How to Get a Falconry License in New Mexico
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in New Mexico
Falconry in New Mexico is regulated by the New Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW) - formerly the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the name still used in the NMAC text and on the 2022 permit forms, specifically the NMDGF. To practice falconry legally in NM, 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 Mexico 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. New Mexico 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 Mexico.
The western United States offers some of the most diverse falconry terrain in the country, from open sagebrush flats ideal for longwing flights to mountainous forests suited to shortwing pursuits. Western falconers commonly hunt jackrabbits, cottontails, and upland game birds across vast public lands. The arid climate and wide-open spaces make the West a premier destination for falconers who prefer long, dramatic flights with falcons and buteos alike.
More on falconry across the West, including trapping seasons, terrain and the regional community.
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The New Mexico Falconry
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 New Mexico Falconry. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in New Mexico is handled through the New Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW) - formerly the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the name still used in the NMAC text and on the 2022 permit forms. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The New Mexico falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. New Mexico does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with New Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW) - formerly the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the name still used in the NMAC text and on the 2022 permit forms when you book it. Contact NMDGF for exam scheduling
- •Federal falconry regulations (50 CFR 21)
- •New Mexico Administrative Code 19.35.8 NMAC
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in New Mexico pays $25 up front, covering the application and 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 New Mexico issues a licence. New Mexico 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
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in New Mexico
- Your sponsor may have to house your bird
- New Mexico wants a letter from the resident sponsor confirming that the applicant may house and care for their raptors at the sponsor's own falconry facilities — the sponsor's premises are part of what is being approved.
- Bands come back to the department
- A permittee must remove and return the band to the department from any raptor that dies or is released, with released captive-bred birds the only exception.
- Abatement is restricted to the named permit holder
- Only the master falconer holding an abatement permit and their named subpermittee falconers may use a raptor held on a falconry permit for abatement work.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in New Mexico
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in New Mexico 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 Mexico
Want to get into falconry in New Mexico? 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 Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW) - formerly the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the name still used in the NMAC text and on the 2022 permit forms on (505) 476-8000 (main office); 888-248-6866 toll-free customer service. Last checked 2026-08-21.