not.

To approximate late medieval season pheasant hawking with my Finnish-German goshawk Mjolnir, I engaged a gentleman who raises large, powerful pheasants known for their speed in the air. We chose an area of mixed meadow and cover to release several hens to test Mjolnir's abilities. With the first chill of autumn (50s) and the faintest of breezes, the weather was ideal. The first hen proved exceptionally wily, navigating her way on foot eastward through heavy grass to freedom. The second decided to risk a flight north for the closest tree line. Mjolnir followed warily, landing in a nearby tree to see what developed. The second hen dropped from her perch to the more open ground under the trees to risk a sprint to freedom. That decision proved fatal. Mjolnir was on her in a moment. After trading off, Mjolnir was back on my glove when the third hen burst skyward and headed northeast. Heartened by her recent success, Mjolnir powered into a tail chase, swooping in from underneath twice before ultimately connecting on her third attempt. After a second reward, Mjolnir was back on the fist when the fourth hen flushed southward. Mjolnir followed hard, but the hen flew into heavy cover and escaped before the goshawk could close.

A total of five St Hubert’s Rangers participated in the two days of hunting and included Dale and North Gienow, Nick Conway, Leanna Falkenhagen, and John Woods. Also amongst the ranks were John Woods Jr, and Matt Mckee. The hunt took place at the Woods Farm just outside Spencerville, Ontario and we had beautiful weather for both days that we hunted. Our primary quarry was Whitetail Deer and we experimented with a variety of hunting techniques throughout the weekend.

The real highlight of the weekend was our attempts at 'Bow and Stable' hunting. This style of hunting employs the use of horses and has riders guide deer towards a line of archers who are waiting in concealed positions. During our first attempt we did not encounter any deer as we swept thorough a series of fields. Our second attempt proved to be much more exciting. We first encountered a large doe but she quickly escaped onto a neighbouring property. A short time later North spotted another doe bedded down in the tall grass. The deer seemed unafraid of the horse and rider and was at a distance of less than 20 yards. Although North was in a perfect position to take a bow shot from horseback, we could only legally take a buck at this time and he had to let her go. When the doe finally got up and bounded away we elected to follow in an effort to see if we could guide the deer towards our waiting archers. Our efforts to guide the deer’s movement were initially working but the doe did manage to avoid the archers and escape.

Although we were not able to harvest a buck during the course of the weekend, we all considered the hunt to be a success. Much was learned and we gained valuable experience that will help us in future Bow and Stable hunts. Everyone had an excellent time socializing and spending time with like-minded hunters.

John Woods

My determination to stick with the longbow this year is paying off for me. Tonight I took my first black-phase gray squirrel, followed just a few minutes later by another gray squirrel, both at a distance of 10 yards or so. The black one died instantly, but the gray one scurried off mortally wounded. Bantha, my German Shepherd, redeemed herself after failing to find my deer a few weeks earlier, by leading me right to the squirrel who had made it 40 yards through some dense undergrowth.

This was the first time I've taken two animals in the same hunt.

Paul Wilburn

Falconry is an imprecise science. Dove season is well underway, but Mjolnir (my 3rd year Finnish-German female goshawk) failed to connect with any of the doves I was able to locate and flush today. She'd started the hunt inauspiciously, colliding with a chain link fence -- so my expectations for her taking aerial game were not high. A hard collision with a large tree limb while chasing a squirrel last year had been followed by more than a month of half-hearted chases before she connected with game again. As we were winding down our morning hunt, Mjolnir veered off toward an area I usually avoid. This particular wooded draw is a crossroads for game -- and as such is a haven for raptors. On different days we've encountered Cooper's Hawks, Red Tailed Hawks and even a Great Horned Owl in an area 20 yards across. I drew the lure from my hunting bag and moved toward a clearing to call her back when I heard the familiar squeal of a rabbit. I ran through the woods to Mjolnir's side, knowing that she would be exceptionally vulnerable if another raptor was in the area. Such mishaps can happen in an instant. Last year the roles had been reversed when Mjolnir had bound to a Cooper's Hawk that had just killed a rabbit. In the end, all was well.

After a morning of vigorous training and sparring with long-sword, sword & buckler, and spear, a group of us decided to take a tour through my property and scout for deer in preparation for the fall hunting season. The group consisted of myself, and fellow Rangers Nick and Leanna, along with our friend Dave. The main purpose of the trip was to familiarize Nick and Leanna with the trail network and point out some key locations and land-marks. We also scouted the area for our planned Bow & Stable hunt, and identified a number of "choke" points and game-trails that would need to be covered by archers during our hunt. I observed some tracks indicating a few deer were in the area. On Sunday, I continued my scouting throughout another part of the property. I had a couple close encounters with ruffed-grouse. Again I found more fresh deer tracks, and also found an antler shed from an 8pt buck.

