How to Get a Falconry License in Pennsylvania
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Pennsylvania
Falconry in Pennsylvania is regulated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, specifically the Bureau of Wildlife Management. To practice falconry legally in PA, 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.
Pennsylvania 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 $75. Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
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 Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust
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 Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Pennsylvania is handled through the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Pennsylvania falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Pennsylvania does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Pennsylvania Game Commission when you book it. Contact PA Game Commission for falconry exam scheduling
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in Pennsylvania pays $75 up front, covering the 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 2Checked September 13, 2026.
🏠 Facility Requirements
Your facilities must pass inspection before Pennsylvania issues a licence. Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
- Eyas take is capped, and you may never take the last one
- Only General and Master falconers may take eyases in Pennsylvania, no more than two wild eyases per permittee per permit year, and a permittee "may not take the last remaining eyas from the nest".
- A rehabilitated bird can enter falconry here
- A raptor that a licensed rehabilitator judges unfit to return to the wild may be flown by a falconer with the Game Commission's written authorisation, within the limits of the falconer's class. Endangered and threatened species are excluded.
- There is a separate Arctic Peregrine permit
- Pennsylvania runs a distinct limited-take special permit for the Arctic Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus tundrius), issued solely for use in falconry and separate from the ordinary permit classes.
Sources
- 58 Pa. Code § 147.105a — Resident falconers
- 58 Pa. Code § 147.111b — Arctic Peregrine Falcon limited take special permit
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-04.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Pennsylvania
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Want to get into falconry in Pennsylvania? 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 Pennsylvania Game Commission on 833-742-4868. Last checked 2026-08-21.