North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 30 - Game and Fish Department
Article 30-02 - Wildlife Management
Chapter 30-02-02 - Falconry
Section 30-02-02-05 - Classes of licenses

a. An individual must be at least fourteen years of age to be licensed. If under eighteen years of age, a parent or legal guardian must also sign the application and is responsible for the licensee's activities.

b. Before applying for an apprentice class license, an applicant must first obtain a sponsor, answer correctly at least eighty percent of the questions on an examination administered by the department at the Bismarck office, and pass an equipment and facilities inspection. An apprentice licensee must have a sponsor during the entire apprenticeship.

c. An apprentice must have a letter from the apprentice's sponsor and provide a copy to the department, stating that the sponsor will assist, as necessary, in:

d. An apprentice licensee may only possess a wild-caught American kestrel (falco sparverius) or a wild-caught or nonimprinted captive-bred red-tailed hawk (buteo jamaicensis).

e. An apprentice licensee may not possess more than one raptor at any time and may not obtain more than one replacement bird during the calendar year.

f. An apprentice licensee may not possess a raptor taken from the wild as a nestling.

g. An apprentice licensee may not possess a bird that is imprinted on humans.

a. An individual must be at least eighteen years of age to receive a general class license.

b. An applicant must have at least two years' active experience in the practice of falconry at the apprentice class level, or its equivalent, and experience must include maintaining, flying, and hunting a raptor for at least four months in each year. Falconry school programs or education may not be substituted to shorten the period of two years at the apprentice level.

c. When an apprentice class licensee applies for a general class license, the licensee's sponsor must submit to the department a report that details the applicant's progress in falconry and qualifications and includes a recommendation for the general class license.

d. A general licensee may not possess more than two raptors at any time and may not obtain more than two raptors for replacement birds during any calendar year.

e. A general licensee may not take, transport, or possess any golden eagle, bald eagle, white-tailed eagle, or Stellar's sea-eagle.

f. A general licensee may not take, transport, or possess any wild raptors listed as threatened or endangered in 50 CFR 17, but may transport or possess individuals of such species that are captive-bred, in accordance with 50 CFR 17.

g. A general licensee may possess any other wild raptor species, nonindigenous, captive-bred individuals, and hybrids thereof.

a. An individual must have at least five years' active experience in the practice of falconry at the general class level, or its equivalent, including maintaining, flying, and hunting raptors for at least four months in each year.

b. A master licensee may not take, transport, or possess any wild raptor species listed as endangered in 50 CFR 17, but may transport or possess individuals of such species that are captive bred, in accordance with 50 CFR 17.

c. A master licensee may not take, in any twelve-month period, more than one raptor listed as threatened in 50 CFR 17, and then only in accordance with 50 CFR 17.

d. A master licensee may not possess more than three raptors at any time and may not obtain more than two raptors for replacement birds during any calendar year.

e. A master licensee may not take, transport, or possess any golden eagle, bald eagle, white-tailed eagle, or Stellar's sea-eagle.

f. A master licensee may possess any other wild raptor species, nonindigenous, captive-bred individuals, and hybrids thereof.

Any person who violates this section is guilty of a noncriminal offense and shall pay a two hundred dollar fee.