New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 35 - CAPTIVE WILDLIFE USES
Part 8 - FALCONRY
Section 19.35.8.9 - REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF FALCONER PERMITS

(a) The applicant for an apprentice permit must be at least 12 years of age and must have the written consent of a parent or legal guardian to assume responsibility for the apprentice's activities if under 18 years of age.

(b) A sponsor who holds a New Mexico general permit with two years experience, or a master permit, is required until the apprentice advances to general falconer.

(c) The applicant for an apprentice permit shall name the sponsor in the application submitted and shall include a letter from the sponsor indicating his or her willingness to sponsor the apprentice.

(d) The applicant for an apprentice permit must successfully pass the state falconry examination before he or she will be granted an apprentice permit.

(a) The applicant for a general permit must be at least 16 years of age. If the applicant for a general permit is under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must sign the general permit application to assume responsibility for the applicant's activities.

(b) The general permit applicant shall submit a letter from a general or master falconer (preferably the applicant's sponsor) that the applicant shall have had at least two years experience in the practice of falconry at the apprentice level or its equivalent, including maintaining, training, flying and hunting raptor(s) for at least four months in each year. That practice may include capture and release of falconry raptors.

(c) An applicant for a general falconer permit may not substitute any falconry school program or education to shorten the period of two years at the apprentice level.

(a) A temporary foreign visitor may not apply for a permit at the apprentice class level.

(b) The applicant shall present evidence by letters of recommendation and experience, written in the English language, by other falconers or officials who have personal knowledge of the applicant's falconry experience, including the species of raptors previously flown and the number of years practicing falconry.

(c) The applicant for a temporary foreign visitor permit must pass the state falconry examination.

(d) Based on the evidence provided, the department shall determine the class level for the applicant as general or master class.

(e) A temporary foreign visitor applicant must present proof of legal temporary status in the United States by the immigration and naturalization service.

(f) A temporary foreign visitor applicant must be sponsored by a New Mexico resident general or master class falconer. The applicant shall present a letter with the application from the resident sponsor which shall confirm that the applicant may house and care for the applicant's raptors at the sponsor's falconry facilities. A New Mexico temporary foreign visitor permittee's sponsor may fly, house and care for the permittee's raptors, when provided a 3-186A form and letter of authorization, if the permittee intends to return to New Mexico regularly to practice falconry. Proof of the length of stay may be provided by a copy of the applicant's foreign passport or other immigration and naturalization service documentation.

(g) A permanent resident alien who resides permanently in New Mexico may not apply for a temporary foreign visitor permit, but may apply for a resident falconer permit.