How to Get a Falconry License in Vermont
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Vermont
Falconry in Vermont is regulated by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, specifically the Agency of Natural Resources. To practice falconry legally in VT, 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.
Vermont's falconry exam consists of 100 questions, and you need 85% or higher to pass. Up-front fees for an apprentice come to $250. Vermont 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 Vermont.
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 Vermont
We haven't been able to confirm an active falconry club in Vermont. 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 Vermont is handled through the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Vermont falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 85% on the 100-question paper. Contact Fish & Wildlife Department headquarters
- •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
A new apprentice in Vermont pays $250 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 Vermont issues a licence. Vermont 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; outdoor weathering area with perch required
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
📋 Falconry specifics in Vermont
- Vermont wants 85%, not 80%
- The statute requires an applicant to have "correctly answered a minimum of 85 percent of the questions" on the supervised examination — five points above the federal floor that almost every other state uses. Prepare for Vermont's paper on Vermont's number.
- The licence runs three years, then annually
- Vermont charges an initial licensing fee of $250 for a licence valid three years, and $50 a year to renew after that.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Vermont
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Vermont 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 Vermont
Want to get into falconry in Vermont? 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 Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department on 802-828-1000. Last checked 2026-08-21.