Becoming a Falconer

Step 1

Start by gathering as much information as possible about falconry. Explore online falconry supply companies, which offer a wide selection of books on the subject. Consider purchasing a few beginner-friendly titles, or, if you find specific books that interest you, check them out at your local library. There are also valuable online resources for aspiring falconers, such as The Modern Apprentice. Social media also has some wonderful facebook groups, pages and forums! -Additionally, if you're planning to take your state's falconry exam, the study guides from California and New York are highly recommended. Both will help you prepare for the New Jersey exam as well. Read each book cover-to-cover at least once, then focus your study on the most relevant sections. Be sure to familiarize yourself with New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Regulations, as these will also be covered in the exam.

Step 2

Contact the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and ask for the information and application for getting a falconry permit.

Step 3

Identify a potential sponsor. To become a licensed falconer one is required to complete a 2 year apprenticeship program. Keep in mind that not only is the candidate making this 2 year commitment but the sponsor is as well. Due to the small number of falconers in New Jersey there are a very limited number of available sponsors. As a result, available sponsors do their due diligence and carefully vet potential candidates before committing to sponsor a candidate.

Step 4

Start preparing your falconry equipment and your mews (hawkhouse). You should have all the legal requirements ready for inspection so as to expedite the application process after passing your exam! Read New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife  Falconry Regulations thoroughly for equipment requirements.

Step 5

Contact the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and schedule and take the exam. You must get an 80% or better to pass. You can take the exam without naming a sponsor, but he/she will actually need to sign your state permit application. Once you’ve passed the exam, you may get your state falconry permit be prepared to wait up to 60 days to get your permit. Don’t wait until the last minute to send in your application.

Step 6

As soon as you have a state hunting license, and a state falconry permit in hand, then you are ready to go trapping and to obtain your first bird.

• You will need to trap your own bird. While trapping is not particularly difficult, it is a skill you will learn as you study for the exam. It is also strongly recommended that you do this with your sponsor's guidance, if possible.

• In New Jersey, apprentices are limited to flying a Red Tail hawk (they are a blast to fly, we promise!)

• Studies indicate that around 75-80% of immature raptors die each year. When a falconer traps a "passage" raptor (a bird less than a year old), there are typically two outcomes. First, the bird has a better chance of surviving and making it to its second year, which it would only have a 20-25% chance of achieving on its own in the wild. Second, by trapping the bird, it is temporarily removed from the competition for food and habitat. Since most falconry birds are released back into the wild after one or two hunting seasons, falconry can actually help support wild raptor populations. However, there are too few falconers in the United States to significantly affect raptor populations overall. The real threat to these populations is the destruction of their habitats, which impacts both the raptors and their prey.