John Woods

After 15 years of trying, I finally took a deer with a longbow. It was my third night of hunting during the early antlerless deer season, and I didn't even make it out to my blind until the last hour of daylight. Close to the end of legal hunting time this lone doe wandered by and gave me a broadside, 9 yard shot. I hit her through the top of the lungs with my homemade, medieval-style arrow. I waited around 45 minutes before I started to look for her and it was pitch black by then. I wasn't concerned because my German Shepherd is 'usually' an amazing tracker, but despite several attempts she couldn't find my deer. I then started the tedious process of following the blood trail from the spot where I shot her, but I lost the trail after a mere 20 yards or so. Despite the late hour, my amazing wife, Sandi, offered to come help. She was able to pick up the trail where I left off. The doe had only gone about 40 yards and she pretty much ran in a straight line. I'm very thankful that both deer I've taken on my property have have been short recoveries.

Paul Wilburn

Providence and I went out early today and made the 20 minute trek to the beautiful small lake, just west of my home in Bracebridge, ON. Traditionally, this has been a good place to see this day's target species, the ruffed grouse. Often I see them roosting on low lying branches, catching the rays of the morning sun as it illuminates the open treeline on the west side of a large clearing. Today, however, I had no such luck and there were none to be found at this popular site. Undeterred, we continued along the edge of the lake for about 15 minutes when the familiar sound of frantic wing-beats could be heard, as a grouse in the distance burst though the under growth and flew to freedom. Not fast enough of the mark and with the grouse some distance away, we missed our chance. Ten minutes further down the trail and we would get another opportunity. Presumably, the same grouse had made it's way farther down the pathway and took up refuge under a thick pine, not knowing that it lay directly in our path. This time we were close... no more than 20 feet away when our quarry took to the air. Easily overtaking her prey with heavy wing beats, Providence grasped the grouse in her formidable talons and quickly ended the pursuit. Grouse is very tasty, though small. We will thoroughly enjoy every tiny morsel and appreciate where it came from.

Dale M. Gienow

Though the chukar partridge was originally a Eurasian bird (still the national bird of Pakistan), is was imported to North America many years ago, as a game species. This invasive species did not establish itself well on this continent but can now be found in some numbers, in the wild, from South Dakota , North to Washington state in the U.S., and up through British Columbia and Alberta, in Canada. This delicious partridge is quite commonly found on game preserves and is popular with shotgun hunters.

"Providence", my European goshawk, and I had a great hunt today, taking three chukar partridge in the span of one hour. One was taken in the air with an impressive display of aerial prowess, on the part of Providence and her fleeing quarry. This time of year, when cover is sparse, these birds are easily flushed into the air and make for denser bush. The goshawk makes for the perfect predator, easily maneuvering through the thickets. To my surprise, my hawk ambushed two chukars before they were able to get air. Desperate to hide, they would not move from their camouflaged positions, despite the shrill calls from the imprinted raptor. North tried his best to follow all the action with the video camera, but catching the action while the birds were in flight, proved to be very difficult. He did manage, however, to get some reasonable footage of Providence taking a chukar on the ground and of me trying to convince my hawk that her lure is more appealing than fresh game. We took the breasts, that added to a lovely meal, and the real hunter will enjoy the rest of the spoils.

Scott Crawford (Ranger #17) and I set out for an afternoon of hunting with Kelaino, my Red Tailed Hawk. She had been doing well and I had hopes of doubling with her before the end of the rabbit / squirrel season(February 15), after which she can legally take only one game animal per day. Much of the foot of snow of the last 10 days had receded with temperatures pushing 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scott took the opportunity to get some educational photos with his ferret, Philippe. In the U.S., rabbits don't establish warrens like their European cousins, and ferreting has no significant tradition. So, after a couple of photos taken at the mouth of a rabbit hole, we returned Philippe to his travel hutch and brought out the hawk.

An hour or so of brush beating kicked up two grey squirrels and a fox squirrel, but nothing close enough for a serious chase. Eventually, while Scott and I were working a fence / hedge row, an ill-fated rabbit tried a quick dash to the relative safety of a nearby thicket. Kelaino was waiting for the moment and slammed hard through the brush to connect. I traded her off for a rabbit shoulder I had in the bag.

Once done, Kelaino took a perch on a nearby tree, then flew to the ground nearby. We had seen no rabbit or squirrel, so we ran to her side to see what she was doing. Kelaino was in the midst of eating a still writhing garter snake, tail first. It had ventured out in the sunniest part of the day, but slowed by the snow and dropping temperature proved no challenge for a hungry Red Tail. I let her crop up, then we headed for home.

