Massachusetts falconry license

First-year fees

$25 initial and $25 annual renewal for Apprentice, General and Master permits (321 CMR 3.04)

Permits expire December 31 each calendar year; renewal rides on filing the annual activity report

Permits are open to Massachusetts residents only. A permit lapsed five consecutive years or more means re-taking the exams for the highest level held.

Exam & minimum age

Exam: 80% to pass. Written examination, 80% to pass; a failed exam may be retaken no sooner than two months later. General and Master applicants additionally pass an oral-practical exam before a Falconry Examining Panel (Masters and a Division representative).

Minimum age: 15 — The minimum age of a licensed falconer in Massachusetts is 15 (321 CMR 3.04(1)(a)); applicants under 18 need written parent/guardian approval, and the General class requires 18.

Classes: Apprentice → General → Master

Birds by class & trapping

Apprentice: one American kestrel or red-tailed hawk, wild-caught. General: up to 3 raptors. Master: up to 5. Golden and bald eagles, ospreys, northern harriers and MESA/ESA-listed species are barred; gyrfalcons cannot be taken from the wild in Massachusetts but may be possessed from captive or lawfully taken out-of-state sources.

Wild capture Aug 21 – Jan 11 with humane traps only (steel-jawed, gin, pole and jump traps illegal); only birds in juvenile plumage or under a year old, except American kestrels and great horned owls. Nestling take in narrow windows (last full week of March, May 10 – Jun 14, Jul 1 – 14) is closed to apprentices and capped at one nestling per permittee per year. Max one trapped raptor per permittee per year; eggs may never be taken.

Notes from the official sources

Regulation of record: 321 CMR 3.04. A valid falconry permit plus sporting/hunting license is required (migratory waterfowl stamps for waterfowl); pheasant, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, cottontail, snowshoe hare and gray squirrel may be taken through March 15. Acquisitions must be reported within 5 days.