PA Falconry Hawk & Trust's 50th Anniversary Field Meet
January 8-10, 2026 State College, PA
Banquet tickets are SOLD OUT
Meet Registration is available
Book hotel rooms by calling the Penn Stater at (814) 863-5000 and use Group Code PFHT26A
Rooms are $99/night, $50/night refundable pet fee
Thursday
- Registration booth opens (Senate Room)
- 1 Free Drink Ticket provided at registration booth for Friday night social
- 1 Meal Ticket provided for buffet
- Intro to Falconry workshop led by Madison Story
Friday
- 12:00 PM Registration booth opens (Dean’s Hall)
- Lunch onsite w/ Apprentice Coordinator (not sponsored by PFHT)
- Social in Dean's Hall 5:00-6:30
- Cash bar opens 5:00
- Member meeting 7:00 PM
Saturday
- Breakfast w/ PFHT President onsite (not financially sponsored by PFHT)
- 12:00 PM Registration booth opens (Dean’s Hall)
- 2:00 PM Longwing Demonstration (meet in lobby)
- 5:30 Social Hour w/ cash bar
- 7:00 PM Banquet & Raffle
Banquet Speaker - Tyler Wright
Tyler Wright will be joining us from South Carolina this January and looks forward to meeting & hunting with our local community.
“I feel very fortunate to have gotten started in the sport at a young age—just 14 at the time. It wasn’t easy as a kid: finding rides to hunting spots since I couldn’t drive yet, and squeezing in time to fly birds between sports practices and games. It was a challenge, but I’m grateful for all the knowledge I’ve gained through the years that has brought me to where I am now. I’ll always be grateful to my sponsor, Mitchell Brantley, who took me under his wing and gave m the opportunity to practice falconry in the first place.
Fast forward to now—my life has taken several turns, with falconry being the one constant throughout. I’m currently 28, practicing in South Carolina, where I own and operate a nuisance wildlife control business and co-direct a nonprofit wildlife center called Black Creek Wildlife Center. I’ve been able to use my falconry knowledge to improve our raptor rehabilitation program, which sees hundreds of birds each year. Through our education department, I also help train our volunteers to ensure our educational birds are properly weight-managed, handled, and trained.
When it comes to my personal falconry, I’ve explored various avenues over the years, as South Carolina falconry can feel a bit suffocating. Our state is dominated by trees full of gray squirrels, and rabbits—when found—require you to bleed for them in cover so thick that even the strongest red-tails struggle to punch through. After experimenting with several species, from kestrels to Harris’s hawks, I’ve narrowed my focus to three that I’ve come to enjoy most. This will likely change in the future (goshawks are calling my name), but for now, I’m content with my red-tails, kestrels, and great horned owls.
I’ve spent most of my years flying red-tails on squirrels, as many before me have. Despite how common it is, a good red-tail on squirrels is truly one of the most dynamic and exciting forms of falconry you can experience. Kestrels were a more recent addition to the crew but have filled the void after traditional hunting season ends. Tiny raptors with the attitude and bloodlust of a T. rex are hard to beat! I’ve been fortunate enough to take hundreds of starlings, house sparrows, and pigeons with the kestrels I’ve flown.
Of course, most folks are here for the owls—and for good reason. These birds are often dismissed or overlooked, but I believe that reputation isn’t well deserved. I’m thrilled about the progress we’ve made in owl falconry, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and the experiences I’ve had along the way!
- Tyler Wright Sr. VP of Education, WLA Co-Director of Black Creek Wildlife Center
Tyler Wright
2026 PFHT/NAFA Field Meet Registration
$30 Per Person
$30.00
Banquet registration is CLOSED
Meet Registration is available
The Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust
The Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust (PFHT) is a group of dedicated conservationists who share interest in the hunting sport of falconry. Our purpose is to promote conservation of birds of prey, their care, welfare, and training. Our goal is to help protect and foster the sport of falconry in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania!
What is falconry?
For centuries, it has been the sport of hunting wild quarry with a trained raptor, and it remains the same today. Hunting is your focus if you intend to become a falconer. You trap, train, maintain and hunt the raptor you choose to fly. If actively hunting wild quarry is not appealing to you, then falconry is not for you.
Apprentice information
Click below to contact The PFHT Apprentice Coordinator
Madison Story if you are interested in becoming a falconer.
PFHT Annual Dues
$25.00
Annual Dues
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals of improving falconry in Pennsylvania.
Our Partners
Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust Board Members
Fran Gray
President
Brennan Herr
Vice President
Alix Buzard
Western Director
J.P. Holcomb
Central Director
Brett Coryell
Eastern Director
Tom Beaver
Treasurer/Secretary
Madison Story
Apprentice Coordinator
Jade Chen
Editor
Maggie Rash
Pennsylvania Game Commission Liaison
District Map
Red
Western District
White
Central District
Blue
Eastern District