Falconry and Raptor Propagation

​​​General Information on Falconry

The Falconry Permit pertains to the securing and use of birds of prey for hunting.

If you are interested in becoming a falconer and would like more information, please call 1-800-858-1549 to have an information packet sent to you. 

Holders of Kentucky falconry permits must possess a valid annual Kentucky hunting license before taking any raptor from the wild.

Wildlife may be taken within state hunting seasons and bag limits with any legal hunting raptor, provided the falconer has a valid falconry permit and a valid hunting license. Note: falconry hunting is closed during the opening weekend of modern firearms for deer (see season dates).


Issuance Cycle

Falconry permits are issued year-round and are valid for 3 years from the date of issue.

Falconry, Photo by Mike Matthews
Falconry, Photo by Mike Matthews



Classes of Falconry

Three classes of falconry permits are available: apprentice, general, and master. Below is a list of some general differences between the classes.

​​​​​​ Apprentice Class
​Age12 (If 12-17, parent or guardian must cosign application and be responsible ​for your activities)
Possession limit1
SpeciesAmerican kestrel (Falco Sparverius), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), red-shouldered hawk (Buteo Lineatus), or Harris’s hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
SourceWild or captive-bred; no imprints; cannot take nestlings from the wild
Take from the wildUp to 2 annually (passage birds only)
Duration before upgradeAt least 2 years practicing falconry with wild raptors (for an average of 6 months per year, with at least 4 months in each year)
​​General Class
​​Age16 (If 16 or 17, parent or guardian must cosign application and be responsible for your activities)
Possession limit3
SpeciesA great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) and any member of the Order Falconiformes, except the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), and Stellar’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)
SourceWild or captive-bred
Take from the wildUp to 2 annually
Duration before upgradeAt least 5 years practicing falconry at general class (average of 4 months per year, in at least 4 of the last 5 years)
​​​​Master Class
Possession limit5 wild raptors, 3 of which may be eagles (golden, white-tailed, or Stellar’s sea eagle); unlimited captive-bred raptors (excluding eagles) if used for falconry.
SpeciesA great horned owl and any member of the Order Falconiformes, except the bald eagle
SourceWild or captive-bred
Take from the wildUp to 2 annually


Red-tailed Hawk, Photo by Mike Matthews

Red-tailed Hawk, Photo by Mike Matthews

Application Process

To obtain any class of permit, an applicant MUST submit the following materials:

  1. A completed and signed Kentucky Falconry Permit Application;
  2. One check payable to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) for $75; and
  3. A completed Raptor Facilities and Equipment Inspection Report form signed by a KDFWR law enforcement officer and the applicant.

New apprentice applicants must also:

  1. Take an examination administered by KDFWR and score at least 80%. Contact a local KDFWR law enforcement officer to administer the exam.

  2. Provide a letter from a licensed falconer (holding at least a general-level permit) indicating his/her willingness to be a sponsor for the applicant. Example Sponsor Letter  

New general class applicants must also:

  1. Submit a signed Kentucky Apprentice Falconer Activity Report

New master class applicants must also:

  1. Submit a signed Kentucky General Falconer Upgrade Report

Regulations

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​Seasons for Taking Raptors for Falconry

SPECIES
​​​​ SEASON FOR TAKING RAPTORS
​​ Passage Birds
Great-horned owlSeptember 1 through October 31 (general and master class only)
All other allowable speciesSeptember 1 through January 31
Mature Birds (general and master class only)
Great-horned owlSeptember 1 through October 31
American kestrelSeptember 1 through January 31
Eyasses (general and master class only)
All allowable speciesJanuary 1 through July 31

Reporting​

A migratory bird acquisition and disposition report (Form 3-186A) must be submitted when any raptor is transferred, released, acquired, captured, or re-banded for falconry. The forms may be submitted online, or a hardcopy may be sent to KDFWR (Attn. Falconry), #1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. USFWS Falconry Database ​Instructions for Falconers​. Please check USFWS Database Multi-Factor Authentication Guide​ for more information.

If a nonresident takes a raptor from KY for falconry, or if a KY resident takes a sharp-shinned hawk eyass for falconry, a Falconry Take Location Report form must be submitted to the Department within 5 days of possession.


Kentucky Passage Tundrius Peregrine Falcon Take Opportunity Drawing

Eligible Falconers must apply to be entered into the drawing by July 31st of the current year. To be eligible for the passage tundrius peregrine falcon take opportunity drawing, falconers shall:

  • Be a resident of Kentucky.
  • Have a valid Kentucky resident hunting license or be license exempt.
  • Have a valid Kentucky master class falconry permit.​
  • Not have been convicted of violating any Kentucky falconry regulation in the past five 5 years.

The department will notify the drawn falconer, by their preferred method of contact as indicated on the application, no later than August 15.

For more information and instructions on how to apply, please see the passage tundrius peregrine falcon take guidelines here.


Sharp-shinned hawk nestlings, Photo by Tony Englert

Sharp-shinned Hawk Nestlings, Photo by Tony Englert

Take of Sharp-shinned Hawk Nestlings for Falconry

Taking sharp-shinned hawk nestlings for use in falconry shall follow the guidelines below:

  1. Only 1 eyass may be taken by a falconer per year.
  2. At least 2 eyasses shall be left in a nest after a take.
  3. Falconry Take Location Report form must be submitted to the Department within 5 days of possession (you must still submit a Form 3-186A).
  4. Up to 15 eyasses may be taken in any given calendar year (5 for nonresidents; 10 for residents). The falconer is responsible for contacting the Department before the take to ensure the annual quota has not already been met.

Guidelines for Possessing Eagles for Falconry

A master class falconer may possess a golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, or Stellar’s sea eagle with prior approval from the Department. See more info on the guidelines for possessing eagles for falconry.


Nonresidents Transporting or Taking Raptors from KY for Falconry

Nonresidents transporting raptors for falconry purposes:

A nonresident falconer is not required to obtain a wildlife transportation permit to transport raptor(s) into, through, or out of Kentucky as long as he/she holds a valid state or federal falconry permit.

Nonresidents taking raptors from Kentucky for falconry purposes:

A nonresident of Kentucky can take and export raptors from the wild for falconry purposes by submitting, for approval, a Nonresident Raptor Take Form to the Department at least 15 days prior to the take.

The following must be submitted to KDFWR: (1) a completed and signed Nonresident Raptor Take Form, and (2) a legible copy of the nonresident’s federal and/or state falconry permit(s).

A nonresident may take only one wild raptor from Kentucky per calendar year.

Nonresidents may be given approval to take birds from KY for falconry only if their state allows the same for KY residents.

Prior to the take, a nonresident falconer must purchase and have in his/her possession a Kentucky nonresident hunting license.

A copy of the Migratory Bird Acquisition and Disposition Report​ (Form 3-186A)​ and a Kentucky Falconry Take Location Report must be submitted within five (5) days of the activity.


Raptor Propagation

In order to propagate native raptors, one must hold a state captive wildlife permit and a federal raptor propagation permit.

A falconry bird can be transferred to a propagation permit if the bird has been used in falconry for at least 2 years (1 year for sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks, merlins, and American kestrels). If a falconry bird is being used for propagation fewer than 8 months in a year, the bird does not need to be transferred to a propagation permit. The falconer must still possess the necessary state captive wildlife and federal propagation permits. See our Live Wildlife Possession page for additional information.

See 301 KAR 2:081 and Section 8 of 301 KAR 2:195 for regulations pertaining to the holding of captive wildlife and raptor propagation.​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​