Jesses & Anklets
Jesses are the leather straps attached to your bird’s legs that allow you to secure it to your fist, perch, or leash. Proper jesses are critical for safety—both the bird’s and your control.
Jesses are your primary safety link to your bird. A jess failure during a training session or hunt means your hawk flies away, potentially with trailing equipment that can entangle and kill it. The difference between proper and improper jess selection is often the difference between a successful falconry career and losing a bird in your first season. Understanding the Aylmeri system and using appropriate flying jesses is not optional knowledge; it is a fundamental safety requirement.
Understanding the System
The tethering system has several components that work together:
- Anklets: The rings or straps that stay on the bird’s legs permanently
- Jesses: The straps that attach to anklets and allow handling
- Swivel: Prevents the jesses and leash from tangling
- Leash: Connects swivel to perch for tethering
Types of Jess Systems
Traditional Jesses
One-piece straps that wrap around the leg and extend into a handle. Simple but the slit can catch on branches if the bird gets loose. Rarely used for free flight anymore due to safety concerns.
Aylmeri System
Modern standard: permanent anklets with grommets, removable jesses that thread through. Flying jesses can be removed for free flight, leaving only smooth anklets that won’t snag.
Flying Jesses vs. Mews Jesses
Flying jesses: Short, no slit at end—safe if bird gets away
Mews jesses: Longer with slit for swivel—only for tethered situations
⚠️ Critical Safety Point
Never fly a bird with slitted jesses. If the bird lands in a tree, the slit can catch on a branch and trap the bird. Use Aylmeri-style flying jesses (no slit) or remove jesses entirely for flight. This is non-negotiable.
Materials
Leather
Traditional choice. Kangaroo leather is prized for strength-to-weight ratio. Cowhide works but is heavier. Must be conditioned and replaced when worn.
Parachute Cord / Synthetic
Braided synthetics are strong and don’t rot. Some falconers prefer them for wet climates. Must be sized correctly and edges sealed to prevent fraying.
Biothane
Synthetic material that looks like leather but is waterproof and nearly indestructible. Easy to clean. Gaining popularity for durability.
Sizing
Jesses must fit correctly:
- Anklets: Snug enough to stay above the foot, loose enough to spin freely
- Width: Appropriate for the bird’s size—wider for larger birds
- Length: Long enough to hold comfortably, not so long they tangle
Approximate Widths
Kestrel: 1/4" (6mm)
Cooper’s Hawk: 3/8" (9mm)
Harris’s Hawk: 1/2" (12mm)
Red-tailed Hawk: 1/2" - 5/8" (12-16mm)
Large falcons: 1/2" (12mm)
These are guidelines—your sponsor can help you size for your specific bird.
Always carry spare jesses in your hawking bag. When making your own, use a sharp rotary cutter rather than scissors for clean edges that resist fraying. Test new jesses by threading them through anklets multiple times before putting them on a bird. Never reuse jesses that show signs of stretching. Mark your mews jesses and flying jesses differently to avoid mixing them up. Many falconers use different-colored leather or add a small knot at the end of mews jesses to distinguish them quickly by feel.
Attachment & Inspection
Putting on Anklets
Aylmeri anklets are typically secured with grommets or buttons. The process requires care to avoid pinching the bird’s leg or setting them too tight/loose. Have your sponsor demonstrate this hands-on.
Daily Inspection
- Check for wear at stress points
- Look for cracks or stiffness in leather
- Ensure grommets are secure
- Verify jesses thread freely through anklets
- Replace at first sign of serious wear
When to Replace
Equipment failure can mean a lost bird. Replace jesses before they fail, not after. Leather jesses typically last a few months with daily use; synthetic materials last longer but still need inspection.
Where to Learn More
Jess making and fitting is a hands-on skill. For detailed instruction:
- Your sponsor: Essential for learning proper attachment technique
- Falconry suppliers: Sell pre-made jesses in standard sizes
- Falconry catalogs: Size charts and material comparisons
- Online tutorials: Video demonstrations of jess making (supplement, don’t replace, hands-on learning)
Key Takeaway
Jesses are simple in concept but critical in execution. A failed jess means a lost bird. Learn proper technique from your sponsor, inspect equipment daily, and always use the appropriate jess type for the activity—flying jesses for flight, mews jesses for tethering.
Check jesses daily at stress points, particularly where they pass through the anklet grommet and where they fold over the swivel. Leather jesses should be replaced every two to four months with regular use, regardless of visible wear. Condition leather jesses weekly with a thin coat of leather balm. Synthetic jesses last longer but should be inspected for fraying or heat damage. Replace anklet grommets if they develop rough edges that could abrade the jess material. Keep a jess-making kit ready so replacements are never delayed.
learnEquipment.jesses.expertTipsTitle
Switch to field jesses before every free flight session and hunting outing. Traditional jesses with slits for the swivel are designed for tethered management only. Flying a bird with traditional jesses creates a serious entanglement risk in trees and brush. Aylmeri jesses with grommeted anklets provide the best of both worlds: secure tethering when needed and safe field jesses that can be swapped in seconds for free flight.
learnEquipment.jesses.commonQuestionsTitle
The most frequently asked question about jesses is whether to use traditional or Aylmeri style. The modern consensus strongly favors Aylmeri jesses for their safety advantages. Traditional jesses pose an unacceptable entanglement risk during free flight. Aylmeri anklets with removable jess straps allow you to switch between mews jesses, which stay on the perch and attach to the swivel, and short field jesses that minimize snag risk when the bird is flying free.
learnEquipment.jesses.historicalContextTitle
Jesses are among the most ancient falconry equipment, with evidence of leather leg straps used on hunting raptors dating to at least 2,000 years ago in Central Asia. The Aylmeri jess system was developed in the 1970s by Major Guy Aylmer as a safety improvement over traditional slit jesses. Its rapid adoption by the worldwide falconry community represented one of the most significant equipment advances in modern falconry history.