How to Get a Falconry License in South Dakota
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in South Dakota
Falconry in South Dakota is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (brands itself "South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks" / GFP), specifically the Division of Wildlife. To practice falconry legally in SD, 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.
South 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 $50. South 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 South 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 South Dakota
We haven't been able to confirm an active falconry club in South 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 South Dakota is handled through the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (brands itself "South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks" / GFP). Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The South Dakota falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. South Dakota does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (brands itself "South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks" / GFP) when you book it. Contact SD Game, Fish and Parks. Must wait 6 months between exam attempts if failed.
- •Federal falconry regulations
- •South Dakota Admin Rules 41:09:06
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in South Dakota pays $50 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 South Dakota issues a licence. South 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. Federal minimum standards apply
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
South 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 South Dakota adds on top.
- ⚠️Passage raptors only Aug 1 - March 31
- ⚠️Only resident general/master may take eyas from nest
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in South Dakota
- You cannot carry a gun while hawking
- South Dakota bars hunting by falconry while in possession of a firearm, or while accompanied by someone carrying one. The single exception is a pistol carried under a valid concealed pistol permit.
- Taking a raptor needs its own permit
- No person may take or attempt to take any raptor without first obtaining a raptor collecting permit from the department — separate from the falconry permit itself.
- Protected nongame stays where it falls
- Protected nongame birds and animals taken incidentally by a raptor may not be retained or possessed.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in South Dakota
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in South 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 South Dakota
Want to get into falconry in South 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 South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (brands itself "South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks" / GFP) on 605.223.7660. Last checked 2026-08-21.