How to Get a Falconry License in North Carolina
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in North Carolina
Falconry in North Carolina is regulated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, specifically the Wildlife Management Division. To practice falconry legally in NC, 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.
North Carolina 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 $39. North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
The southeastern United States combines lush forests, coastal plains, and piedmont terrain to create varied falconry opportunities throughout the region. Southeastern falconers pursue quarry ranging from cottontails and squirrels in hardwood forests to game birds along agricultural edges. The temperate climate supports a long hunting season, and the dense ground cover found in many southeastern habitats makes shortwing hawks like Cooper's Hawks particularly effective hunting partners.
More on falconry across the Southeast, including trapping seasons, terrain and the regional community.
Start here
The North Carolina Falconers Guild
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 North Carolina Falconers Guild. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in North Carolina is handled through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The North Carolina falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. North Carolina does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission when you book it. Contact NCWRC for exam scheduling information
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in North Carolina pays $39 up front, covering the application, exam, 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: document 1document 2document 3Checked September 13, 2026.
🏠 Facility Requirements
Your facilities must pass inspection before North Carolina issues a licence. North Carolina 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. 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 North Carolina
- Moving here gives you sixty days, and you can keep flying
- A falconer relocating to North Carolina has 60 days to apply. Until the state licence issues you may keep lawfully obtained raptors and carry on practising, provided you hold a permit from a state, tribe or territory approved by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- The exam is waived if you already hold an approved permit
- No North Carolina examination is required of an applicant holding a valid permit from another approved state, tribe or territory — and none is required for renewal unless the licence has been expired for more than five years.
- Ten dollars to sit it
- Where the exam is required, North Carolina charges ten dollars to take it, at 80% to pass.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-04.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in North Carolina
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in North Carolina 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 North Carolina
Want to get into falconry in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on 833-950-0575. Last checked 2026-08-21.