How Much Does Falconry Cost?
License fees, a mews, equipment, telemetry, food and your first bird: what each costs, and where every number comes from.
Updated
Falconry’s costs are front-loaded. Most of the money goes into housing and equipment before you fly a bird, and after that the yearly bill is mostly food. The figures below come from state wildlife agencies’ own fee documents, Oregon’s published estimate for a first-year apprentice, and two US falconry suppliers’ catalogs.
How much does it cost to start falconry?
Plan on roughly $1,100–$5,500 for your first year, or $2,300–$7,300 if you buy a new telemetry set. The mews is the biggest swing: built from used materials it can cost a few hundred dollars, and a ready-made one can cost thousands. In most states the license fees are the smallest part.
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| License, permit, exam and inspection fees | $0–$577 | State falconry license cost table |
| Mews (raptor housing) | $250–$3,000 | Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife |
| Basic equipment to pass inspection | $300–$600 | Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife |
| A trap for your first bird | $155–$195 | Supplier catalogs, September 13, 2026 |
| A year of food | $360–$1,080 | Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife |
| New telemetry set (optional) | $1,265–$1,837 | Supplier catalogs, September 13, 2026 |
The first-year range adds the fees across all states, the mews, the inspection equipment, a trap and a year of food, rounded to the nearest $100, with and without telemetry. It leaves out the hunting license, travel and vet visits, which vary too much to price.
How much is a falconry license?
It depends on your state. Across the 42 states that publish an exact price, a new apprentice pays a median of $69 before the first permit is issued, and the range runs $0–$577. That total can include an application fee, the permit itself, an exam fee and a facility inspection.
To hunt with your bird you will also need a hunting license, priced separately. Our state-by-state cost table lists every state’s figure and links the agency document it came from.
How much does a mews cost?
Oregon’s wildlife agency puts a mews at $250–$3,000: the low end is raw or used materials you build with yourself, the high end a ready-made mews or one built for you. For most new falconers it is the single most expensive item, so it is where doing the work yourself saves the most.
Size and layout depend on your bird and your state’s rules. See our mews construction guide and the facility requirements an inspector will check.
What does falconry equipment cost?
Oregon’s wildlife agency estimates $300–$600 for the basic equipment you need to pass your facility inspection. Bought new, a hawking glove alone runs $45–$165. Some items, such as jesses and leashes, you can make yourself once your sponsor shows you how, which is how many apprentices keep the total down.
New prices in two US falconry suppliers’ catalogs on September 13, 2026, from the plainest to the most elaborate mainstream item of each kind:
- Glove: $45–$165
- Jesses: $9–$40
- Leash: $11–$24
- Swivel: $4–$27
- Bells: $11–$35
- Bow or block perch: $99–$295
- Digital scale: $88–$130
- Bath pan: $22–$130
- Transport box or giant hood: $50–$380
- Creance line: $21–$52
Our falconry equipment guides explain what each item does and what to look for.
Do you need telemetry, and what does it cost?
Federal falconry rules do not require telemetry, but it is the standard way to find a bird that has flown out of sight. A new set of one transmitter, one receiver and one antenna costs about $1,265–$1,837, which makes it the largest optional purchase, and the one worth planning for before your bird flies free.
- Transmitter: $225–$476
- Receiver: $850–$1,065
- Yagi antenna: $190–$296
Buying used is one way to bring that down. Our telemetry guide covers VHF and GPS systems and what to look for in each.
How much does a hawk cost?
For most apprentices the bird itself costs nothing to buy. Federal law forbids buying or selling wild raptors, so a first bird is usually a young wild hawk you trap under your permit. The cost is the trap, $155–$195 new, and any capture permit your state requires.
Captive-bred raptors are different: where your state allows it, falconers may buy and sell them, at prices that vary widely by species and breeder. Most apprentices start with a trapped passage bird instead, and our trapping guide explains how.
How much does falconry cost per year?
After the first year the big purchases are done, and food becomes the main cost: Oregon’s wildlife agency estimates $30–$90 a month, depending on the species. Add your permit renewal, a hunting license and vet care, and replace worn equipment as you go.
- Food: $30–$90 a month ($360–$1,080 a year), less if you trap pest birds, hunt game or raise your own.
- Permit renewal: set by your state, often for a three- or five-year term.
- Hunting license: needed to hunt with your bird, priced by your state.
- Veterinary care: an avian vet for check-ups and emergencies.
How can you make falconry cheaper?
Most savings come from doing the work yourself. Oregon’s wildlife agency notes that building your own mews, making some of your own equipment and producing your own food can all bring the cost down.
- Build the mews yourself from used materials rather than buying a ready-made one.
- Make jesses, leashes and other simple equipment once your sponsor shows you how.
- Trap pest birds such as starlings and sparrows, hunt rabbits, or raise mice, rats or quail.
- Buy telemetry used, and wait until your bird is close to flying free.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start falconry?
Roughly $1,100–$5,500 for the first year, or $2,300–$7,300 with a new telemetry set. That covers license fees, a mews, the equipment to pass inspection, a trap and a year of food. The mews is the biggest variable, from a few hundred dollars built yourself to several thousand bought ready-made.
How much does a falconry license cost?
Across the 42 states that publish an exact price, a new apprentice pays a median of $69 in state fees before the first permit, and the range is $0–$577. You also need a hunting license, priced separately, to hunt with your bird.
How much does a falconry bird cost?
Nothing to buy, for most apprentices: federal law forbids buying or selling wild raptors, so a first bird is usually a young wild hawk you trap under your permit, and the cost is the trap and any capture permit. Captive-bred birds can be bought where your state allows, at prices that vary by species.
Is falconry an expensive hobby?
It is front-loaded more than expensive. The first year, with a mews and equipment, is the costly part. After that, food at about $30–$90 a month is the main bill, plus renewals and a hunting license. Building your own mews and equipment saves the most.
Sources
- State falconry license cost table — fees for the 42 states that publish an exact price, each read from the agency’s own form, fee page or rule
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, “What it takes to become a falconer” — published costs for a typical first-year apprentice: mews, basic equipment and food
- 50 CFR 21.82, the federal falconry rule — wild raptors may be transferred but not bought or sold; captive-bred raptors may be sold where the state allows
- Equipment and telemetry prices: two US falconry suppliers’ published catalogs, new items, checked September 13, 2026.