How to Get a Falconry License in New York
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in New York
Falconry in New York is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, specifically the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Wildlife. To practice falconry legally in NY, 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 York 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 $40. New York 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 York.
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 New York State Falconry Association
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 York State Falconry Association. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in New York is handled through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The New York falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. New York does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation when you book it. Contact regional DEC office to schedule exam
- •California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide
- •The Modern Apprentice website
- •NAFA study materials
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in New York pays $40 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 New York issues a licence. New York 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. 64 sq ft for small/medium raptors; 100 sq ft for eagles; minimum 6.5 ft ceiling height
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
New York 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 New York adds on top.
- ⚠️Golden eagles require Master class and special permit
- ⚠️Peregrine falcon take restricted in some areas
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in New York
- Licences run five years, not one
- A New York falconry licence expires on 31 December of every fifth year following issue, and the fee is $40 — so the renewal cycle is far longer than the annual pattern most states use.
- You can fly here on another state's licence
- A non-resident may practise falconry in New York without a New York falconry licence, provided they hold a New York non-resident small-game hunting licence and written proof that they are legally authorised to practise falconry in their home state.
- Apprentices start at 14, and the sponsor rule is written down
- New York sets the minimum apprentice age at 14, with a parent or guardian signing for anyone under 18, and requires the sponsor to be a licensed general or master falconer in New York with at least two years of experience at the general level.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in New York
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in New York 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 York
Want to get into falconry in New York? 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 York State Department of Environmental Conservation on (518) 402-8985. Last checked 2026-08-21.