What should you do if your hawk was successful in a hunt but is slow to return?

When your hawk has been successful in a hunt but is slow to return, the best course of action is to try to lure it back to you using food. Hawks are motivated by hunger, and offering them food can entice them to return, especially if they are distracted or enjoying their catch.

By using food to lure your hawk, you are capitalizing on its instinctual behavior and providing a strong incentive for it to come back. This technique is commonly employed by falconers and is effective in recalling a bird that may be preoccupied or hesitant to leave its catch.

While other actions, such as allowing the hawk to stay out until it gets hungry or calling your sponsor for advice, might seem plausible, they do not directly address the immediate situation of retrieving your bird. Allowing the hawk to remain out may lead to a longer wait and increased difficulty in recalling it, while seeking advice may not yield a quick solution in the moment of need. Hence, luring the hawk back with food is a proactive and effective strategy in falconry when dealing with a returning bird.