Is Falconry Right for You?
This article isn’t meant to discourage you. It’s meant to prepare you. Falconry is incredibly rewarding—but only if you know what you’re signing up for.
Before you invest months of research, thousands of dollars in equipment, and years of apprenticeship, it is worth taking an honest look at what falconry actually demands. Many people fall in love with the idea of falconry—the romance of a hawk on the fist, the thrill of the chase—without fully understanding the daily reality. This article walks through every major commitment so you can make an informed decision. The goal is not to scare you away but to ensure that when you start, you start with eyes wide open.
The Hard Truth
Most people who express interest in falconry never become falconers. Of those who start the process, many don’t finish. This isn’t gatekeeping—it’s reality. The requirements are significant, and that’s by design.
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.
Daily Time Commitment
- 30-60 minDaily care: weighing, feeding, cleaning, basic handling
- 2-4 hoursHunting days (2-4 times per week during season)
- VariableEquipment maintenance, vet visits, facility repairs
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.
Estimated Costs (USD)
Startup Costs: $1,000 - $3,000
- Mews construction: $200 - $1,000 (DIY) / $1,500+ (professional)
- Basic equipment (glove, perch, scale, etc.): $300 - $600
- Telemetry system: $200 - $800
- Giant hood, transport box: $100 - $200
- Licensing fees: $25 - $100 (varies by state)
- Study materials: $50 - $100
Annual Costs: $500 - $1,500
- Food (quail, mice, chicks): $300 - $800/year
- License renewal: $20 - $50
- Veterinary care: $100 - $500 (more if emergencies)
- Equipment replacement: $100 - $300
- Gas for hunting trips: varies widely
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.
Self-Assessment Questions
- Can I commit 1-2 hours daily, 365 days a year?
- Do I have $1,000-3,000 for startup costs?
- Do I have space for a mews (and landlord permission if renting)?
- Do I have access to hunting land within reasonable distance?
- Is my family/household supportive (or at least neutral)?
- Can I handle being responsible for a wild animal’s wellbeing?
- Am I prepared to hunt and kill animals?
- Can I commit to a 2+ year apprenticeship before flying on my own?
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.
Here is a practical exercise: before reading further, write down your current weekly schedule including work hours, family obligations, commute time, and existing hobbies. Then ask yourself where you would fit 1-2 hours of daily bird care plus 3-4 hunting trips per week during season. If you cannot identify that time without eliminating something else, falconry may require lifestyle changes you should plan for now. Also talk to your household members early—their support or resistance will significantly impact your experience.
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Falconry is a rewarding pursuit for people who genuinely enjoy spending extended time outdoors, can commit to daily animal care without exception, and find satisfaction in the slow development of a partnership with a wild animal. The financial costs are manageable for most people with steady income, but the time commitment is the factor that determines success or failure for the majority of aspiring falconers. If you can honestly identify ten to twenty hours per week during hunting season and thirty to sixty minutes daily year-round for bird care, and if your household supports this commitment, you have the foundation for a successful falconry career.
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If your honest self-assessment indicates that falconry is a good fit for your lifestyle and resources, your next concrete step is to locate and join your state falconry club. Club meetings provide the opportunity to meet practicing falconers, observe trained birds in person, and begin building the relationships that will eventually lead to finding a sponsor. Simultaneously, begin studying for the falconry exam by ordering the California Hawking Club study materials and downloading your state’s falconry regulations. These two parallel actions, community involvement and self-education, are the most productive things you can do right now to move your falconry journey forward.