How to Get a Falconry License in North Dakota
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in North Dakota
Falconry in North Dakota is regulated by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, specifically the Wildlife Division. To practice falconry legally in ND, 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 Dakota 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 $150. North Dakota 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 Dakota.
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 North Dakota
We haven't been able to confirm an active falconry club in North Dakota. 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 North Dakota is handled through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The North Dakota falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. North Dakota does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with North Dakota Game and Fish Department when you book it. Contact Game and Fish Department licensing section at (701) 328-6335
- •Federal falconry regulations
- •North Dakota Administrative Code 30-02-02
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in North Dakota pays $150 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 North Dakota issues a licence. North Dakota 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. Facilities and equipment inspected by Game and Fish representative before license issued
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
North Dakota 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 North Dakota adds on top.
- ⚠️Must comply with State Board of Animal Health regulations for importing raptors
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in North Dakota
- Three years at general to sponsor, not two
- North Dakota defines a sponsor as a resident master, or a resident general licensee with at least three years of experience at the general class level. That is a year beyond the federal minimum, and matches Colorado.
- A licence from another country counts
- A non-resident needs a valid falconry licence issued by the state or the country in which they reside in order to possess or transfer a raptor or practise falconry in North Dakota.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in North Dakota
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in North Dakota 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 Dakota
Want to get into falconry in North Dakota? 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 Dakota Game and Fish Department on 701-328-6300. Last checked 2026-08-21.