Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 040 - Game and Fish Commission
Sub-Agency 0001 - Game and Fish Commission Regulations
Chapter 25 - FALCONRY AND RAPTOR PROPAGATION REGULATION
Section 25-4 - Classes of Permits to Practice Falconry

Universal Citation: WY Code of Rules 25-4

Current through September 21, 2024

The Department shall issue three (3) classes of falconry permits: Apprentice, General and Master, based upon their experience in falconry as follows:

(a) Apprentice Falconer Permit Requirements and Provisions.

(i) Shall be at least twelve (12) years of age and if less than eighteen (18) years of age, shall have a parent or legal guardian who is legally responsible for the apprentice's activities, sign the permittee's application.

(ii) Shall correctly answer at least eighty percent (80%) of the questions on a supervised falconry examination administered by the Department.

(iii) Shall submit a letter from a Master Falconer or a General Falconer with a valid state, tribal, or territorial falconry permit who is at least eighteen (18) years old and has at least two (2) years experience as a General Falconer or equivalent, stating that he shall assist the permittee as necessary, in: learning about husbandry and training of raptors held for falconry; relevant wildlife laws and regulations; and deciding what species of raptor is appropriate for the permittee to possess while an Apprentice.

(iv) Shall possess no more than one (1) raptor for use in falconry in accordance with 50 CFR 21.29, revised as of October 1, 2018, and does not include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated matter; including wild, captive-bred, or hybrid raptors. A copy of 50 CFR Part 21.29 can be viewed at any Department Regional Office or the Headquarters Office.

(v) May take any wild raptor less than one (1) year old, except an eyas.

(vi) Shall not possess a raptor taken from the wild as an eyas.

(vii) Shall not possess an imprinted raptor.

(b) General Falconer Permit Requirements and Provisions.

(i) Shall be at least sixteen (16) years of age and if less than eighteen (18) years of age, shall have a parent or legal guardian who is legally responsible for their activities, sign the permittee's application.

(ii) Shall submit documentation to the Department from a General Falconer or Master Falconer stating that the permittee has practiced falconry at the Apprentice Falconer class or equivalent for at least two (2) years, including maintaining, training, flying and hunting the raptor(s) for at least four (4) months in each year.

(iii) Shall have practiced falconry at the apprentice class with his own raptor for at least two (2) years.

(iv) May take and possess any wild, captive-bred or hybrid raptor, except a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucephalus), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) or Steller's sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus).

(v) Shall possess no more than three (3) raptors.

(vi) Shall not sponsor more than two (2) Apprentice Falconers at one time.

(c) Master Falconer Permit Requirements and Provisions.

(i) Shall have practiced falconry at the General Falconer class with his own raptor(s) for at least five (5) years and submit documentation attesting to such experience.

(ii) May take and possess any wild, captive-bred, or hybrid raptor, except a bald eagle. Shall only take and possess a golden eagle, white-tailed eagle or Steller's sea eagle by meeting the qualifications as set forth in subsection (c)(iv) of this section.

(iii) Shall possess no more than five (5) wild raptors.

(iv) May take and possess up to three (3) eagles of the following species: golden eagle, white-tailed eagle or Steller's sea eagle. In order for the Department to approve a request to possess an eagle for use in falconry, the permittee shall provide the following documentation to the Department:
(A) The permittee's experience in handling large raptors, including information about species handled and the type and duration of the activity in which the experience was gained.

(B) At least two (2) letters of reference from people with experience handling or flying large raptors such as eagles, ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis), northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) or great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). Each letter must contain a concise history of the author's experience with large raptors, which can include, but is not limited to, handling of raptors held by zoos, rehabilitating large raptors or scientific studies involving large raptors. Each letter must also assess the permittee's ability to care for eagles and fly them in falconry.

(v) May possess any number of captive-bred raptors as long as they have been trained in the pursuit of wild game or used in hunting.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wyoming 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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