How to Get a Falconry License in Massachusetts
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Massachusetts
Falconry in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), specifically the MassWildlife. To practice falconry legally in MA, 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.
Massachusetts 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 $25. Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts.
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 Massachusetts Falconry & Hawk Trust
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 Massachusetts Falconry & Hawk Trust. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Massachusetts is handled through the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Massachusetts falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Massachusetts does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) when you book it. Exams administered by MassWildlife; contact for scheduling
- •California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide
- •NAFA materials
- •Federal falconry regulations (50 CFR 21.82)
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in Massachusetts pays $25 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 Massachusetts issues a licence. Massachusetts 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. Indoor mews required, with a weathering area of the same size as the mews. Weathering area needs water, shade and access to sun.
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Massachusetts
- Fifteen is the minimum age here
- Massachusetts sets the minimum age of a licensed falconer at 15 — not the twelve or fourteen most states use. Applicants under 18 need written approval from a parent or guardian.
- Education work is part of the definition, with limits attached
- Massachusetts writes conservation and education programmes into what falconry means, as a secondary purpose. Two conditions come with it: the raptor may at no time come into physical contact with the audience or the public, and the falconer may not charge a fee exceeding the cost of running the programme.
- Residency is a requirement, not a formality
- All applicants must be a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a designated agent of the Division of Law Enforcement makes a visual inspection of facilities and equipment before a permit application is approved.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-04.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Massachusetts
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
Want to get into falconry in Massachusetts? 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 Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) on (508) 389-6300. Last checked 2026-08-21.