How to Get a Falconry License in Maryland
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Maryland
Falconry in Maryland is regulated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, specifically the Wildlife and Heritage Service. To practice falconry legally in MD, 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.
Maryland 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 $10. Maryland 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 Maryland.
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.
No active club on file for Maryland
We haven't been able to confirm an active falconry club in Maryland. The national directory can put you in touch with falconers nearby, and if you know of a club here we would genuinely like to hear about it.
Maryland publishes its own sponsor list →🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Maryland is handled through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Maryland falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Maryland does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service when you book it. Contact MD DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service for exam scheduling
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in Maryland pays $10 up front, covering the application. 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 Maryland issues a licence. Maryland 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. Federal minimum standards apply - 8x8 ft minimum mews
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Maryland
- Two counties are closed to goshawk take
- A general falconer may not take northern goshawks from Allegany or Garrett counties — a county-level restriction that catches people who read only the statewide rules.
- Several species need a special permit
- A general falconer may not take northern harriers, gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons, long-eared owls, short-eared owls or snowy owls from the wild in Maryland except by special permit.
- The eyas season is defined by the nest, not the calendar
- Maryland's open season for taking eyases is "any time of the year that young raptors are in the nest", rather than a fixed set of dates.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Maryland
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Maryland 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 Maryland
Want to get into falconry in Maryland? 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. Maryland also publishes a list of falconers willing to 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 Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service on 410-260-8540. Last checked 2026-08-21.