How to Get a Falconry License in Wyoming
Requirements, fees, exam, and resources for getting into falconry in Wyoming
Falconry in Wyoming is regulated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, specifically the WGFD. To practice falconry legally in WY, 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.
Wyoming 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 $16. Wyoming 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 Wyoming.
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.
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The Wyoming 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 Wyoming Falconers' Association. Of everything on this page, this is the link worth following first.
🏛️ Wildlife Agency
All falconry licensing in Wyoming is handled through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Contact them directly with questions about exam scheduling, license applications, and facility inspections.
📝 Exam Requirements
The Wyoming falconry exam covers raptor biology, training, housing, health care, and both state and federal regulation. You need at least 80% to pass. Wyoming does not publish the number of questions on its falconry exam. Confirm the format with Wyoming Game and Fish Department when you book it. Call WGFD Regional Office or Cheyenne HQ to schedule exam. Exams graded at Casper Regional Office.
- •Federal falconry regulations (50 CFR 21)
- •Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Regulations Chapter 25
- •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 Wyoming pays $16 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 Wyoming issues a licence. Wyoming 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. Federal minimum standards apply. Send completed forms to WGFD Casper Regional Office.
For detailed construction guidance, see our mews construction guide and facility requirements overview.
🔗 Resources
📋 Falconry specifics in Wyoming
- Twelve to start, with a named adult behind you
- A Wyoming applicant must be at least 12 years old, and where they are under 18 a parent or legal guardian must be legally responsible for the falconry activities.
- One office runs falconry for the whole state
- Wyoming centralises it: exams are graded at the Casper Regional Office, and permit applications, facility inspection forms and 3-186As all go to the same address. There is one door, not a county-by-county process.
🤝 Finding a Mentor in Wyoming
Every apprentice needs a sponsor holding a general or master permit, and in Wyoming 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 Wyoming
Want to get into falconry in Wyoming? 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 Wyoming Game and Fish Department on (307) 233-6400. Last checked 2026-08-21.