The Path to Becoming a Falconer
A step-by-step roadmap from “I’m interested” to “I’m flying my first bird.” Here’s exactly what to do—and in what order.
Updated
Becoming a falconer is a structured process with clear milestones, but the timeline varies widely depending on your location, dedication, and luck in finding a sponsor. Unlike many outdoor pursuits where you can simply buy gear and start, falconry requires passing exams, building inspected facilities, and completing a mandatory apprenticeship under an experienced mentor. This regulated approach exists to protect both the birds and the tradition. Understanding each step in advance helps you plan realistically and avoid the frustration of unexpected delays.
The Requirements at a Glance
Written exam
A state-run exam on raptor biology, care and the law. Federal rules require a score of at least 80% to pass.
Sponsor
A Master falconer, or a General falconer with at least two years at that level, who agrees to guide you through a minimum two-year apprenticeship.
Facilities
A mews (raptor housing) and weathering area that pass your state’s inspection before your license is issued.
Application
One state falconry permit, filed with your state wildlife agency. There has been no separate federal falconry permit since 2014.
⏱️ Realistic Timeline
From starting your research to flying your first bird: 6-18 months. The biggest variable is finding a sponsor. Some people find one in weeks; others search for over a year.
The Seven Steps
Learn the Basics
Before committing time and money, make sure you understand what you’re getting into. Read everything you can. Watch videos. Visit a falconry meet if possible.
Action Items:
- Read "The Falconer's Apprentice" by William Oakes (best intro book)
- Study the California Hawking Club manual (free online, applies nationally)
- Watch YouTube falconry channels for realistic expectations
- Attend a local falconry club meeting as a guest
⏱️ Timeline: 1-3 months
Find a Sponsor
This is often the hardest step. A sponsor is a licensed General or Master falconer who agrees to mentor you through your apprenticeship. Without one, you cannot get licensed.
Where to Find Sponsors:
- State and regional falconry clubs
- NAFA (North American Falconers Association) events
- State wildlife agency referral lists (some states maintain these)
- Online falconry forums and Facebook groups
Pro tip: Don’t ask "Will you be my sponsor?" in your first conversation. Build a relationship first. Show you’re serious. Read our detailed guide on finding a sponsor.
⏱️ Timeline: 1-12+ months (highly variable)
Study for the Exam
Every state requires passing a written exam covering falconry regulations, raptor biology, training, health, and husbandry. The test is typically 100+ questions with a passing score of 80%.
Study Resources:
- California Hawking Club Study Guide (gold standard)
- Your state’s falconry regulations (know them cold)
- Federal falconry regulations (50 CFR 21.82)
- "The Falconer's Apprentice" and other recommended reading
- Practice tests (many states have sample questions)
Pro tip: Start studying before you find a sponsor. The knowledge helps you ask better questions and shows sponsors you’re serious.
⏱️ Timeline: 2-4 months of study
Pass the Exam
Contact your state wildlife agency to schedule the test. Some states offer it year-round; others have limited testing dates. Fees vary from free to ~$50.
What to Expect:
- Written multiple-choice exam (usually 100-150 questions)
- Passing score: typically 80%
- Time limit: usually 2-3 hours (plenty of time)
- Topics: regulations, biology, training, equipment, health, ethics
- Results: often immediate or within a few days
If you fail: Most states allow retakes after a waiting period (often 30 days). It’s not the end of the world—but study harder next time.
⏱️ Timeline: 1 day (scheduling may take weeks)
Build Your Facilities
Before you can get your license, a wildlife officer must inspect your facilities (mews and weathering area). They must meet specific requirements for size, security, and bird welfare.
Minimum Requirements (typical):
- Mews: large enough for easy access and for the bird to bate without hitting the walls
- Weathering area: outdoor area with perch, water, shade
- Predator-proof construction
- Protection from weather extremes
- Proper ventilation and lighting
- Secure door with lock
Pro tip: Get your sponsor’s input on mews design. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Many apprentices over-build; functional is better than fancy.
⏱️ Timeline: 2-8 weeks (depending on complexity)
Get Licensed
With your exam passed, facilities inspected, and sponsor confirmed, you can apply for your Apprentice Falconer license. Your state issues it — there has been no separate federal falconry permit since 2014.
License Components:
- State falconry license (through your wildlife agency)
- Federal reporting on form 3-186A for every bird you take, acquire, transfer or lose
- State hunting license (required to hunt with your bird)
- Fees: set by your state, from nothing to several hundred dollars up front
⏱️ Timeline: 2-6 weeks for processing
Acquire Your First Bird
As an apprentice, you’re limited to one bird at a time: either a Red-tailed Hawk or an American Kestrel. Most sponsors recommend starting with a passage (first-year, wild-caught) Red-tailed Hawk.
Acquiring Options:
- Trap a passage bird (most common, recommended)
- Purchase from a breeder (limited options for apprentice species)
- Receive a bird from a rehab facility (rare, non-releasable birds)
Timing matters: Trapping season is typically fall (September-November). Plan your licensing timeline accordingly.
⏱️ Timeline: Trapping usually takes 1-7 days once you start
The Apprenticeship Period
Once you have your bird, your apprenticeship officially begins. For the next two years (minimum), you’ll train and hunt under your sponsor’s guidance. During this time:
- You can only possess one bird (Red-tail or Kestrel)
- Your sponsor should be available for questions and guidance
- You’re learning by doing—expect mistakes
- Many apprentices hunt with their sponsors regularly
- Document your progress (FalconryLab can help with this!)