Good Hunting All !!!

Ten inches of snow, bitter cold and high winds kept me out of the field for the last 3 days. A sunny, warm (22 Fahrenheit) day with low winds provided an ideal break in the weather. With Mjolnir (European Goshawk) rebounding from her recent injury, she needed exercise and more confidence. I carry a javelin that I use primarily as a beating stick. When I narrowly missed a cottontail with the javelin, Mjolnir intercepted her with ease.

Quick success with Mjolnir meant that I could take Kelaino (Red Tailed Hawk) out as well. With the temperature dropping, the light weakening and the wind picking up, I expected to simply get her some exercise and maybe a slip or two. She missed a long glide (150 yards) and wingover on her first rabbit, but I was able to drive a second one from cover shortly thereafter. Kelaino crashed through several feet of brush to connect with her target.

I was particularly pleased -- it being the first time that I have taken prey with both birds in the same day.

Good Hunting All !!!

Warm weather made for an unusual week of hawking. On the 26th, Kelaino (Red Tailed Hawk) took a garter snake that had ventured out to enjoy the sun and high 40s. It was the first reptile I have taken in January.

The 27th saw the end of a long dry spell for Mjolnir (European Goshawk). Deeply rattled and mildly injured after having flown into a large tree limb on 17 December, Mjolnir had spent more than a month rehabilitating. Her foot healed well before her confidence returned-- but at long last she bound to a cottontail. The flight wasn't particularly demanding, but it was a much needed success on prey to rebuild her self-confidence.

Both birds flew hard again today with multiple quality flights on rabbits. The highlight of the day was Mjolnir's second success in 3 days. After several missed slips, she took a low perch facing a fence row. Normally flown from fist height or greater, her chances launching from two feet above the ground were slim. I beat the nearby brush, flushing a cottontail that sprinted ~ 50 yards. A wily veteran, the rabbit bolted through a hedge (a technique that usually sheds the pursuing raptor) and was headed into a second when fate caught up with him. Mjolnir pursued ferociously, tailchasing the rabbit a foot above the ground, powering up over the first hedge, then dropping back down to connect just as the two reached the second hedge. I had to break and burrow my way in simply to get a relatively unobstructed photo of Mjolnir and the rabbit before fetching them both out for the "group" photo. It was good to see that Mjolnir is "back in the game" both mentally and physically.

Good Hunting All !

The hunt consisted of Richard Swinney, David Swinney, AJ (David's son) and myself. The red deer proved to be extremely scarce. Richard and I came across them on the first afternoon. A plan for me to drive them past Richard proved unsuccessful as the deer chose to come out of the Yaupon thicket to the side instead of where we expected them to. A years worth of hunting pressure has made the Red Deer very smart.

We all had close encounters with the Black Buck antelope herd that was present on the ranch. We all came away with the same experience...way too many eyes watching everything to even begin to make a move to shoot. I personally had the impression of observing a herd of 4-legged Meerkats...very, very vigilant.

We also had encounters with Axis deer during this hunt. The Axis deer were the only deer that presented any opportunities, with me missing both of the shots that I took. The first shot was through a narrow window through the thickets which went right as aimed, with the deer ducking under the shot. The second shot was purely a clear miss on my part.

Rain was the really new element on this hunt for me. The first day we had showers for part of the morning and the second day it rained from lunch to dark with times of heavy rain. I was surprised at the level of dryness I was able to maintain in the rain without waterproof clothing. My double layered linen liripipe hat got quite wet on the outer layer, but remained mostly dry on the inside.

All in all it was a great hunt and most importantly gave us the opportunity to introduce hunting to a younger generation.

Blue skies with just a breath of wind and temperatures in the upper 30s made January 2nd a glorious day for hawking. Although Mjolnir (my 2nd year European Goshawk) was repeatedly foiled by grey squirrels, Kelaino (my 1st year Red Tailed Hawk) saw her first success on game. Having built her confidence by taking vermin, she flew on rabbits with a newfound earnestness that was rewarded when a particularly ill-advised cottontail broke from cover to sprint across the stubble of a muddy fallow field. The rabbit had made it two-thirds of the way to the shelter of the pictured thicket when Kelaino struck. The force of the blow was such that the rabbit was partially eviscerated on impact.

Kelaino (Κελαινώ) was named for a specific harpy from Greek mythology. Depicted as part woman, part bird, harpies were winged spirits renowned for snatching food (a behavior quite common in raptors). The harpy or "maiden eagle" enjoyed a modicum of popularity in medieval heraldry and appears, along with a hunting horn and a number of other devices, on the coat of arms of the princely house of Liechtenstein.

Good Hunting to All in the New Year !!!