William Layman Davis

Dale Barnett was Bill’s first sponsor and the first to introduction him to the Red-Tailed Hawk. Dale moved and Milton Daughtridge continued as Bill’s sponsor and in 1986, so begins his Falconry story. While traveling to a VA Falconry Association meet, Bill met Bob Pendergrass, another NC falconry and both of them would become founding members of the North Carolina Falconry Guild. Throughout the years, he never missed a falconry meet and or other event involving falconry. Bill participated in many educational events and was highlighted in the NC Wildlife Magazine, the Walter Magazine and most recently was remembered in a Falconry Podcast (number 38) by Israel Matson. He was also highlighted in two YouTube videos. Being a mentor to those interested in falconry was very important to Bill and he has left behind an incredible legacy of sponsoring 31 apprentices. Not all of these apprentices went on to become falconers and the ones that did become falconers became recognized as hard hunting falconers that would always put game in the bag.

https://waltermagazine.com/community/people/harnessed-instinct/

How do you pay your respects to someone who drastically impacted the course of your life? Inspiring you to pursue your own journey of discovery, along the same lines of passion this person set?

We’re not sure, but in this episode, Israel Matson pays his respects to William “Bill” Davis, the first falconer he watched practice the art, and a true giant of a human. So we look at a short glimpse into the man who Bill was, as well as at his favorite form of falconry, pursuing squirrels with Red-Tailed Hawks. Israel Matson, Falconry Podcast, Number 38: Bill Davis Tribute, Ted-Tailed Hawks and Pre-Apprentice Falconry

YouTube Video: Bill Davis, a 29-year falconer, recently celebrated his 77th birthday, doing what he loves to do, hunting with his Red-Tailed Hawk! Bill was instrumental to ...
https://youtu.be/XEmUfwsAYw0

You Tube Video: Hawking at the annual Liberty, North Carolina falconry meet with the legendary Bill Davis. Bill has been flying Red-Tailed Hawks for 25+ years, and hopefully...
https://youtu.be/a9KsuJzlAn0

Bill, my father-in-law, was a devout Christian with a passion for living life. He was a dedicated husband to my mother-in-law, Carolyn, dedicated to his family roots in West Virginia, a huge fan of basketball, football, and golf, a strong Falconer in practice and leadership, and a man with a strong work ethic. Bill will be sorely missed by all, but I know that he is living on in heaven with his family and friends.

- Natalie Conrad from Wake Forest, wrote on Mar. 9, 2020

Like so many of us, I knew Bill through falconry and during my formative years as an apprentice, Bill was right there for most of my expeditions into the woods. Many of us will never forget Bill barking at us, “get in there Richard and get a rabbit out”. Bill really liked his Jack Russell, even with those tenacious little dogs running around, I was still hearing, “get in there Richard and get a rabbit out”. That was Bill, no nonsense, show up with his bird ready to hunt, “let’s get going, what are we waiting for?” His reputation for being the first falconer flying and the first to put a squirrel in the bag is what we will always remember. Those apprentices watching Bill fly his bird would immediately conclude that this falconry stuff is easy! When it came time to release Vanilla (his long time Red-Tailed hunting partner) back to the wild, I asked if he would let me release her and much to my surprise, he said yes. Got her into the best heath possible and released her at my house. Fed her until she started catching squirrels at the bird feeder. Every night she slept in the same pine tree. Ten days later, she was no longer roosting in the pine tree and my last sighting was a mile from the house in a tall oak. An unforgettable experience, thank you. I will always be appreciative of what I learned from Bill, not just falconry, the lessons of life and the importance being the best person we can be.

When the hunting was done, that was my opportunity to learn about his life and how he became his own person. Bill was rabbit hunting with other family members when he heard about the idea of hunting with a hawk. He could not remember that person’s name, but he never once forgot that conversation. Bill’s life has had a lot of ups and downs but for all the time that I have known Bill, there was one constant that was truly his rock, Carolyn. She was there to support no matter what, she is who we called to check on Bill. She knows more about falconry and the history of falconry in NC than most falconers. Bill would not normally volunteer information but if you asked about anything falconry with him and Carolyn in attendance, they finished each other’s sentences and searched each other’s memories to recall every small detail. I participated with Bill in many educational events, he enjoyed the curious audience and would never disappoint those that took the time to hear what Bill had to share. Through his appreciation of falconry, I am certain that he has touched the lives of thousands of people, bringing to their attention what Bill knew so very well, maybe even the start of another falconer’s journey. Just as Bill was introduced to falconry many years before, they might not remember his name, but they too can become the mentor that Bill was.

- Richard Shores from Apex, NC, wrote on Mar. 9, 2020

Bill Davis will be so greatly missed by the people whose lives he touched. He was an example in so many ways. He was absolutely one of the finest examples of a person that pushed himself to live fully and deliberately that I have ever known. I knew him because of our mutual interest in falconry and even though he was a few years older than most of us other falconers, battled daily with diabetes, and over the last couple of decades a growing fight with recurrence of childhood polio, the rest of us struggled a lot to keep up with him. When we had group gatherings and lingered a little long at breakfast catching up on talking, he would be the person that always, and I do mean always, pulled us towards the door to get into the field and hunting with our birds.

Not only did he hunt hard but he never turned down an opportunity to take his love of raptors and falconry to any audience that he could get in front of him. Countless school children and other groups in and near Wake County have listened to his gentle and always enthusiastic voice share his passion for these birds. There is no doubt this had a lasting impact on many. In fact, even though he was not involved in legalizing the sport in North Carolina, many have and probably always will think of Bill Davis as the father of falconry in our state. He sponsored so many good apprentices and set such a high standard for game hawking that he well deserves this title.

Somewhere in my possessions is a video tape taken by me back in the 90s. In that tape a group of us are walking along getting started on a hunt with a Red-Tailed Hawk. The guys are quietly talking to each other. Bill is with us but not on camera as he is out ahead getting the job done. Suddenly, so loud that it sounds like it was screamed right into the microphone there is a HO,HO,HO, HO,HO. Everyone looks at each other and smiles. Bill is leading the charge in the right direction. He still is.

- Bob Pendergrass from Salisbury, NC, wrote on Feb. 26, 2020

Bill, it’s hard to know where to start. Your efforts to help an often-hard-headed apprentice eventually paid off and I will be forever grateful for that. It's the primary reason that I came to enjoy the success that came a few years later. It was always great to drop in on you after coming to Raleigh for State basketball or football games. And you were always someone I took great pleasure in dialing up for random conversation when I was away from North Carolina through the years. You lived life to the fullest and did what you enjoyed. You got along with everybody and helped so many new falconers either as a sponsor or as a mentor and all of us couldn't have had a better example on how to train and fly a red-tail. As much as I want to feel sorry for myself for your loss, I know I should hold my head high for having you for a friend for so many years. I haven't come across a better person. With much love, again I say 'thank you'

- Eric Harrold from Edgemont, SD, wrote on Feb. 25, 2020