When training a falcon, a lure is most effective during which of the following circumstances?

The use of a lure is particularly effective when the hawk is being conditioned for recall. During this phase of training, the lure serves as a powerful motivational tool that encourages the bird to return to the trainer. The falconer uses the lure to create a strong association between the lure and the rewarding experience of catching prey. This is crucial for developing reliable recall behavior, as the hawk learns to associate the act of returning to the trainer with a reward.

Training the hawk to respond to the lure during recall conditioning ensures that the bird is not only responding to the lure itself but also reinforcing the bond between the falconer and the hawk, making training sessions more effective. It is also during this conditioning process that the hawk learns to navigate back to the trainer’s location from a distance, which is essential for successful hunting scenarios.

In contrast, while a lure could be helpful in trick training or during free flights, these situations do not leverage the lure in the same foundational way as recall conditioning, where the focus is on teaching the bird a critical safety and obedience skill.