Alaska falconry license

First-year fees

Ask the agency — neither 5 AAC 92.037 nor the Alaska Falconry Manual prints a resident falconry permit fee; ADFG issues permits under the Manual's standards, so confirm current charges with the ADFG Permits Section.

Nonresidents enter through a separate draw-based take-permit program (up to 15 permits a year) that also requires a $160 nonresident Alaska hunting license.

Exam & minimum age

Exam: 80% to pass. Alaska falconry examination — supervised, closed book, up to two hours; covers raptor identification, Alaska raptor natural history, captive care and Alaska rules. Retake after 30 calendar days, at most twice in any six-month period; a passing score stays valid for five years.

Minimum age: 12 — An apprentice falconer must be at least 12 years of age (Alaska Falconry Manual No. 11, §15(a)); applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian co-signature.

Classes: Apprentice → General → Master

Birds by class & trapping

Apprentice: one raptor under the federal framework. Alaska's legal species list (5 AAC 92.037(f)) is among the widest in the nation — gyrfalcon, snowy owl, golden eagle, Steller's and white-tailed sea eagles and more are on it. Peregrines are reserved for Master falconers or General falconers with 2+ years of experience at General.

Resident take follows the Falconry Standards of Alaska Falconry Manual No. 11 (adopted by reference). The nonresident program opens passage season Sept 15 – Nov 15 and eyas peregrine (Units 1–4) / eyas northern goshawk May 1 – Jul 20; a successful nonresident taker sits out four calendar years, and failed draw applicants skip the next year.

Notes from the official sources

Regulation of record: 5 AAC 92.037 with the Falconry Standards of Alaska Falconry Manual No. 11 (July 1, 2022) adopted by reference. A permit plus a current Alaska hunting license is required; permanent export of wild-taken raptors is barred except when moving residence, and wild gyrfalcons exported by nonresidents must be microchipped.