Before you decide to become a falconer you should have a serious, dedicated interest in the sport and a love for, and interest in, all wildlife, hunting, and the outdoors. You should read everything you can get your hands on about falconry. You should talk to practicing falconers, if possible, and ask to go on a hunt with them. You should join the Louisiana Hawking Association and attend any activity, function or meet held during the year.

 

 

In order to become a licensed Falconer in the state of Louisiana, there are a few steps that include the following.

1. First, you must have the time required to put into keeping, and (most importantly hunting with) a wild bird of prey, they take a significant amount of time to keep healthy and hunt with often, and you must be responsible, Follow all the laws, be morally sound and ethically correct.

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2. Have access to hunting land with quarry.. A bird of prey requires space to do what it would do naturally daily in the wild, and that is hunt wild prey. You must also possess a valid Louisiana hunting license.

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3. You will need to locate a sponsor-able and licensed Falconer, who would be able to assess your ability to properly manage and care for a wild bird of prey. They would come to your home and assess if you have the capacity and ability to provide the space required that a wild Raptor requires in order to keep them safe, healthy and fit. Then, if they determine that you do, they will have to agree to Sponsor you and provide a letter of recommendation to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Falconry Coordinator stating and confirming the above facts.

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4. Then once the above is confirmed, then you can proceed to take the Falconry Exam or "The Test" 

You will need to study as the Exam is very in depth covering all areas of raptor health and safety.

In order to take the "Test", You will have to contact the LDWF Falconry coordinator and advise him of your desire to take the Falconry Exam, who your sponsor is, and you will need to coordinate a date, time to the closest  LDWF facility, where he could administer the Exam to you. After you pass the exam, then you can build your "Mews".

(Note: It is not a requirement to first have a sponsor before taking the exam, However, it IS a requirement to have a Sponsor before you can become a licensed Apprentice, therefore, it is recommended that you first locate a Sponsor that can coach and advise you through the process).

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5. When you pass the "Test" then you can proceed to the next step where the Falconry coordinator would come to your residence, and Inspect your facility, where you would keep a wild raptor called a "Mews". After the Mews inspection, he will then inspect your "Equipment" which consist of required Items to handle and care for a wild bird of prey. The Sponsor will inform you of the required items.

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6. Once you have passed all of the above and paid your license and inspection fees, then the LDWF Falconry coordinator would issue you a License as an Apprentice Falconer and you would then be legal to practice Falconry activities under the supervision of your sponsor for the following two years.

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7. Finally, once you have earned your Apprentice Falconer's License, you would then be legal to go out in the field, locate and Trap a bird..

Once you have trapped a (Juvenile, or first year) bird, then at that moment, your journey as a Falconer begins..

Falconry is more then a sport or a hobby, it is a way of life and if you stick with it, it will become a lifestyle.. Enjoy the flight!...

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