How to Get a Falconry License in California
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in California
Falconry in California is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, specifically the CDFW. To practice falconry legally in CA, 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.
California does not publish how many questions its falconry exam has. You need 80% or higher to pass it. Up-front fees for an apprentice come to $576.87. California 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 California.
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 California Hawking Club
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 California Hawking Club. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in California is handled through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The California falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. California does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with California Department of Fish and Wildlife when you book it. Contact nearest CDFW Regional Office to schedule exam
- •California Hawking Club study materials
- •Federal falconry regulations (50 CFR 21)
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in California pays $576.87 up front, covering the application, permit, exam, and facility inspection. 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.
Source: agency documentChecked September 13, 2026.
🏠 Facility Requirements
Your facilities must pass inspection before California issues a licence. California 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. Your facilities must pass a wildlife officer inspection before you can be licensed. Inspection required for new applicants, lapsed license renewals, or when moving facilities to new address. May share existing inspected facility with another licensed falconer.
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
California 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 California adds on top.
- ⚠️Special Raptor Capture Drawing required for peregrine falcon take
- ⚠️Fees charged for raptor use in education/media may not exceed cost recovery (per recent legal settlement)
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in California
- You can start at twelve
- An applicant for a California apprentice licence must be at least 12 years old at the date of application — among the youngest starting ages in the country.
- The sponsor rule is written into state law here
- California requires a sponsor to be a master falconer, or a general falconer with at least two years of experience at the general class, and requires one for at least the first two years an apprentice licence is held.
- Carry the originals, not copies
- California expects the valid original falconry licence, the original hunting licence and any required stamps to be in your immediate possession while you are hunting.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-04.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in California
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in California 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 California
Want to get into falconry in California? 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 California Department of Fish and Wildlife on (916) 928-5846. Last checked 2026-08-21.