PRESIDENT

Email Frank

I’ve been a licensed falconer for 12 years and have served either as a board member, meet coordinator, and or apprentice coordinator of the Wisconsin Falconers Association for 8 years. Over the last number of years, we have had numerous successful meets as well as an apprentice workshop in 2020 which had a large turnout and very good reviews.

I live in New London wis with my wife Cindy. We have a six acre hobby farm with goats and chickens.  I’m currently flying a 4 year old Redtail hawk and a 3 year old imprint North American Goshawk. During my time serving the WFA I have had the opportunity to meet many talented and skilled falconers. I actively promote the sport of falconry in Wis by sponsoring apprentices and doing falconry programs at schools, and sportsmans events.

I’m also co-founder and captain of Project SOAR (snowy owl airport rescue) This project was started by myself and two ladies from wis Audubon association.  One from Winnebago County, Janet Wissink and Green Bay, Erin Giese. We have relationships with 4 Wisconsin airports currently to relocate Snowy owls and many other raptors form the danger of airports. 

Over the last 4 years we have relocated over 20 snowy owls and many redtails, Cooper’s hawks, and great horned owls. Some have been banded and some also have had backpacks placed on them and are entered into the project SNOWstorm system.

TREASURER / MEMBSHIPS

Email Tim

My name is Tim Hitzman, I live in Appleton WI, I am 63 years old. I have owned and operated a machine tool repair business specializing in CNC mills and lathes for 29 years. I’ve been married for 36 years and have 3 grown daughters and two grandchildren. I earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois. Like many of you, my interest in Falconry began at a young age. I was always interested in birds and in particular the raptors really captured my imagination as a young man. I found the book, North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks at the library which I read and reread several times. I was hooked.

While waiting to become a falconer I flew pigeons competitively with the Green Bay and Northside Flyers Pigeon Club for 20 years, 10 years as Race Secretary. I was the Poultry Superintendent for the Door County Fair for 20 years. I raised my first poultry at the age of 12 and have had birds almost constantly since that time. I have raised most varieties of domestic poultry, gamebirds and waterfowl. This experience has given me a great understanding of avian health and good husbandry practices.

I hope to bring my passion for the birds and the sport of falconry to the position of Treasurer, as well as a balanced and thoughtful approach to our partnership with the DNR and the regulations that govern our sport.

SECRETARY

Email Chris

I’ve been a falconer for 10 years and I got into falconry because I loved hunting, being outside, and birds of prey. It took me a couple years to get everything straightened out so that I could pursue the sport like buying a house and squaring away all the things I needed to become a falconer. I’ve flown many different kinds of birds including Red-tails, passage/imprint goshawks, passage/imprint Cooper’s hawks, hybrid falcons, and kestrels.

I’m happy to say that a good portion of my life revolves around it, as I’ve made fantastic friends through the sport of falconry. Any future jobs I choose to work is determined by the availability it leaves open for me to do falconry. Thankfully I can say I work from home now and it couldn’t have come at a better time as I started to do that before the pandemic hit.

I’ve been a contributing member for about 8-9 years helping out as the webmaster and being in a charge of merchandise sales in addition to the board position. I donate my time as a transporter for the MN Raptor Center as I transport injured birds from western WI to MN for care.

I look forward to getting out and hawking with many more falconers, and capture beautiful stills with my camera for all to enjoy.

DIRECTOR

Email Dave

Many of you know me as I’ve been around Wisconsin for a while. In early 2024 I will be passing 52 years of continuously active falconry. It is my main passion in life.

I am thankful to be elected to the WFA board and hope that I am a useful part of the team going forward.

I wish you all the best of Hawking!

DIRECTOR

Email Hilary

I started falconry in 2016 and have flown multiple red tail hawks, american kestrels, a cooper's hawk, and a merlin. I moved to the Madison area in 2015 after spending most of my life in Michigan and Iowa. I work as an electrical engineer, and am a member of both NAFA and IAF. Please feel free to reach out if you have questions about the club or my experiences with any of the species that I've flown.

DIRECTOR

Email Joe

Ever since I was a little kid, birds have fascinated me, especially raptors. That fascination led me to live a life that is surrounded by raptors, having worked with everything from Golden Eagles to Saw-Whet Owls. My fascination even took me as far as starting a Non-Profit Organization that teaches people about raptors.

The sport of falconry has led me down an amazing path, meeting some of my best friends, traveling to awesome places and work with some unbelievable birds. One of my favorite things to do is to introduce and teach new people about the sport of falconry and show them what it really is.