How to Get a Falconry License in Utah
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Utah
Falconry in Utah is regulated by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, specifically the DWR. To practice falconry legally in UT, 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.
Utah 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 $45. Utah 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 Utah.
The western United States offers some of the most diverse falconry terrain in the country, from open sagebrush flats ideal for longwing flights to mountainous forests suited to shortwing pursuits. Western falconers commonly hunt jackrabbits, cottontails, and upland game birds across vast public lands. The arid climate and wide-open spaces make the West a premier destination for falconers who prefer long, dramatic flights with falcons and buteos alike.
More on falconry across the West, including trapping seasons, terrain and the regional community.
Start here
The Utah Falconers Association
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 Utah Falconers Association. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Utah is handled through the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Utah falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Utah does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources when you book it. Exam administered by Division. If COR lapsed 5+ years, must retake exam.
- •Utah Administrative Rule R657-20
- •Federal falconry regulations (50 CFR 21.82)
- •Utah State Falconry Guide
Need help preparing? See our falconry exam preparation guide for study strategies and practice questions.
💰 Fees
A new apprentice in Utah pays $45 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 Utah issues a licence. Utah 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. Your facilities must pass a wildlife officer inspection before you can be licensed. Indoor mews or outdoor weathering area, or both, required. Inspections at reasonable time of day in presence of permittee.
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🦅 Species Notes
Utah 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 Utah adds on top.
- ⚠️Peregrine falcon take limited - 17 permits in 2026 (16 resident, 1 nonresident)
- ⚠️Application period: Feb 1 - March 31
- ⚠️Peregrine take season: May 1 - Aug 31
Species profiles are in our falconry species guide.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Utah
- The bird has to actually hunt
- Utah requires raptors held under this rule to be trained in the pursuit of wild game and used in hunting, unless a special provision says otherwise. A bird kept but not flown at quarry is not what the rule contemplates.
- Utah calls the permit a COR
- Utah issues a Certificate of Registration rather than a licence, and non-residents do not need a Utah falconry COR in order to buy a Non-resident Raptor Capture Permit — the two are separate transactions.
- Agreeing to inspection is a condition of the permit
- Obtaining a falconry COR means agreeing to reasonable administrative inspections of your raptors, facilities, equipment and documents. The rule even defines a reasonable time of day: the Division's business hours, or another time arranged between you and its representative.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Utah
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Utah 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 Utah
Want to get into falconry in Utah? 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 Utah Division of Wildlife Resources on 801-538-4700. Last checked 2026-08-21.