How to Get a Falconry License in West Virginia
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in West Virginia
Falconry in West Virginia is regulated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), specifically the Wildlife Resources Section. To practice falconry legally in WV, 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.
West Virginia 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 $250. West Virginia 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 West Virginia.
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.
Start here
The West Virginia Falconry Club
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 West Virginia Falconry Club. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in West Virginia is handled through the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The West Virginia falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. West Virginia does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) when you book it. Contact WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section to schedule exam.
- •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 West Virginia pays $250 up front, covering the application 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: agency documentChecked September 13, 2026.
🏠 Facility Requirements
Your facilities must pass inspection before West Virginia issues a licence. West Virginia 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.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in West Virginia
- Let it lapse five years and the class is gone
- A West Virginia falconry permit lapsed for fewer than five years can be reinstated in the class last held, on proof of previous licensure plus the initial fee. One lapsed five years or longer "shall not be reinstated" at all — the class you earned does not survive it.
- Moving in starts two clocks at once
- A falconer moving permanently to West Virginia must notify both the Division and their former state's falconry regulator within 30 days of the move, and obtain a West Virginia permit within 90 days. They may keep practising on the old permit until the new one issues.
- An accidental protected kill is a 48-hour report to two agencies
- Non-game or out-of-season game killed without the falconer's intent is left at the site of the kill, and the raptor may feed on the carcass. But an unintended take of a threatened or endangered bird or animal must be reported to the DNR district law enforcement office and the Fish and Wildlife Service's West Virginia field office within 48 hours.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-04.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in West Virginia
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in West Virginia 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 West Virginia
Want to get into falconry in West Virginia? 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 West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) on (304) 558-6200. Last checked 2026-08-21.