How to Get a Falconry License in Tennessee
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Tennessee
Falconry in Tennessee is regulated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), specifically the Wildlife and Forestry Division. To practice falconry legally in TN, 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.
Tennessee 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 $83. Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
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.
No active club on file for Tennessee
We haven't been able to confirm an active falconry club in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee is handled through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Tennessee falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Tennessee does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) when you book it. Exam administered at regional TWRA offices. $10 non-refundable exam fee. $10 additional fee for retake.
- •TWRA Rule 1660-01-37
- •California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in Tennessee pays $83 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 Tennessee issues a licence. Tennessee 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. Facility inspection required.
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
Tennessee 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 Tennessee adds on top.
- ⚠️Apprentice limited to American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, or Red-shouldered Hawk
- ⚠️Peregrine falcon take by permit drawing only (Region 1 counties)
- ⚠️Sharp-shinned hawk nestling take has annual quota limits
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Tennessee
- Two wild raptors a year, and not if you are an apprentice
- A resident falconer may take up to two raptors per calendar year from the wild in Tennessee. Apprentices are excluded from that allowance.
- Facilities are re-inspected at every renewal
- Tennessee requires raptor housing to be physically inspected and approved before each permit renewal, and again on any change of location — not once at the start, as in many states.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Tennessee
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Want to get into falconry in Tennessee? 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 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) on 615-781-6500. Last checked 2026-08-21.