FALCONRY EXCURSION PACKAGES
The Hawk Walk
The Hawk Walk is the our original package and is the most ideal for kids. This visit lasts approximately one and a half hours.
Your tour begins with an introduction to our collection of eagles, owls, falcons, hawks and vultures while some interesting facts about raptors are provided to you. Next your expert guide will provide the opportunity to put a glove on your hand, a bird on your fist, and have a look at the bird at eye level while learning basic falconry husbandry & handling techniques. Then it is time to go hawking. As we walk the woods and meadows of the beautiful countryside, the hawks will keep pace with you in the tree branches overhead and respond to the commands of the falconer. Finally, after an enjoyable and informational adventure through the preserve we will call the birds down to your gloved fists and capture the last picures of an unforgettable experience.
This is a simpler package then The Excursion, but is still completely involved and immersive in learning falconry and how to handle a hawk or owl.
This shorter package is recommended for groups with young children. But perfect for adult groups as well!
You and your group will put the glove on and call the birds to your fist!
There will be plenty of opportunity to take pictures and ask questions.
This will be an experience you will not soon forget.
To schedule The Hawk Walk package:
THE EXCURSION
The Excursion is a more involved package then our other experience and is orientated more towards practicing falconry and hunting with the birds. This package lasts approximately 3 hours.
Similar to The Hawk Walk your tour will begin with an introduction to our collection of eagles, owls, falcons, hawks and vultures while some interesting facts are provided to you. Next your expert guide will provide the opportunity to put a glove on your hand, a bird on your fist, and have a look at the bird at eye level while learning basic falconry husbandry & handling techniques. Once comfortable with handling the birds we will begin to practice calling the birds to the fist and rewarding the birds for their behavior. Then it is time to go hawking. The Harris' hawks have been trained to catch pheasant, partridge, quail, rabbit, and squirrel; per each species hunting season. As we walk the woods and meadows of the beautiful countryside, they will search the ground and tree branches, waiting for that exciting moment when the game is flushed and the chase begins. Finally after what was hopefully a successful hunt, you will call the birds down to your gloved fists and reward them for an amazing adventure.
There will be plenty of opportunity to take pictures and ask questions. A truly unique experience awaits you when you book The Excursion package at our private hunting preserve.
To schedule The Excursion package:
Falconry Excursion
Photo Gallery
Location
Goshen, NY Preserve
The untouched nature of the wooded landscape of this preserve has made it a favorite over the years. This 53 acre licensed private preserve is located about 2 miles outside of the village of Goshen, and only 1 mile from Interstate 86.
For many, the Orange County villages nestled in the center of the lower Hudson Valley around the Goshen Preserve provide just the right blend of town and country. The local area hosts many fine hotels, perhaps a few of the most interesting is the Glenmere Mansion and the Stagecoach Inn.
The lower Hudson Valley is quickly becoming famous for its locally grown food and locally made beverages. The Applewood Winery, Pennings Farm Market, Warwick Valley Winery, and Bellvale Creamery are located about 20 minutes south in Warwick, NY. Soon’s Orchards, Quaker Creek Store, and Orange County Distillery are located just down the road in New Hampton, NY. While the Angry Orchards Cider House is located about 25 minutes north in Walden, NY.
For shopping and entertainment Woodbury Common Premium Outlets features 250 of the most sought after, high-end fashion and designer retail brands in the world. The countries third Legoland has opened just down the road from our preserve, while the Castle Fun Center offers enjoyment for all ages.
With historic streets lined with shops and gently rolling hills, the open fields of grains and the dairy-dotted meadows astonish visitors who marvel at the wonderful mix of rural habitat and commercial enterprises coexisting within this beautiful and unique area.
DISTANCE FROM NEW YORK CITY:
70 miles.
TRAVEL TIME:
In light traffic, 70 minutes from New York City.
PUBLIC TRANSIT:
The New Jersey Transit express train from Penn Station via Secaucus Junction takes 70 minutes to get to nearby Campbell Hall station.
GETTING THERE:
Take the Palisades Interstate Parkway north to the exit for Route 6, Central Valley, and follow Route 6 west toward Interstate 86. Take Interstate 86 toward Exit 126, Goshen.
SPECIAL TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS:
Bus, Train, or Airport drop-off & pick-up services available upon request, with prior arrangements with Falconry Excursions staff.
Testimonials
“We had an incredible experience. It was our 5 and 7 year old kids, my husband and me. None of us were experienced birders, although our 7 year old is a lover of all birds of prey. Jim was our guide and was spectacular. Informative, patient, wonderful with the animals, responsive to our various interests. The pacing of the experience was perfect. The grounds were incredibly beautiful, we were thrilled to meet the Cullens, who were welcoming and lovely. The intimacy of the experience made the day one of the best days of our summer.”
“We had a wonderful couple of hours meeting many birds and handling some of them.”
“Extraordinary,
A beautiful welcome, fabulous kind expert guide. The birds are all wonderful, the kids were blown away”
“Undeniably incredible.”
“We had a fantastic experience. We loved how informative our guide was. The walk was great and it was really fun to get to have the hawks land on our fist.”
“I had an incredible falconry experience with Jim. He was extremely informative, friendly and clearly passionate about his career, which was inspiring. I loved getting to hear about, and see, a variety of different birds. Of course getting to call and feed the Harris Hawks was incredible.”
