Rouse to Hunt (sage ability)

Rouse to Hunt is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Falconry, describing the act of releasing the bird from its perch or glove to persue prey. Before releasing the falcon, the falconer typically "rouses" the bird, a process meant to awaken or excite the falcon and prepare it mentally and physically for the hunt. This may involve gentle movements or sounds to alert the bird and get it ready for the upcoming activity. Once the falcon is roused, the falconer releases the bird with the intention of it pursuing and catching prey. The practice is one of ancient tradition, dating to the Sumerians of Mesopotamia.

Falcons are incredibly skilled hunters, using their keen eyesight, agility and speed to capture their target in flight, typically focusing on birds like game birds or waterfowl. Historically, falconry was a means of procuring fresh meat, particularly in regions where other hunting methods were less effective. Falcons catch their prey for sustenance, and the falconer may reward the bird by allowing it to feed on the catch or providing it with a portion of the prey as a form of reinforcement for its hunting behaviour. This encapsulates the partnership between human and bird, with the falcon's natural hunting instincts honed and directed by the falconer for mutual benefit.

Meat Taken

Should the falcon or hawk be managed by a character of amateur skill, the amount of meat that is likely to be taken in a day would be 1-2 lbs. This supposes a vegetation beneficial to falconry, including ranges such as intertidal, rural, savanna, steppe and wetlands. Intended prey, which is particular to humanoids and does not include prey the falcon would hunt for itself (bats, lizards, snakes, insects), tends towards rabbits, fish and other birds. For an amateur, the amount of food taken per day by hunting alone amounts to 1-2 lbs. of meat, counting from equinox to equinox. In temperate climes, between mid-December and early March, nothing is gained by this tactic.

Authorities understand better when to release the bird and in which direction; yet the amount of meat per day is still only 3-4 lbs. Yet there are better ways in which the falcon can be roused, where gathering food is concerned.