How to Get a Falconry License in Alaska
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Alaska
Falconry in Alaska is regulated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation (Permits Section), specifically the Division of Wildlife Conservation. To practice falconry legally in AK, you need a state falconry permit. A separate federal falconry permit is no longer issued to individual falconers — the state permit is the one that matters. The process involves passing a written exam, having your facilities inspected, and finding a licensed sponsor if you are applying as an apprentice.
Alaska does not publish how many questions its falconry exam has. You need 80% or higher to pass it. Alaska does not publish its permit fee. Alaska does not publish a minimum mews size, so build to the federal standard and confirm before your inspection. Below is what you need to get started with falconry in Alaska.
The western United States offers some of the most diverse falconry terrain in the country, from open sagebrush flats ideal for longwing flights to mountainous forests suited to shortwing pursuits. Western falconers commonly hunt jackrabbits, cottontails, and upland game birds across vast public lands. The arid climate and wide-open spaces make the West a premier destination for falconers who prefer long, dramatic flights with falcons and buteos alike.
More on falconry across the West, including trapping seasons, terrain and the regional community.
Start here
The Alaska Falconers Association
You cannot be licensed as an apprentice without a sponsor, and almost everyone finds theirs through the state club. Meets, field days and introductions to general and master falconers all run through Alaska Falconers Association. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Alaska is handled through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation (Permits Section). Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Alaska falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Alaska does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation (Permits Section) when you book it. Exams available at ADF&G regional offices
- •California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide
- •NAFA materials
- •Alaska-specific raptor identification
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
Alaska does not publish its falconry permit fee in any document we could find, so ask the agency before you apply. Terms vary by state — some annual, some three or five years — so confirm yours with the agency. This is separate from the state hunting licence you will also need.
🏠 Facility Requirements
Your facilities must pass inspection before Alaska issues a licence. Alaska sets no minimum mews floor area in its regulations. The federal standards under 50 CFR 21.82 apply: the enclosure must protect the bird from predators and weather and let it fully extend its wings. A separate weathering area is required where your bird can sun and bathe outdoors. Your facilities must pass a wildlife officer inspection before you can be licensed. Must accommodate Alaska climate; 100 sq ft for eagles
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
Alaska sets its own rules on which raptors may be flown. Federal rules already limit apprentices to red-tailed hawks and American kestrels; the restrictions below are what Alaska adds on top.
- ⚠️Gyrfalcon take highly regulated
- ⚠️Special restrictions on golden eagle
- ⚠️Peregrine falcon restrictions vary by region
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Alaska
- Non-residents can take a bird here, under their own permit scheme
- Alaska runs a nonresident falconry take permit allowing capture and export by visiting falconers. The permits are non-transferrable, issued only to US citizens, and require both a current falconry permit from your home state and a valid Alaska hunting licence.
- The take windows are narrow and species-specific
- Non-resident take seasons run 15 September to 15 November for passage raptors, and 1 May to 20 July for eyas northern goshawk and for eyas peregrine falcon — the latter in Units 1 to 4 only.
- One passage bird
- The non-resident bag limit is a single passage falconry raptor.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-04.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Alaska
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Alaska the state club is where those introductions happen. Sponsors tend to say yes to people who have already started studying and who turn up more than once.
The ask itself is covered in our guide to finding a falconry sponsor.
How to Become a Falconer in Alaska
Want to get into falconry in Alaska? Here is the recommended path to your license:
- 1Study for the exam — Use our exam prep guide and the study materials listed above.
- 2Find a sponsor — Connect with local falconers — see our guide to finding a sponsor.
- 3Build your facilities — Review mews construction requirements before starting.
- 4Serve your apprenticeship — Plan on at least two years flying one bird under your sponsor — our falconry apprenticeship guide covers what those years involve.
- 5Follow the complete path — See our step-by-step path to becoming a falconer for the full timeline.
- 6Know the license classes — Understand the three license classes and how you will progress from apprentice to general to master.
- 7Budget for equipment — Beyond the mews, work through the falconry equipment list, which prices each item you will need for your first season.
- 8Know the federal rules — Every state’s rules sit on the same federal framework — our guide to federal falconry regulations covers license classes, reporting and moving between states.
This page is a summary for general information, not legal advice. Falconry regulations change, and the authoritative source is always the state agency. Confirm anything you plan to act on with Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation (Permits Section) on (907) 465-4148. Last checked 2026-08-21.