Falconry is an ancient sport of hunting with a trained raptor.  In the early 1970s, the USFWS moved to legalize the sport, requiring a federal and state license to practice falconry. In Oregon, the State Falconry Program, is overseen by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) who issue Falconry Licenses and Raptor Capture Permits.

Training a wild hawk or falcon to hunt cooperatively with you takes time, patience, and more than a few tricks & skills that falconers have fine-tuned in the last 5,000 years. For this reason, the only way to enter into the sport of falconry is by passing a written exam, having the state do a facilities & equipment inspection, and apprenticing under another falconer for 2-years. Col. Luff Meredith, the father of American Falconry, shared this axiom in a 1938 interview “it takes six weeks to train a hawk, but more than three years to make a falconer.”

Recent changes to the Federal and State Falconry regulations have allowed states to direct their own falconry programs.  Here in Oregon, our regulations allow apprentices to trap, train, and hunt with a wild caught (passage) Red-tailed Hawk or American Kestrel. This is done under the guidance of another falconer, your sponsor.

We’ve set up a page on Preparing to Become an Apprentice to help you understand the commitment of time it takes to get into the sport (read more…).

The best way to prepare for the sport is to:

1. READ: Read as much as you possibly can (check out the OFA’s and NAFA’s recommended reading list for apprentices). Falconry books can be expensive so local libraries are a good place to check, although more often than not you’ll need to buy copies of books, either new or used, from falconry suppliers. Keep in mind that book knowledge and practical knowledge are two different things, and that while reading can help expose you to a variety of opinions on training styles, equipment designs, etc., there is no substitute to getting out with a falconer!
2. GET A HUNTING LICENSE: Is a good idea to get your hunting license as early as possible, then do your best to go out hunting because that is what falconry is – just with a raptor instead of a gun or bow. Hunting small game will allow you to put food in your freezer and have it ready for your raptor. It also lets you learn where to hunt and how to stalk the quarry you’ll be hunting with your raptor. Additionally it also shows falconers that you’re willing to put work into the sport.
3. GO OUT IN THE FIELD: Hunting with a falconer is a great way to introduce yourself to the sport and a chance to introduce yourself to the community! A good place to start is contacting the OFA president, secretary, or the director for your region; while the OFA is not directly responsible for connecting you with a sponsor, we are willing to help find someone to take you on a hunt so you can get a real look at the sport.  A QUICK NOTE: If after going out with a falconer and seeing the realities of the sport (e.g.., the time commitment, or dispatching quarry) there is no shame in deciding this sport isn’t for you. Better to recognize that now, and potentially revisit the idea later in life, than decide you’re on the wrong track once you have put in so much preparation, time, and money and have a bird on the glove. 
4. 4. STUDY FOR THE EXAM: This connects back with reading, but it’s time to start focusing and digging into the details. The go-to resource is the California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide for questions regarding husbandry and biology. Practice the multiple-choice questions until you can answer them all correctly. You will also need to familiarize yourself with federal and state regulations.
5. FIND A SPONSOR: Having a sponsor is required before you take the test. Your sponsor will help guide you through the process of building your facilities and assembling needed equipment. She or he can also help with a variety of questions or challenges and it is a great chance to build a relationship of trust with one another. Importantly,  establish expectations of yourself and your sponsor before a bird is involved. The OFA’s recommended sponsor and apprentice guidelines can be found on the Preparing to Become an Apprentice page.
6. PREPARE YOUR MEWS AND EQUIPMENT: While there are federal and state standards for what specifications equipment and mews must follow, the exact setup will differ from apprentice to apprentice. However, no matter if you end up with an indoor arrangement or a full mews and weathering yard, it is critical that your sponsor is providing input and guidance in the construction of both mews and equipment to ensure the safety of the bird.  
7. REACH OUT TO ODFW: Contact the falconry correspondent at ODFW to schedule your exam and subsequent facility inspection. 
8. GET YOUR PAPERWORK IN ORDER: This includes hunting license, falconry license, capture authorization, etc. Having a folder or a binder where you keep your original paperwork, copies of all your paperwork, and have a printed copy of the regulations isn’t a bad idea. This way you always know where to look and have records and proof that you are completely by-the-books. Additionally throw a copy of your current falconry license (and capture authorization if you’re out trapping) in an envelope in the glove compartment of the vehicle or even vehicles you will be using to transport birds; game wardens or well intentioned people appear when you least expect and having the proper legal documentation with you is crucial. 
9. GO TRAP YOUR BIRD! Congratulations on making it to this point, from here on out the real work (and fun) begins!

The web has a lot of resources out there for would-be apprentices.  For more information and steps on becoming a falconer, check out North American Falconers Association’s (NAFA) website on How to Become a Falconer. For extensive information on falconry and a good introduction to the details of the sport, go to The Modern Apprentice.  Falconry Told made a video that gives a very helpful overview of the process to becoming an apprentice (although please note some details will vary from state to state). 

To get more information on how to become a falconer in Oregon, to apply for an Oregon Falconry license, or to study and take the Oregon Falconry Exam, check out the ODFW Falconry Program webpage. ODFW is the agency that issues all hunting licenses, including falconry license. To enter this hunting sport, you must go through the state agency and their requirements.

For general information on Falconry, see our Links Page.