After two years, you can apply for a General license, which opens up more species options and allows up to three birds. Five more years gets you Master status.
The Three License Classes
US falconry licensing is a progression, not a single credential. The class you hold determines how many raptors you may keep and which species are open to you:
Apprentice
At least your first two years. One raptor, flown under your sponsor’s guidance — most apprentices start with a red-tailed hawk or an American kestrel.
General
After at least two years as an Apprentice. Up to three raptors of any species except eagles.
Master
After at least five years as a General. Up to five wild raptors plus the captive-bred birds you hunt with, and up to three eagles once your state approves your experience.
Compare the three license classes in detail
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing the process: Take time to learn before you get a bird
- Choosing the wrong sponsor: A bad fit can ruin your experience
- Over-building facilities: Start simple; upgrade later
- Ignoring your sponsor’s advice: They’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to
- Starting with a Kestrel: Despite being "smaller," they’re harder for beginners
- Poor timing: Getting licensed in spring means waiting months to trap
How Much Does Falconry Cost?
Plan on roughly $1,100–$5,500 for your first year, or $2,300–$7,300 with a new telemetry set. The mews and equipment are most of that; license fees are a small share in most states, and after the first year the main cost is food. Our falconry cost guide breaks down every item and its source.
After You're Licensed
The permit in your hand is a beginning, not a finish line. Your first season revolves around manning, weight management, and creance work before your bird ever flies free — all of it under your sponsor's guidance.
Our falconry training guides walk through each of those stages.
Ready to Start?
The path to becoming a falconer is long, but every licensed falconer has walked it. Start with step one: learn everything you can. The next step—finding a sponsor—is often the hardest, but it’s also where you’ll start building relationships in the falconry community that will last a lifetime.
Every state adds its own details to the federal rules. Find yours in our state-by-state falconry license requirements — exam, fees, facilities and sponsor rules for each state.
The single most impactful thing you can do right now is start studying for the falconry exam, even before finding a sponsor. Order the California Hawking Club Study Guide and begin reading your state’s specific falconry regulations, which are typically available free on your wildlife agency’s website. Create a study schedule and stick to it. Simultaneously, locate your nearest falconry club and plan to attend their next meeting as a guest. These two parallel actions—studying and making community connections—will accelerate your timeline more than anything else.
Common questions
How long does it take to become a falconer?
It typically takes 6 to 18 months from first interest to flying your first bird. The biggest variable is finding a sponsor — some apprentices match in weeks, others search for over a year. A realistic month-by-month: months 1–3 study for the written exam (50–100 questions, 80% to pass in most states), months 2–6 find a sponsor and identify trapping country, months 4–9 build mews and weathering area to state spec, months 6–12 trap a passage red-tailed hawk in season, manning and creance work follow. The two-year apprenticeship clock starts when you have your first bird in hand.
How much does it cost to start falconry?
Plan on roughly $1,100–$5,500 for the first year, or $2,300–$7,300 with a new telemetry set: a mews ($250–$3,000), basic equipment ($300–$600), license fees, a trap and a year of food. The mews is the biggest variable, and building it yourself is the biggest saving. After the first year, food at about $30–$90 a month is the main cost.
Do you need a license to practice falconry?
Yes — falconry is regulated at both the federal and state level in the United States. You need to pass a written exam (80% to pass is the federal minimum), have your facilities inspected by a state biologist, and obtain a state falconry license (sometimes called a falconry permit or falconer license). There is no separate federal falconry permit for individual falconers any more — the state license is the one you need. You will still report acquiring, transferring or losing a bird to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on form 3-186A. Federal baseline standards are codified in 50 CFR 21.82; each state administers its own falconry license with rules that meet or exceed those minimums.
Do you need a license to own a hawk?
Yes. Native hawks and other birds of prey are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so keeping one without a permit is illegal. To keep and hunt with a hawk, the permit you need is a falconry license from your state, issued under federal standards set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
How hard is the falconry exam?
It is a serious test — typically 100+ multiple-choice questions with an 80% passing score — but it is designed to verify knowledge, not to trick you. Most people pass after one to three months of steady study with the California Hawking Club guide and their state's regulations. Regulations questions are the most commonly missed, and nearly every state allows retakes after a waiting period.
Can you get a falconry license without a sponsor?
Not as an apprentice. Federal rules require every apprentice to have a sponsor — a Master falconer, or a General falconer with at least two years at that level — so no state can waive it. If you are struggling to find one, your state falconry club is the best place to start.
Can you practice falconry in every U.S. state?
In every state except Hawaii, which has no falconry program. The other 49 each license falconers under the same federal rules, with their own species lists, fees and seasons. Check our state-by-state directory for your state’s specific requirements.
What is the best age to start falconry?
Federal rules allow an apprentice license from age 12, with a parent or guardian signing for anyone under 18; some states set a higher minimum. Beyond that, people start falconry at every age, from teenagers to retirees. The physical demands are moderate, and the knowledge requirements are the same regardless of age.
Do I need land to practice falconry?
You do not need to own hunting land, but you do need access to legal hunting areas. Many falconers hunt on public land (BLM, state wildlife areas) or obtain permission from private landowners. Your mews and weathering area must be at your residence or a permitted location.