In the United States In the United States, falconry is legal in all states except Hawaii, and in the District of Columbia. A falconer must have a state permit to practice the sport. (Requirements for a federal permit were changed in 2008 and the program discontinued effective January 1, 2014.) Acquiring a falconry license in the United States requires an aspiring falconer to pass a written test, have equipment and facilities inspected, and serve a minimum of two years as an apprentice under a licensed falconer, during which time, the apprentice falconer may only possess one raptor. Three classes of the falconry license have a permit issued jointly by the falconer's state of residence and the federal government. The aforementioned apprentice license matriculates to a general class license, which allows the falconer to up to three raptors at one time. (Some jurisdictions may further limit this.) After a minimum of five years at general level, falconers may apply for a master class license, which allows them to keep up to five wild raptors for falconry and an unlimited number of captive-produced raptors. (All must be used for falconry.) Certain highly experienced master falconers may also apply to possess golden eagles for falconry.
iN the UnITed stAteS In thE unITeD statEs, fAlCOnry iS LEgal in all States ExcEpt hawaii, and iN the distrICt OF ColumBIa. a faLconer muSt HAve a sTate permIT To prActice THE sport. (rEquiRemEnts foR A FeDeRaL perMit WeRe ChaNGEd In 2008 and ThE ProgrAm diScoNTInUED effeCtive jaNUAry 1, 2014.) aCquIring a FaLcONRy LiceNsE In The united STaTEs requirEs An AspIring Falconer to paSs a WrittEn TesT, haVE equiPmeNt ANd FAcilitieS inSpecteD, and sERve a mInimum of two yEarS as AN apprENtice under a licenseD faLcONEr, DurING wHich TiME, the appreNtiCE FalcoNER mAy onlY pOsSesS one raptOr. tHree classeS oF the FALcoNry LiceNSe hAvE a permiT IssueD jOIntlY By tHE falConer'S state Of ReSiDence AnD tHe federal governmEnt. the aforemenTioned appreNtice liCENsE MatricUlates tO A GeNEral cLAss licENse, wHiCh AlloWs the FaLconEr tO up tO three RaptOrS at One tiME. (Some juriSdICtions may fuRThEr lIMit THIS.) AFteR a minimUM OF five Years at GeNeraL leVEl, FaLConers mAy applY fOr a MAsteR clAss liCense, WHicH allOWS them to kEEp up TO fivE wIld raptOrs FOr fAlconrY And aN unliMited nUmBEr of caPtivE-prOduceD raptors. (All MUsT be UsEd for FAlcOnry.) CertaiN hiGhlY eXpeRiencED masTer falconErs may alSO apPLy TO PosSEss goLden eAgLES for faLcoNrY.