How to Get a Falconry License in Rhode Island
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Rhode Island
Falconry in Rhode Island is regulated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (Division of Fish and Wildlife), specifically the Division of Fish and Wildlife. To practice falconry legally in RI, 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.
Rhode Island does not publish how many questions its falconry exam has. You need 80% or higher to pass it. There is no state fee for the permit itself. Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.
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.
No active club on file for Rhode Island
We haven't been able to confirm an active falconry club in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island is handled through the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (Division of Fish and Wildlife). Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Rhode Island falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Rhode Island does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (Division of Fish and Wildlife) when you book it. Contact Division of Fish and Wildlife
- •California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide
- •NAFA study materials
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
Rhode Island charges no fee for a falconry 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 Rhode Island issues a licence. Rhode Island 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. Standard federal minimum requirements apply
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Rhode Island
- Owls have a capture season of their own
- Rhode Island splits the take window by taxon. First-year hawks and falcons may be taken from the wild only between 11 August and 28 February; passage owls only between 24 January and 11 April. The owl window opens as the hawk one is closing.
- The licence on its own does not let you trap
- A separate capture permit issued by the Department is required, on top of a valid falconry licence, before any falconer — resident or not — may attempt to take a raptor in Rhode Island.
- The apprenticeship is counted in hunts, not just years
- Before upgrading to General, a Rhode Island apprentice must hunt their raptor “no less than ten (10) times a season, and for a minimum of two (2) seasons” — longer if the sponsor judges it necessary. If a sponsor withdraws, the apprentice has sixty days to find another or transfer the bird.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-04.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Rhode Island
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
Want to get into falconry in Rhode Island? 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 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (Division of Fish and Wildlife) on 401-789-0281. Last checked 2026-08-21.