What can you tell me about falconry?

The sport of falconry dates back approximately 4,000 years and involves team hunting between humans and animals. It can be defined as "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor." Once nicknamed "the sport of kings," falconry was practiced by nobility in many cultures, and the type of bird you owned represented your class. For example, as decreed by King Henry VIII, kings flew gyrfalcons, while servants flew kestrels. Today, falconry is still practiced worldwide, and active falconry clubs can be found in many countries, including the United States.

How do I become a falconer?

Falconry requires a significant commitment of time, money, and energy. A falconer must be able to commit 365 days a year to the care, maintenance, and training of his or her bird. Birds of prey require specific food (rat, quail, pheasant, or rabbit), shelter, and equipment, and depending where you live, hunting may involve daily travel. Medical care for the bird in the case of an injury or illness may be costly. It is important to have access to land with the appropriate habitat type for the bird species you are training. For example, a falconer hunting with a red-tailed hawk needs ready access to a number of good fields where rabbits can be consistently found.

If you are over 14 years of age, have the dedication, time, money, and access to ample land, and have done substantial reading on falconry, you are ready for the next step. Contact local falconers to see if you can accompany them on a hunting trip. If, after seeing falconry in action, you want to proceed with pursuing the sport, contact the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Regional Nongame Wildlife Specialist in your area for a Falconry Packet. You will also need information on the location and time of the written exam, which you must pass with an 80 percent score or better. Then you must construct facilities (mews for housing your bird) and have them and your equipment inspected. At this point, you can submit your completed permit application form along with $25 payable to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to your Regional Nongame Wildlife Specialist.

What permits will I receive?

The first permit you will receive after completing the requirements mentioned above is an apprentice class permit. In order to be an apprentice, you must be 14 years old or older, have a sponsor who is a general or master falconer, have passed the written exam, and have passed inspection. As an apprentice you are permitted to possess only one bird. Your bird must be either a passage red-tailed hawk or an American kestrel. A passage bird is a bird in its first calendar year, which must be trapped from the wild.

After two years of experience as an apprentice class falconer, you may become a general class falconer. You must be at least 18 years old to be a general falconer and may possess two birds. The bird species you possess may not be owls or endangered or threatened species.

The third permit class is that of master falconer. To be a master falconer you must have had two years of experience as an apprentice falconer and five years as a general falconer. You may not possess any species listed as endangered, but you may possess one bird listed as threatened. As a master falconer you may possess three birds at one time. It is also possible to possess a golden eagle for falconry with additional permission from the DNR and USFWS.

Who should I contact to learn more about falconry?

Before contacting the USFWS, the North American Falconry Association, or your state Falconers Association, you should take the time to read everything you can about the sport of falconry. Suggested readings include:

• North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks by Frank Beebe
• The Art of Falconry by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (translated and edited in 1943 by C.A. Wood and F. M. Fyfe)
• Understanding the Bird of Prey by Nick Fox

For information about falconry in Minnesota, click here. For information about falconry in Minnesota and other states, check out the North American Falconry Association's Web site at www.n-a-f-a.org.