How to Get a Falconry License in Nebraska
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Nebraska
Falconry in Nebraska is regulated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, specifically the Wildlife Division. To practice falconry legally in NE, 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.
Nebraska does not publish how many questions its falconry exam has. You need 80% or higher to pass it. The permit fee is up to $61. Nebraska 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 Nebraska.
The midwestern United States is a heartland for falconry, offering expansive agricultural landscapes, prairie grasslands, and river corridors that support thriving populations of small game. Midwestern falconers benefit from excellent access to public and private hunting land, and the region's mix of open fields and shelterbelts creates ideal habitat for both longwing and broadwing falconry. Red-tailed Hawks are the iconic midwestern falconry bird, perfectly adapted to hunting cottontails along fencerows and farm edges.
More on falconry across the Midwest, including trapping seasons, terrain and the regional community.
No active club on file for Nebraska
We haven't been able to confirm an active falconry club in Nebraska. 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.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Nebraska is handled through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Nebraska falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Nebraska does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission when you book it. Contact Nongame Bird Program Manager Joel Jorgensen
- •Federal falconry regulations
- •Nebraska Game Law
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
Nebraska’s falconry permit fee is set by the agency, up to $61 under state law. 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 Nebraska issues a licence. Nebraska 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. Mews must have at least 250 cubic feet per 163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4 § 009
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
Nebraska 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 Nebraska adds on top.
- ⚠️Passage birds only Aug 1 - Jan 31
- ⚠️Adult American Kestrels and Great Horned Owls may be taken year-round
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Nebraska
- Renewal depends on having filed your reports
- Nebraska ties the two together explicitly: renewal of a permit depends on all required reports having been submitted. Fall behind on reporting and the permit is what you lose.
- The bird is for falconry, full stop
- Raptors taken or held under a Nebraska falconry permit may only be trained for, and used in, falconry.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Nebraska
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Nebraska 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 Nebraska
Want to get into falconry in Nebraska? 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 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on 402-471-0641 (main); 402-471-5440 for Joel Jorgensen, Nongame Bird Program Manager, the falconry contact. Last checked 2026-08-21.