PHOTO GALLERY: The lifestyle of falconry

On July 11 in Samnee's home in De Soto, a small sharp-shinned hawk is in its early weeks of life. The bird is Samnee's first of its size.   |  Sarah Bricker

Dennis Samnee holds a small, blue cover in his hand. Samnee makes his own falconry gear from scratch, tailoring each piece to each bird. Head pieces are made with supple leather and strong stitching to protect the bird while hunting.   |  Sarah Bricker

Mike Mallet, Missouri Falconry Association Vice President, holds Dennis Samnee’s six week female sharp-shinned hawk Wednesday inside the backroom at Samnee’s home in De Soto, Mo. The smallest hawk in the United States, this female is already full grown at six weeks.   |  Sarah Bricker

Quail are raised and kept in a airy shed on the right-most edge of Samnee’s property on Wednesday. “They are a pain to take care of,” Samnee joked. Samnee raises the quail to provide fresh, nutrient-rich red meat for his falcons and hawks. “Quail provide a good source of red meat, feather and bones ... all of which are essential to a raptor’s diet,” Samnee said.   |  Sarah Bricker