Once your freshly caught Red-tailed Hawk tires of bating off the fist and sits quietly, your next goal should be to . . .

The goal of getting the Red-tailed Hawk to feed off the fist is a crucial step in the training process. When a bird becomes accustomed to the handler and feels comfortable, encouraging it to eat from your hand establishes a bond between the falconer and the hawk. This feeding process builds trust and helps the bird to associate the handler with food, which is essential for future training sessions.

Feeding off the fist serves several important purposes in falconry. It helps the hawk to relax and feel secure in its environment, reduces stress, and makes it more willing to engage with the falconer. Additionally, successful feeding enhances the hawk's overall morale and willingness to cooperate, which is vital for any subsequent training activities.

While luring or entering the hawk on wild game may also be part of the training process, those actions typically come after the bird has established a strong bond with the handler and demonstrates comfort and readiness to proceed. Similarly, tying the hawk to a block perch may seem practical, but it does not promote the relationship-building and trust that feeding off the fist encourages at this initial stage.