Is Falconry Right for You?

Time Requirements

This is usually the dealbreaker. A falconry bird is not a pet you can ignore for a few days. It requires daily attention—every single day, including holidays, sick days, and that vacation you were planning.

During the hunting season (roughly September through February in most areas), expect to spend 10-20 hours per week on falconry. In the off-season, it’s less—but the daily care never stops.

The Travel Problem

What happens when you want to go on vacation? Or get sick? Or have a work emergency?

You need a backup plan. Some falconers have trusted friends who can step in. Others have spouses who learn basic care. Some pay professional bird sitters (they exist, but they’re rare and expensive). During the off-season, some falconers release their birds back to the wild, eliminating this concern temporarily.

If you travel frequently for work or pleasure, falconry will require significant lifestyle changes.

Financial Requirements

Falconry isn’t cheap, but it’s not as expensive as people assume. Most of the cost is upfront (equipment and facilities), with ongoing costs being relatively modest.

The biggest variable is whether you build your own mews (falconry housing) or hire someone. A handy person can build a functional mews for a few hundred dollars. Paying a contractor could cost several thousand.

Space Requirements

You need a place to keep your bird (a mews) and, ideally, access to hunting land.

Housing

Most states require an 8’ × 8’ mews (minimum) with specific features: perching, weathering area, protection from elements and predators. Your facilities must pass inspection before you can get your license.

If you rent, you’ll need landlord permission. Many won’t allow it. If you live in an apartment without outdoor space, falconry may not be feasible until your housing situation changes.

Hunting Land

You need legal access to land where you can hunt. This might be:

• Public land (BLM, state wildlife areas, etc.)
• Private land with permission
• Your own property (if large enough and properly zoned)

Urban and suburban falconers often drive 30-60+ minutes to reach suitable hunting grounds. This adds to the time commitment.

Physical Requirements

Falconry isn’t extremely physical, but it does require:

• Walking: Often miles per day, sometimes through rough terrain
• Standing: Holding a bird on your fist for extended periods
• Early mornings: The best hawking is often at dawn
• Weather tolerance: You’ll be outside in cold, rain, heat, and wind
• Manual dexterity: Tying knots, handling equipment, working with small parts

People with various physical limitations do practice falconry with adaptations. It’s not as demanding as some outdoor sports. But if you can’t walk a few miles outdoors in variable weather, it will be challenging.

Lifestyle Considerations

Family Support

Falconry affects your whole household. Your family will hear the bird at dawn. There will be frozen mice in the freezer. You’ll be gone early mornings on weekends. Make sure anyone you live with is on board—or at least tolerant.

Work Schedule

A 9-5 office job is compatible with falconry, but just barely. You’ll do most of your hunting on weekends. Remote workers and those with flexible schedules have a significant advantage—they can hawk on weekday mornings when the hunting is often better.

Other Commitments

Falconry doesn’t mix well with other time-intensive hobbies or commitments. If you’re already stretched thin with work, family, and other activities, adding falconry might not be wise. Something will have to give.

The Two-Year Test

The mandatory apprenticeship (minimum two years in most states) serves a purpose beyond education. It tests your commitment. Many apprentices realize partway through that falconry isn’t for them—and that’s okay. Better to discover that during apprenticeship than after you’ve invested thousands of dollars and years of your life.

Still Interested?

If you’ve read all this and you’re still excited—good. That’s exactly the kind of commitment falconry requires. The next step is understanding the path from curious beginner to licensed falconer.

The journey is long, but it’s also part of the reward. You’ll learn things about yourself, about nature, and about these incredible birds that you can’t learn any other way.