Florida falconry license

First-year fees

Ask the agency — applications go through Go Outdoors Florida and FWC does not publish the falconry permit fee on its falconry pages

Contact the FWC Captive Wildlife Office (850-488-6253) for current fees before applying. A Florida hunting license is required while hunting.

Exam & minimum age

Exam: 80% to pass. Written exam given at each FWC regional office by appointment (≥80%), results notified in writing. Permits lapsed 5+ years, and suspended/revoked permits, require re-examination.

Minimum age: 14 — Stricter than the federal floor: no falconry permit is issued to anyone under 14 (Rule 68A-9.005(1), F.A.C.).

Classes: Apprentice → General → Master

Birds by class & trapping

Apprentice (14+): one wild-caught red-tailed, red-shouldered or broad-winged hawk or a merlin; max 1 replacement raptor per 12-month period; sponsor for the first two years (max 3 apprentices). General (18+, 2 apprentice years): up to 3 raptors, max 2 wild per 12-month period; any Falconiform/Accipitriform/Strigiform except bald/golden/white-tailed/Steller's eagles. Master (5 general years): up to 5 wild raptors (≤3 golden eagles with 1,000-hour documented large-raptor experience and references) plus unlimited captive-bred.

Passage take August 15 – February 15; American kestrel (F.s. sparverius) September 15 – January 15; birds over one year limited to American kestrels and great horned owls. Eyasses/branchers year-round by General/Master, up to two with one left per nest. Take of the southeastern American kestrel (F.s. paulus) needs an imperiled-species permit; burrowing owls may not be taken. Peregrine take only by annual random-selection permit.

Notes from the official sources

Regulation of record is Fla. Admin. Code 68A-9.005; permits expire December 31 of the third calendar year. Temporary holding is capped at 60 days (shorter than the federal 120). A peregrine wearing a federal band may not be taken.