How to Get a Falconry License in Maine
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Maine
Falconry in Maine is regulated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), specifically the Wildlife Division. To practice falconry legally in ME, 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.
Maine 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 $26. Maine 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 Maine.
The northeastern United States offers a rich tradition of falconry set against a backdrop of deciduous forests, rolling farmland, and coastal marshes. Northeastern falconers pursue a variety of quarry including cottontails, gray squirrels, and pheasants across a patchwork of public and private lands. The dramatic seasonal changes create distinct hunting conditions, from early fall flights through New England foliage to late-season hunts in snow-covered fields, each requiring adaptability and skill.
More on falconry across the Northeast, including trapping seasons, terrain and the regional community.
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The Maine Falconry and Raptor Conservancy
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 Maine Falconry and Raptor Conservancy. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Maine is handled through the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Maine falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Maine does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) when you book it. Contact MDIFW Wildlife Division
- •California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide
- •NAFA study materials
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in Maine pays $26 up front, covering the permit. 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 Maine issues a licence. Maine 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. Minimum 8x8 ft indoor facility; outdoor weathering required
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Maine
- The hunting licence comes first
- Maine makes the hunting licence a condition of eligibility rather than a companion document: a person who possesses a valid hunting licence is eligible to obtain a falconry permit from the commissioner.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Maine
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Maine 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 Maine
Want to get into falconry in Maine? 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 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) on (207) 287-8000. Last checked 2026-08-21.