Why should live lures rarely be used?

• A. Ethical concerns
• B. Safety concerns
• C. Cost
• D. Availability

Answer: (A)

Ethical treatment of animals in falconry training drives the stance that live lures should be used rarely. Using a real animal as a lure can cause fear, stress, injury, or suffering for the lure, and falconry ethics emphasize minimizing harm to all creatures involved. Because of that, trainers often use non-live training methods—like dummy lures or scent-based drills—that still help the raptor develop hunting skills without subjecting another animal to distress. Safety concerns are also a factor, since handling a live lure can create unpredictable risks to people and birds, but the ethical concern is the primary reason. Cost or availability may influence decisions, but they’re secondary to ensuring humane treatment.