DONORS:
Carter and Missy Montgomery, Bill Barbour, Craig Campbell,
Mike and Sandra Arnold, Jim and Chris Weaver, Montana
Falconry Association, North American Falconers Association
I
’m saddened to report the death of my old friend
Bob Martin, who passed away last week at the age
of 73. Bob first took up falconry in the late 1950s
when he was in his early teens. He and his friend
Mike Arnold, who lived in the same neighborhood
in Burbank, California, were absolute fanatics about
the sport, reading everything they could find about
falconry and tirelessly searching the nearby hills
for raptor nests. Their efforts took a quantum leap
forward when they met Bob Klimes, president of the
Southern California Falconers’ Association, and Bob
McCallum, who were both avid game hawkers and
provided the two boys with help, advice, and stellar
examples to follow.
I first met Bob when I was 14 years old, in the mid-
1960s, at a meeting of the old Santa Ana Valley
Falconers’ Association, which met each week at
Jack Hagan’s house. I remember Bob had a fresh-
trapped passage tiercel peregrine—one of the
first tundra peregrines I’d ever seen—and I was
absolutely awestruck. Fortunately, Bob wasn’t stuck
up about having such an impressive bird. Then,
and throughout his falconry career, he was always
generous, freely sharing his vast knowledge about
training raptors.
He was an excellent hood-maker, and some examples
of his work can be seen at the Archives of Falconry.
His craftsmanship showed in everything he created,
from hoods, blocks, and falconry
bags to the log house he built
nearly singlehandedly in Montana.
He was also a talented musician,
playing and singing with his wife
JoAnne in their bluegrass band.
Bob was always a staunch game-
hawker, flying first-rate falcons
in spectacular style. Last season,
he went on the road with his
two intermewed peregrines, Salt
and Pepper, flying them at sage
grouse, prairie chickens, and
other challenging quarry. He had
planned to do the same this fall.
Sadly, it was not to be. He will be
greatly missed.
Remembering Bob Martin
by Tim Gallagher
Bob was an excellent
hood-maker and his
craftsmanship
shined through.
Bob in 1972 at
a NAFA SD
Bob Martin and Bob
Mechsner La Verne,
California 1960’s
roughout his falconry career,
Bob was always generous, freely
sharing his vast knowledge
about training raptors.
Bob with his
peregrine in the
1960s. Photo by
Mike Arnold.