Guía de equipamiento esencial de cetrería

💰 Total Budget: $300-600

This covers the equipment itself—not including mews construction or telemetry. You can spend less by buying used or making some items yourself, or more by choosing premium options.

🧤 The Glove ($40-150)

Your glove is the primary interface between you and your bird. This is not the place to cheap out. A good glove protects your hand from talons while allowing enough dexterity to handle equipment.

What to Look For

Material: Good leather (usually cowhide or deerskin). Not suede, not synthetic.
Thickness: Thick enough to stop talons, thin enough to feel the bird’s feet.
Length: Should extend past your wrist. Some falconers prefer gauntlet-style.
Fit: Snug but not tight. You’ll be wearing this for hours.

Pro tip: Buy from a falconry supplier, not a hardware store. Welding gloves and “falconry gloves” from Amazon are not the same thing.

⚖️ Digital Scale ($30-100)

You’ll weigh your bird every single day. Accuracy matters. Get a digital gram scale with at least 1-2 gram precision.

Requirements

Capacity: At least 2kg (5 lbs) for buteos; less for smaller birds
Precision: 1g increments minimum; 0.1g is better
Platform: Large enough for a perch or your gloved fist
Tare function: Essential for subtracting perch weight

Kitchen scales from Amazon work fine. You don’t need a “falconry scale”—just one that’s accurate and has the right capacity.

🪵 Perches ($20-100 each)

Your bird will spend most of its time on a perch. You need at least two types: one for the mews and one for outdoor weathering/travel.

Common Perch Types

Shelf Perch: Flat shelf the bird stands on. Good for mews. Easy to clean. Allows natural posture.
Block Perch: Round or square post topped with padding. Traditional for falcons but used for all species.
Bow Perch: Curved perch that allows the bird to move. Popular for buteos. Good for weathering.
Ring Perch: Circular perch the bird can walk around. Less common but some falconers swear by them.

Perch diameter matters for foot health. Too thin stresses the feet; too thick prevents proper grip. Ask your sponsor for recommendations based on your bird’s size.

🔗 Jesses, Swivel & Leash ($30-60)

The tethering system that keeps your bird secure. This is traditional equipment that’s been refined over centuries.

Components

Anklets: Leather straps that go around the bird’s legs (tarsi). The foundation of everything else.
Jesses: Straps that attach to the anklets and pass through the swivel. Traditional or Aylmeri style.
Swivel: Metal connector between jesses and leash that prevents tangling. Quality matters here.
Leash: Secures the bird to the perch or your glove. Leather or braided, 3-4 feet long.

Aylmeri vs. Traditional Jesses

Aylmeri jesses are removable—the anklets stay on the bird, but the jess straps detach for free flight (reducing snag risk). Most modern falconers use Aylmeri. Traditional jesses are simpler but stay on during flight.

📦 Giant Hood or Travel Box ($40-150)

You need a way to transport your bird safely. Options include:

Giant hood: Leather cone that covers the bird’s head and body. Calms the bird, compact.
Travel box: Enclosed carrier. More room, easier to use, but takes up more space.
Cadge: Open perch frame for transporting multiple birds. Not needed for beginners.

Many falconers start with a giant hood and add a travel box later. Either works; personal preference matters most.

🔔 Bells ($15-40 per pair)

Bells help you locate your bird by sound—critical when they’re in a tree or on the ground with quarry. Get at least one pair; many falconers use two (different tones, mounted differently).

Bell Types

Lahore bells: Traditional Pakistani bells. Bright, distinctive sound. Classic choice.
Acorn bells: Rounder sound. Some falconers prefer these for their tone.
Bewit vs. tail mount: Bells attach to the leg (via bewit strap) or tail (tail mount). Leg is more common.

Bells are backup, not primary tracking. Modern falconers almost always use telemetry as well—bells alone aren’t enough for serious hunting.

🛁 Bath Pan ($10-30)

Raptors need to bathe for feather maintenance. A shallow pan with 2-3 inches of water works. Many falconers use large plant saucers or dedicated “bird baths.”

Heavy enough not to tip over
Wide enough for the bird to spread wings
Shallow—2-4 inches deep
Easy to clean and refill

🧊 Food Storage ($50-100)

You’ll be storing frozen quail, mice, and other prey. A dedicated small freezer is ideal—keeping raptor food separate from human food is both practical and keeps peace in the household.

Small chest freezer (5-7 cubic feet is plenty)
Alternatively: dedicated section of existing freezer with clear containers
Label everything clearly

Compra el guante en persona si es posible, ya que la talla varía mucho entre marcas. Prueba tu balanza con un peso conocido antes de usarla para los pesajes diarios. Lleva siempre pihuelas de repuesto, un girador extra y correas de cascabeles en tu morral de caza. Muchos cetreros experimentados recomiendan comprar dos de cada elemento crítico, porque los fallos del equipo siempre ocurren en el peor momento posible durante una jornada de caza o una sesión de entrenamiento.

Quick Cost Summary

Item	Price Range
Glove	$40-150
Digital scale	$30-100
Perches (2)	$40-200
Jesses, swivel, leash	$30-60
Giant hood / box	$40-150
Bells	$15-40
Bath pan	$10-30
Food storage	$50-100
Total	$255-830

This doesn’t include telemetry (strongly recommended, $200-800+) or mews construction ($200-1500+). Budget accordingly.

Where to Save vs. Spend

Worth Spending On

• Quality glove (daily use, safety)
• Good swivel (failure = lost bird)
• Telemetry (not optional for hunting)
• Perch quality (foot health)

Can Save On

• Scale (kitchen scale works fine)
• Bath pan (plant saucer works)
• Leash (can make your own)
• Food storage (used freezer)

Inspecciona todo el equipo de cuero semanalmente en busca de grietas, rigidez o adelgazamiento. Acondiciona los artículos de cuero con un buen bálsamo cada pocas semanas, especialmente durante los meses secos de invierno. Reemplaza los giradores anualmente sin importar su apariencia, ya que la fatiga del metal es invisible. Cambia las pilas de las balanzas digitales al inicio de cada temporada. Guarda los artículos de cuero lejos de la luz solar directa y fuentes de calor, que causan sequedad y agrietamiento reduciendo considerablemente su vida útil.

Essential Equipment