Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Gentry.
Hi Charles, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, when I was about 22 or 23, I decided to buy a pet shop. Animals had. been, and I knew would be, a part of my life and owning a pet store had been a dream since I was a child. Exotic animals and reptiles were my thing and we had a lot of crazy stuff. Lions, monkeys, fennec foxes, lynx, you name it. We also had the “normal” animals and I found training parrots to be one of things I really enjoyed. One afternoon a guy came in the store wishing to purchase some rodents, for what I assumed, was to feed a snake. When a questioned the species he was buying the rodents for, he said they were actually for a Red Tail Hawk, which he happened to have with him. We went out and had a look and then he asked me if I would like to join him on a hunt with the bird. An avid hunter as it was, I said yes!! For the next 4 years I hunted with him and his hawk until the time in which I was in a position to give a hawk of my own the time and attention necessary. That has been 30 years ago.
After having a bird or two for a short amount of time, just as a hobby, I decided one day that I would like to figure a way to make a career with falconry and raptors. A career that would allow me to do what I love and at the same time have the chance to share this amazing age old sport and these incredible raptors with others. People who may not ever have the opportunity to see them up close or experience what those talons actually feel like. I eventually came up with a business model in my head, and since there were no prototypes, had to design and build this according to what I imagined. What I dreamed is what my reality became. If the mind can conceive it, the body can achieve it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not always smooth but always worth it. Roller coasters are fun because they aren’t smooth. All the bumps and ruts are what adds to the satisfaction of achievement. Once you have the chance to look back, the trip is only satisfying, or at least more satisfying, when you can see the obstacles you were able to over come to get here. Knowing that others would have given up but you persevered and where able to do something others are not able to do. It gives one a sense of satisfaction you don’t get if everything goes perfectly smooth.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Hawk Manor Falconry is a falconry based business that focuses on education about the oldest hunting sport known to man and the very special birds that brought it all about. We focus on history, physiology, ecology, training, etc. Being able to give people an opportunity to learn about how and why this practice works and has lasted so long.
We don’t just show you a bird at a distance, we let you get close. We allow you to touch when appropriate. To experience the exhilarating feeling you get when one flys to you and sits on your glove. To see them in action on one of our hunting excursions.
We pride ourselves in being able to give the public something that no one else can.
Pricing:
- experiences start at $40
- hawk walks
- hunting experiences
- Kid’s falconry camps
- private events and festivals
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.hawkmanorfalconry.net/
- Email: hawkmanor1@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawk_manor_falconry_nc/
