How to Get a Falconry License: 7-Step Guide (2026)

The Requirements at a Glance

Written exam

A state falconry exam of typically 100+ multiple-choice questions; most states require 80% to pass.

Sponsor

A licensed General or Master falconer who agrees to mentor you through a minimum two-year apprenticeship.

Facilities

A mews (raptor housing) and weathering area that pass a wildlife-officer inspection before your license is issued.

Application

State and federal permits filed through your state wildlife agency — typically $25-150 in combined fees.

The 7 Steps to Getting a Falconry License

1. Learn the Basics and Confirm the Commitment

Before you spend money on fees or lumber, make sure falconry actually fits your life. A licensed falconer hunts with their bird through the season and cares for it every single day — vacations, illness, and bad weather included. Read widely, watch working falconers if you can, and attend a local club meeting as a guest. Most aspiring falconers spend one to three months in this stage, and it is the cheapest place to discover the sport is not for you.

Start with our plain-language primer on what falconry is, then take the falconry readiness calculator to test whether your time, budget, and expectations line up.

2. Study for and Pass the Written Exam

Every state requires a written falconry exam before it will issue an apprentice license. Most exams run 100 or more multiple-choice questions covering regulations, raptor biology, health and disease, equipment, and training, with a passing score of 80% in most states. Plan on one to three months of steady study built around the California Hawking Club guide and your own state's regulations, then schedule the test through your state wildlife agency. If you fall short, nearly every state allows a retake after a waiting period.

Our falconry exam prep guide breaks down the topics, the best study resources, and a week-by-week plan.

3. Find a Sponsor

An apprentice license requires a sponsor: a General or Master falconer who commits to mentoring you for at least two years. This is usually the slowest step — some people find a sponsor in weeks, others search for a year — so start early. Join your state falconry club, show up to meets, and build a relationship before you ask. Sponsors are volunteering years of their time, and they say yes to the people who have already done the reading.

The full playbook — where to look, how to approach a mentor, and what sponsors expect — is in our guide to finding a falconry sponsor.

4. Build Your Facilities and Pass Inspection

Before your license is issued, a wildlife officer inspects your facilities: a mews (the raptor's secure housing) and a weathering area for outdoor time. The federal baseline most states build on starts at 64 square feet (8 × 8 ft) of mews space for a typical apprentice bird, predator-proof construction, and protection from weather extremes. Most apprentices spend two to eight weeks and $500-2,000 on a DIY build. Get your sponsor's eyes on the plans before you cut the first board.

See the facility requirements guide for what inspectors check, and the mews construction guide for build plans and materials.

5. Submit Your Application

With the exam passed, a sponsor confirmed, and facilities approved, you file your application with your state wildlife agency. This typically bundles the state falconry license with the federal falconry permit, which is free and processed through the same paperwork. Combined state fees generally run $25-150, and processing commonly takes two to six weeks. Every state runs its own program, so the forms, fees, and timelines are set locally.

Find your agency, current fees, and forms in our state-by-state falconry license directory.

6. Acquire Your First Bird

Apprentices in most states are limited to one bird, usually a Red-tailed Hawk or an American Kestrel, and most sponsors recommend trapping a passage (first-year, wild-caught) Red-tail during the fall trapping season, typically September through November. Time your licensing so the permit is in hand before the season opens; the trapping itself often takes only days once you start, and your sponsor will guide your first trapping trip.

Meet both apprentice species in our Red-tailed Hawk profile and American Kestrel profile.

7. Serve Your Apprenticeship and Move Up

Your new license makes you an Apprentice falconer, and the license itself is only the beginning. For a minimum of two years you train and hunt under your sponsor's guidance, keeping records as you go. After two years you can apply for a General license — up to three birds, most species, and the ability to sponsor others — and about five more years of experience opens the Master class. The falconers who thrive treat the apprenticeship as the real education, not a formality.

Read the apprentice falconer guide for what those first two seasons look like, and see how the three license classes build on each other.

