How to Get a Falconry License in New Jersey
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in New Jersey
Falconry in New Jersey is regulated by the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife), part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The administrative code still uses the older name "New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife"., specifically the Division of Fish and Wildlife. To practice falconry legally in NJ, 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.
New Jersey does not publish how many questions its falconry exam has. You need 80% or higher to pass it. New Jersey does not publish its permit fee. New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
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.
Start here
The The New Jersey Falconry 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 The New Jersey Falconry Club. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in New Jersey is handled through the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife), part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The administrative code still uses the older name "New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife".. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The New Jersey falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. New Jersey does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife), part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The administrative code still uses the older name "New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife". when you book it. Contact NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife for falconry exam scheduling
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
New Jersey does not publish its falconry permit fee in any document we could find, so ask the agency before you apply. 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.
🏠 Facility Requirements
Your facilities must pass inspection before New Jersey issues a licence. New Jersey 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 New Jersey
- The season closes for six days in the middle
- New Jersey's falconry season runs from 1 September to the following 31 March, but it closes during the six-day firearm deer season. Plan a season around that gap rather than discovering it.
- Quail is closed except on two management areas
- The falconry season for quail is closed in New Jersey except at Greenwood Forest WMA and Peaslee WMA — a restriction written to the individual property, not the state.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in New Jersey
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in New Jersey 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 New Jersey
Want to get into falconry in New Jersey? 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 New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife), part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The administrative code still uses the older name "New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife". on (908) 735-8793 (Falconry Permits). General agency information: (609) 292-2965.. Last checked 2026-08-21.