How To Become A Falconer With Pictures

A complete list of wildlife agencies for the U. S. and Canada is available at the website for the North American Falconers Association (NAFA). Note: the rest of the instructions in this guide are intended only as general guidelines. Always defer to the advice of qualified wildlife experts.

The training process to become a falconer is a very long one. As noted above, an apprenticeship alone generally lasts at least two years, while seven years or more may be required to reach master status. [2] X Research source A raptor requires near-constant care with no days off or holidays. This usually amounts to about half an hour each day, every day, though on hunting days this can easily be four to five hours. [3] X Research source If you can’t care for your raptor personally (such as, for instance, if you go on a vacation), it will be your responsibility to arrange for its care in your absence. A healthy raptor can live into its twenties, though many falconers eventually return raptors that they catch into the wild. [4] X Research source

Killing animals. Most falconers use their raptors for hunting animals in some way. This aspect of the sport that requires an honest self-assessment: Are you comfortable killing wild animals? Are you emotionally prepared to see a predator capture and kill prey? Are you willing to put wounded animals out of their misery? If you’re not sure, strongly consider first trying out more traditional forms of hunting, which are often have lower barriers to entry for beginners. Confining your raptor to a mews. Raptors are usually housed in an enclosure called a mews. Raptors are almost always happy and comfortable in a well-maintained mews, but some people dislike seeing animals housed in captivity. Note that most environmental surveys agree that falconry has limited impact on wild raptor populations. [5] X Research source Cleaning and caring for your raptor. Raptors are reasonably clean animals, but being a falconer still requires getting messy sometimes. For instance, you’ll need to occasionally clean your raptor’s mews, which can accumulate waste, bones, and so on over time.

Food for your raptor Veterinary costs Travel to meetings, hunting locations, and visits with other falconers Licensing/permit fees Shelter and equipment for your raptor — depending on local laws, this may also include an inspection fee Books and reference materials

Falcons require large open expanses of land on which to hunt high overhead while hawks and small accipiters can hunt in smaller fields and farms. Land with roads, power lines, urban life, barbed wire fences or where gun hunting is permitted may be unsuitable because of potential threats to the health of the raptor or falconer. Even if you do not personally have the land required, some farmers will permit you to use their land at no cost. Note that it is customary to offer farmers something small in return, like throwing them a yearly party to show your appreciation. If you have friends who own large tracts of rural land, note that you may still need written permission in order to use their land.

A list of reading material recommended by the NAFA is available here. A Bond With the Wild, a collection of essays assembled by NAFA, is a great resource for beginners to start to get a sense of what falconry is “all about. " You may also want to try talking to falconers via online forums and discussion boards.

These permits can take quite a long time to be approved, so it is important to plan ahead. In fact, most falconry resources agree that it is best to apply for these permits a year in advance of the hunting season in which you wish to begin falconry. Note that, in addition to a falconry permit, you may also need an ordinary hunting license, which can require you to take hunter education courses. At this point, you will probably also want to schedule the test you’ll need to take to obtain your permit. See below for more information. Once again, here is a list of relevant wildlife agencies in the U. S. and Canada courtesy of NAFA.

Here is a list of falconry club affiliates courtesy of NAFA. Consider attending meetings at falconry clubs even if you aren’t fully certified to practice the sport yet. This is a great way of meeting people, learning about the sport, and creating relationships which can later transition into sponsorships.

You sponsor is one of the most important connections you will have as a falconer-in-training. This person will help you learn, guide you, and give you advice over several years. Choose someone that you enjoy spending time with and that whose expertise you respect. It is much, much easier to get an experienced falconer to agree to become your sponsor if you have a personal connection with this person and this person believes you to have a competent understanding of the sport. You’ll probably want to start attending falconry meetings and browsing the reading material described above so that, over time, you’ll pick up the concepts and terminology of falconry.

Generally, you will want to schedule your test well in advance (even as early as the very first time you contact your state/provincial wildlife department. ) These agencies will usually require a fee for the examination and may only offer the test at certain times throughout the year, depending on your particular state/province. Note that some states/provinces require you to have found a sponsor before taking this examination, while others do not have this as a prerequisite. Ask your local wildlife agency to find out specific requirements.

In general, facilities can be made out of wood or fiberglass and cannot have chicken wire on the roofs. Natural flooring, pea gravel, concrete or wood shavings can be used for the floor. There must be perches with at least one by a window. One bird will require a space of at least 6 feet (1. 8 m) by 8 feet (2. 4 m) by 7 feet (2. 1 m) high; this will have to be doubled with a wall in between for two birds. Many jurisdictions require an attached weathering yard where birds can be tethered with a leash. These facility requirements can differ by region so, as always, contact your state/provincial wildlife agency for specific details. You will also need a bath container and a reliable scale to monitor the health of your bird. [7] X Research source

In most cases, you will need an anklet (leash to attach to the bird’s leg), an identification band, a button (braided end of a leash, also called a knurl), a creance (long line for training the bird), a gauntlet (left hand gloves worn by falconer), a hood, jesses (leather strips to which the lease will be attached), the leash, a lure (for training) and telemetry (for locating the bird when it goes out of sight). [8] X Research source

Trapping a raptor is a topic that is too complex to explore in detail in this article. For a great first-time guide, try the trapping article at The Modern Apprentice website. Make sure to get the go-ahead from your sponsor before attempting to trap your first bird. You’ll also want to make sure that all of your applications and application fees been processed and that you’ve received all proper documentation before attempting to acquire your first bird. [9] X Research source

In the United States, you have 10 days to submit this paperwork after catching your bird.

In addition, the 1997 issue of Hawk Chalk (the official newsletter magazine of NAFA) has a great article on using a technique called Operant Conditioning to train raptors. [10] X Research source You can find it here.

Apprentice Falconer Only allowed to have one bird at a time May take only an American Kestrel or Red-tailed hawk from the wild (Goshawks allowed in Alaska). Expected to train extensively with sponsor. General Falconer May have up to three wild-caught birds at once. Additional variety of birds available for capture (see state bill WAC 232-30-152 for more information. ) May sponsor an apprentice after two years at the General level. Master Falconer Must demonstrate “at least five years experience as a General Falconer and show expertise in successful hunting and care of their birds, and experience with more than one species of raptor. " May have up to five wild-caught birds at once. May have an unlimited number of captive-bred birds for falconry purposes.

Only allowed to have one bird at a time May take only an American Kestrel or Red-tailed hawk from the wild (Goshawks allowed in Alaska). Expected to train extensively with sponsor.

May have up to three wild-caught birds at once. Additional variety of birds available for capture (see state bill WAC 232-30-152 for more information. ) May sponsor an apprentice after two years at the General level.

Must demonstrate “at least five years experience as a General Falconer and show expertise in successful hunting and care of their birds, and experience with more than one species of raptor. " May have up to five wild-caught birds at once. May have an unlimited number of captive-bred birds for falconry purposes.

In addition, you will also want to plan on joining your state or province’s falconry association (where applicable. ) For example, falconers in Washington State should join the Washington Falconers Association.