How Long It Takes and What It Costs

From first research to flying your first bird, most people take 6-18 months. The sponsor search is the biggest variable; everything else follows a fairly predictable rhythm:

Study and written exam1-3 months

Finding a sponsor1-12+ months

Facilities build and inspection2-8 weeks

Application processing2-6 weeks

Budget realistically too: licensing and permits typically cost $25-150 combined, but a realistic first-year total — mews construction, equipment, telemetry, food, and a veterinary fund — runs about $1,300-5,300. After the first year, ongoing costs drop to roughly $200-500 annually.

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

Years 1-2. One bird — a Red-tailed Hawk or American Kestrel in most states — flown under a sponsor's guidance.

General

After 2+ years as an Apprentice. Up to 3 birds, most species, and the ability to sponsor apprentices yourself.

Master

After 5+ years as a General. Up to 5 birds, eagles with additional permits, and captive-breeding privileges.

Compare the three license classes in detail

Find Your State's Requirements

The seven steps above are the shared national skeleton, but your state wildlife agency sets the exact fees, exam format, facility specifications, and trapping seasons — license fees alone range from about $20 to $150 or more. Pick your state below for its complete guide, including agency contacts, current fees, and links to the official regulations.

West(11 states)

The western states offer vast public lands, open sagebrush terrain, and mountain forests that support diverse falconry opportunities. Western falconers enjoy some of the longest flight distances in the country, with prairie falcons, Red-tailed Hawks, and Peregrine Falcons all finding excellent habitat across the region. Licensing requirements vary widely, from straightforward processes in states like Idaho and Montana to more detailed programs in California and Colorado.

Midwest(12 states)

The heartland of American falconry, the Midwest combines expansive agricultural landscapes with prairie grasslands and river corridors that sustain thriving small game populations. Red-tailed Hawk falconry on cottontails is the regional specialty, and the accessible terrain makes the Midwest an excellent place for apprentices to develop their skills. Most midwestern states have well-organized falconry clubs that actively support new falconers through the licensing process.

South(10 states)

Southern states benefit from mild winters and extended hunting seasons that allow falconers to fly birds from early October well into March. The mix of open farmland, pine forests, and brushy fencerows creates productive habitat for both broadwing and shortwing falconry. Harris's Hawk falconry thrives in Texas and the Gulf states, while Red-tailed Hawks remain popular throughout the region for their versatility and reliability.

Southeast(8 states)

The Southeast combines lush hardwood forests, coastal plains, and piedmont terrain into a varied falconry landscape. The temperate climate supports a long flying season, and the dense cover found in southeastern habitats makes Cooper's Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks particularly effective hunting partners. Many southeastern states have streamlined their licensing processes in recent years, making it easier for aspiring falconers to get started.

Northeast(9 states)

The Northeast has one of the highest concentrations of falconers per capita in the United States, supported by active clubs and a strong tradition of mentorship dating back to the mid-twentieth century. The region's deciduous forests, rolling farmland, and coastal marshes provide diverse hunting opportunities year-round. Northeastern states tend to have detailed regulatory frameworks, so prospective falconers should study their state-specific rules carefully before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a falconry license?

Most people go from first research to a license and first bird in 6-18 months: one to three months of exam study, a sponsor search that can take anywhere from weeks to a year, two to eight weeks of facility building, and two to six weeks of application processing. The apprenticeship that follows lasts a minimum of two years before you can advance to a General license.

How much does a falconry license cost?

The license itself is inexpensive — state and federal permits typically total $25-150 combined, and the federal permit is free, processed with your state application. The real cost is everything around it: a realistic first-year budget including mews construction, equipment, and food is about $1,300-5,300, dropping to roughly $200-500 a year after that.

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.

Do you need a license to own a hawk?

Yes. In the United States, possessing a wild raptor without a falconry license is illegal under federal law — native birds of prey are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The falconry license system, administered jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and your state wildlife agency, is the legal pathway to keeping and hunting with a hawk.

Can you get a falconry license without a sponsor?

In most states, no — the apprentice license specifically requires a sponsoring General or Master falconer, and that mentorship is the heart of the system. A few states have reduced requirements when no sponsor is available in the area, so check your state's regulations. If you are struggling to find one, your state falconry club is the best place to start.

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.

Track Every Step in FalconryLab

The FalconryLab app keeps your exam prep, training logs, and daily weight records in one place — built for the apprentice years from day one.

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