Resources & Recommended Reading

Falconry is one of the last outdoor pursuits where knowledge is still primarily transmitted through direct personal mentorship. While books, websites, and videos can teach you the theory of raptor care and training, the practical judgment that separates a competent falconer from a struggling one is almost always learned at the elbow of someone more experienced. This is why the sponsor-apprentice relationship has survived as the central pillar of falconry education for thousands of years. Your sponsor will teach you things that are nearly impossible to learn from written sources: how your specific bird's body language differs from the textbook description, when the subtle shift in a hawk's posture means it has spotted quarry you cannot see, and how to adjust your approach based on wind conditions, terrain, and the particular mood of your bird on a given day.

Falconry clubs are the organizational backbone of this mentorship tradition. State and regional clubs host regular meetings where aspiring falconers can meet potential sponsors, observe trained birds, and participate in educational programs. Field meets organized by clubs and the North American Falconers Association bring falconers together from across the country to hunt, share techniques, and build relationships that often span decades. These events are where you will see the full diversity of falconry practice: longwingers flying Peregrines at ducks on a prairie marsh, austringers slipping Goshawks at rabbits in dense timber, and apprentices making their first tentative flights with Red-tailed Hawks in an open field. Attending these events, even before you are licensed, gives you an invaluable window into what the different branches of falconry actually look like in practice.

Despite the importance of hands-on mentorship, books remain an irreplaceable component of falconry education. The best falconry texts distill decades of field experience into structured guidance that you can study at your own pace and return to whenever you encounter a new challenge. For exam preparation, the California Hawking Club study materials are widely regarded as the gold standard regardless of which state you plan to practice in. For species-specific training, books like The Falconer's Apprentice by William Oakes and North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks by Beebe and Webster provide the detailed, practical information that general wildlife books cannot match. Building a personal falconry library is an investment that pays dividends throughout your career, as you will revisit these references repeatedly when you encounter unfamiliar situations, consider new species, or want to refine techniques you learned years ago.

The falconry community is smaller than most people expect, with roughly four to five thousand active permit holders in the United States, but it is remarkably generous with knowledge and time. Experienced falconers remember what it was like to be a beginner, and most are willing to answer questions, share hunting spots, and offer equipment advice to anyone who demonstrates genuine commitment and respect for the birds. The key to accessing this generosity is showing up consistently, doing your homework, and approaching experienced practitioners with humility rather than entitlement. Join your state club. Attend meetings regularly, not just once. Read the books people recommend to you. Ask thoughtful questions that show you have already invested effort in learning on your own. The falconry community rewards initiative and persistence, and the relationships you build during your early involvement will sustain and enrich your practice for years to come.