Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation
Chapter NR 18 - Falconry
Section NR 18.10 - Classes of permits

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 18.10

Current through August 26, 2024

Possession of facilities for housing raptors is not a prerequisite for obtaining a permit, except for the apprentice class applicant, whose facilities shall be inspected before an apprentice permit is granted. Regardless of falconry class, the applicant shall have facilities that pass state or tribal inspection before obtaining a raptor for use in falconry. The applicant may not intentionally capture a raptor species that the classification as a falconer does not allow the applicant to possess for falconry. If the applicant captures a bird that is not allowed to be possessed, the bird shall be released immediately. The requirements for each falconry class permit are as follows:

(1) APPRENTICE CLASS.

(a) An apprentice class permittee shall be at least 14 years old and sponsored by a person possessing a general or master falconry permit in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, or Minnesota. If the apprentice is under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian shall agree to be responsible for the apprentice's activities.

(b) A sponsor who is a holder of a general or master falconry permit is required for permittees under the age of 18, and for all permittees the first two years in which an apprentice permit is held, regardless of the age of the permittee. A person may not act as a sponsor for more than 3 apprentices at any one time. The sponsor of an apprentice shall do all of the following:
1m. Write a letter supporting the application of the apprentice.

2. Submit an annual progress report in narrative form to the department by July 31 of each year.

3. Notify the department at any time when the progress or performance of an apprentice is unsatisfactory.

(c) The apprentice class permittee may possess one wild American kestrel (Falco sparverius) or red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and may not obtain more than one wild raptor for replacement during any 12-month period, August 1 to July 31.

(d) An apprentice class permittee may not possess an eyas or a raptor that is imprinted on humans.

(e) The apprentice class permittee may not possess a raptor taken from the wild as a nestling.

(2) GENERAL CLASS.

(a) A general class permittee shall be at least 18 years old and shall have at least 2 years experience in the practice of falconry at the apprentice level and receive a written recommendation from the sponsor or produce documentation, acceptable to the department, of qualified experience exceeding 2 years including maintaining, training, flying, and hunting with a raptor for at least 4 months in each year.

(b) A general class permittee may not possess more than 3 wild or captive-bred raptors and may not obtain more than 2 raptors from the wild during any 12-month period, August 1 to July 31.

(c) A general class permittee may take and possess any species of Accipitriform, Falconiform, or Strigiform except a golden eagle, a bald eagle, a white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), or a Steller's sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus). A general class permittee may use captive-bred individuals and hybrids of the species the permittee is allowed to possess. A general class permittee may not possess any endangered or threatened species listed in s. NR 27.03 unless it is captive-reared and marked with a band provided by the fish and wildlife service.

(3) MASTER CLASS.

(a) A master class permittee shall have at least 5 years experience in the practice of falconry at the general class level.

(b) A master class permittee may not possess more than 5 wild raptors, and may not obtain more than 2 raptors from the wild during any 12-month period, August 1 to July 31. A master class permittee, however, may possess any number of captive-bred raptors as long as the master class permittee trains them in the pursuit of wild game and uses them in hunting.

(c) A master class permittee may take and possess any species of Accipitriform, Falconiform, or Strigiform, except a bald eagle. A permittee may not take, transport or possess any endangered or threatened species listed in s. NR 27.03, except captive-reared species and passage (first-year migrant) peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) marked with a band provided by the fish and wildlife service.

(d) A master class permittee may not take, transport, or possess as part of the permittee's 5-bird limitation, more than one raptor listed as a federally threatened species as prescribed by 50 CFR 21.29(e) (3) (v).

(e) A master class permittee may take and possess a golden eagle, a white-tailed eagle, or a Steller's sea eagle only if the permittee meets the following requirements:
1. Experience is required in handling large raptors, including the species handled and the type and duration of the experience.

2. Two letters of reference are needed containing a concise history detailing the author's experience with large raptors, which can include handling of raptors held by zoos, rehabilitating large raptors, or scientific studies involving large raptors. Each letter shall also assess the master class permittee's ability to care for eagles and to fly them in falconry. An eagle possessed by a falconer counts against the individual limit of 5 raptors. The permittee shall mark the eagle with a band provided by the fish and wildlife service, and if desired implant an ISO-compliant (International Organization for Standardization) (134.2 kHz) microchip. The permittee shall report the band and microchip within 10 days at http://permits.fws [File Link Not Available],or submit a paper 3-186A form to the bureau or permittee's tribe.

Paper copies of the 3-186A form can be obtained by contacting the Falconry Coordinator at the Bureau of Endangered Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921 or online at http://permits.fws.gov/186A.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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