“It was fantastic. Walking through the woods with the birds was great and getting to watch them hunt. It was very exciting and the whole group learned so much. Getting to have them fly to us was also really exhilarating. I enjoyed watching the gyrfalcon fly and getting to see that up close. Everyone was very helpful and informative and it was an amazing experience.”
“My parents and I were introduced to a variety of hawks, falcons and owls. We took the Harris Hawks out to the open field, where they flew to our gloves; also had some time with the 22 year old harris in a tighter vicinity. Ended the day with a baby Black Vulture. Jim was extremely informative and an excellent guide. This was a fantastic experience.”
“Our experience was fantastic! It went above and beyond anything we expected or imagined. We enjoyed the educational insight on the birds and falconry and the opportunity to get hands-on experience. Tommy was so gracious, knowledgeable and a great guide. In addition to the great falconry experience, we loved the recommendations of local spots to check out! The distillery was very cool.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I cannot locate the exact address for my scheduled experience on the website?
A: Our exact address is provided to you in your confirmation email for your scheduled booking.
Q: Will I/my group be able to put on the glove and hold the bird?
A: YES!
While some birds will only be handled by our trained and licensed professionals, you will have the opportunity to hold as many birds as we have available!
Q: How long do the tours last?
A: The Hawk Walk : approximately 90 minutes
The Excursion: approximately 3 hours
The tour lengths are listed as approximations, as they are catered to each groups interests and desires on the day. We allow for extra time around your scheduled event to make sure our staff are never rushing customers to get to the next group. Please take advantage and enjoy your time with us!
Q: What sort of clothes should I wear/what should I bring with me?
A: We highly recommend wearing proper footwear consistent with hiking and walking through fields and woods. Dress depending on the time of year your excursion is scheduled. Dress properly and bring a camera, and we will provide all you need for the duration of you experience with us.
Wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors. We may find ourselves walking though prickers, mud, wind, and rain. Clothing that can withstand the prickers and boots that can get a little muddy are best! Jackets that are both wind and water resistant are recommended to have on hand. In the winter months please where multiple layers of warm clothing.
Q: What times are Falconry Excursions available to book?
A: We are open all year around. To view our available schedule click the button below and select your package of interest:
Q: Are there any age restrictions for any of the packages?
A: No.
You are never too young/old to experience and enjoy the sport of falconry, however we usually recommend that children are aged a minimum of 5 years old to fly a hawk. With assistance younger kids will be able to hold the hawks on their gloved fists in order to briefly enjoy the experience. We encourage all ages to get involved and we cater each excursion based upon the specific needs of the group. Our walks through the woods/fields differ depending on the groups abilities, so never feel discouraged.
Q: Do we have to participate in hunting activities?
A: No.
While we encourage everyone to get as close as possible to the birds during all aspects of the experience, we also understand that hunting is not for everyone. If you would prefer to not involve hunting in your experience, please let us know in the Special Instructions section of your booking and also remind us, upon your arrival for the experience.
Q: What if the weather is bad?
A: Depends on the weather. We are happy to reschedule at any time if you feel the weather is going to jeopardize your package. Cancellations due to weather made by the Falconry Excursions staff are not subject to cancellation policy.
Rain: If the rain is very bad (solid rain all day) we would recommend that you contact us to see if your package is jeopardized or not. It is rare for us to cancel tours due to weather, but the hawks do not fly well in prolonged heavy rain. Intermittent showers are no problem at all.
Snow: While flying the birds through a snow storm can be majestic, cancellations may occur due to safety concerns on both our staff and customers reaching our location.
Heat/Humidity: Extreme heat and humidity can force us to limit our birds activities at the hottest points of the day.
High Winds: Very windy days can jeopardize how the birds fly and will dealt with on a case by case basis.
We will contact you if your package is jeopardized, but if unsure we would recommend that you contact us to see if your package is jeopardized or not.
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
A: There is a 24 hour cancellation policy in place. Forfeiture of deposit if cancelled by you within 24 hours of your scheduled excursion.
Refund of any payments and deposits up until 24 hours prior to scheduled excursion. Rescheduleing to future date available within 24 hour period, but application of forfeited deposit is at discretion of Falconry Excursions management. Please contact us should this need arrive.
Q: Is there a best time of day to fly the hawks?
A: No.
Interestingly, there is no particular better or worse time of day to fly the hawks from the hawks point of view. So whatever time suits you, please don’t hesitate to come and enjoy!
Q: Is there a best time of year to book an excursion?
A: No, but the seasons provide different tours highlights to enjoy:
Spring: We are the one of the largest raptor breeding facilities in the United States, and the most diverse. During the spring is when babies are being born and raised into young strong adolescent birds. We invite our guest a look at certain aspects of our endeavor.
Summer: Nice weather and young birds beginning their training and exploring of the world. Hunting and older birds are in their molting period.
Fall: Small game hunting season begins and the birds have finished molting (growing) new feathers. With the change of leaves and the eventual loss of leaves, the flights through the trees really begins to heat up.
Winter: With the eventual loss of the leaves, hunting season is truly underway. The birds are in their peak fitness and the flights and video footage are always world class.
Q: Are spectators allowed to accompany a Falconry Excursion?
A: No.
All of our packages are private experiences so it is not possible to spectate somebody else's falconry experience.
Q: Is it possible to take photos and videos during the experience?
A: Yes!
Always listen to the instructions of your guide, but we encourage as many pictures as you can get!