How To Get Into Falconry For Beginners: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Falconry is an ancient, highly regulated blood sport that requires a multi-year apprenticeship, rigorous state and federal licensing, and a 365-day-a-year commitment to raptor husbandry. Aspiring falconers must master wildlife laws, construct specialized housing known as mews, and dedicate hours daily to the training and psychological conditioning of a wild bird of prey.
The Modern Apprentice Blueprint: Pre-Operation & Equipment Checklist
Entering the sport of falconry requires navigating a strict legal framework overseen by state wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), combined with heavy capital investment. Unlike standard pet ownership, falconry is an active hunting partnership where the raptor remains a wild animal kept under strict governmental permits.
- Essential Gear & Facilities: Constructing a secure mews (indoor housing) and weathering area (outdoor flight enclosure), purchasing heavy-duty hawk perths, a digital telemetry tracking system, precision gram scales, heavy leather falconry gloves, anklets, jesses, swivels, and a reliable hunting scale.
- Mandatory Prerequisite Knowledge: Passing the state falconry examination with an 80% or higher, studying avian anatomy, raptor pathology, federal migratory bird treaties, and local game laws.
- Estimated Budget & Duration: Initial startup costs range from 1,500 to 3,500 dollars for facilities and gear. The mandatory apprentice phase lasts a minimum of two full years under the direct supervision of a licensed General or Master falconer.
Step-by-Step Pathway to Practicing Legal Falconry
Step 1: Secure a Licensed Sponsor
Before touching a bird or buying equipment, you must find a licensed General or Master falconer willing to take you on as an apprentice for your mandatory two-year term. Reach out to your state's falconry association, attend field meets, and demonstrate a genuine willingness to learn husbandry, cleaning, and trap-building basics. Your sponsor will inspect your facilities, sign off on your state paperwork, and guide you through your first trapping season.
Warning: Do not build your mews or buy equipment until your sponsor has reviewed your structural blueprints, as state wildlife inspectors and sponsors have strict, non-negotiable requirements for safety, ventilation, and predator-proofing.
Step 2: Pass the State and Federal Examinations
Study the core texts of North American falconry, notably North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks by Beebe and Webster, alongside your state's specific hunting regulations. Take and pass the official proctored falconry exam administered by your state department of natural resources or fish and wildlife agency. Once passed, submit your formal state permit application alongside your sponsor's endorsement letter.
Step 3: Construct the Mews and Weathering Area
Build a secure, predator-proof enclosure that protects your future bird from owls, raccoons, domestic cats, and extreme weather. The indoor mews must feature vertical wooden perths, a bath pan, secure windows with vertical bars or heavy wire mesh, and a smooth, easy-to-clean floor. The outdoor weathering area must allow the bird to safely stretch its wings in the sunlight while remaining tethered to a weighted shock-absorbing leash system.
Pro-Tip: Install a high-definition security camera inside the mews to monitor your bird's nighttime resting behavior, early morning reactions, and overall health without causing human-induced stress.
Step 4: Acquire Equipment and Pass Inspection
Gather your core hunting and management tools, including a pair of jesses made from kangaroo hide, brass swivels, a digital kitchen scale measuring in grams for daily weight management, and a VHF telemetry receiver and transmitter setup. Once your facilities and gear are fully assembled, request an official inspection from your state wildlife game warden and your sponsor. Upon passing, your permanent state and federal permits will be issued.
Step 5: Trap and Man Your First Raptor
As an apprentice in most jurisdictions, your first legal bird must be a passage (first-year wild) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) or an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). Use an approved live-trap setup under the direct oversight of your sponsor to capture your bird during the legal trapping season. Begin the process of "manning"—the gradual psychological habituation of the wild hawk to human presence, voice, and touch through patience, feeding, and steady handling.
| Equipment / Phase | Primary Material | Critical Function | Replacement / Maintenance Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesses | Kangaroo Hide / Dacron | Secures the bird to perths and gloved fist | Inspect daily; replace every 3 to 6 months |
| Telemetry | VHF Radio Frequencies | Locates the hawk if lost during a hunt | Test battery weekly; replace yearly |
| Precision Scale | Digital Gram Scale | Monitors target hunting weight to the gram | Calibrate monthly with certified weights |
| Mews Flooring | Sealed Concrete / Astroturf | Prevents bumblefoot and bacterial growth | Clean and disinfect weekly |
Falconry Basics: A Handbook for Beginners: Hall, Tony: 9781904057284 ...
Common Falconry Challenges & Field Fixes
- Root Cause (Weight Fluctuation): The hawk's flying weight drops too low due to metabolic stress or miscalculation, leading to lethargy and unresponsiveness.Actionable Fix: Immediately halt hunting flights, increase the daily ration of high-fat whole quail or rabbit, and consult your sponsor while logging daily morning weights on a rigid tracking spreadsheet.
- Root Cause (Bumblefoot Development): Pressure sores and staph infections form on the bottom of the raptor's foot due to abrasive perths or unhygienic mews conditions.Actionable Fix: Switch immediately to diverse, natural-branch perths with varying diameters, apply veterinary-approved antiseptic salves, and consult an avian veterinarian for antibiotic interventions.
- Root Cause (Harness or Equipment Failure): A worn jess or faulty swivel snaps during a flight, resulting in an unbonded hawk flying off into the timber.Actionable Fix: Turn on your VHF telemetry receiver immediately, scan the surrounding sector utilizing directional antennas, and station yourself near high perches with an open lure while broadcasting distress signals or offering a visible food reward.
- Root Cause (Mew Phobia / Hooding Resistance): The bird panics or strikes aggressively when human hands approach for hooding or transfer.Actionable Fix: Return to foundational desensitization protocols in a quiet, darkened room, using small morsels of meat (cekes) as positive reinforcement until calm behavior is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a licensed falconer?
The official apprentice phase lasts a mandatory two calendar years under a certified sponsor. During this period, you must log all hunting attempts, maintain bird health, and demonstrate complete competency before testing up to a General falconer license.
Can I practice falconry with any bird of prey?
No. Apprentices are strictly limited by federal and state laws to specific passage species, most commonly the Red-tailed Hawk or the American Kestrel. Species like Golden Eagles, Goshawks, and Peregrine Falcons are restricted to General and Master class falconers.
How much time does falconry require every day?
Falconry is a lifestyle rather than a casual hobby, requiring a minimum of one to two hours daily. You must weigh your bird, prepare fresh meals, clean the mews, check equipment integrity, and fly or hunt the raptor regularly to maintain its physical and mental condition.
Is falconry an expensive hobby to maintain?
Initial setup costs range from 1,500 to 3,500 dollars for mews construction, telemetry, and veterinary gear. Ongoing monthly expenses include high-quality food supplies such as whole mice, day-old chicks, quail, and routine veterinary check-ups.
Begin Your Journey Into Master-Level Avian Partnership
Connect with your regional state falconry club today to attend field meets, meet seasoned sponsors, and start studying for your state licensing exam. Take the first step toward mastering the timeless art of hunting with raptors by building your network within the community.
