Maryland falconry license
Checked 2026-11-04 against official sources — see the links at the bottom. General guidance only; always confirm with the state agency before you apply.
First-year fees
$10 non-returnable fee due with the application and with each renewal year (Maryland DNR)
A Maryland hunting license is also required, and falconers must follow small-game seasons and restrictions.
Exam & minimum age
Exam: 80% to pass. Maryland Falconry Exam, supervised regionally by the Wildlife & Heritage Service; 80% or better required before an Apprentice permit issues. Retakes are scheduled 30–90 days after the first sitting. Only Maryland residents may take the exam.
Minimum age: 14 — Apprentice applicants must be at least 14 years old — stricter than the federal floor of 12 (Maryland DNR); the General class requires 16.
Classes: Apprentice → General → Master
Birds by class & trapping
Apprentice: one raptor — American kestrel, red-tailed hawk or red-shouldered hawk only, one replacement per 12 months, with a General/Master sponsor for at least two years. General (16+, 2 apprentice years): up to 3 raptors, two replacements per 12 months. Master (5 general years): up to 5 wild raptors plus any number of captive-produced; federally listed threatened/endangered species are barred without USFWS authorization.
Notes from the official sources
Regulation of record: COMAR 08.03.09.07. Every falconer starts at Apprentice and progresses through General to Master; facility (mews/weathering) inspection precedes issuance.
Official sources for this page
- https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/licenses/falconry.aspx
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maryland/COMAR-08-03-09-07
Regulations change. Verify every figure against these sources and the agency's current rules before you rely on it.
Getting geared up in Maryland?
Most states' equipment inspection lists overlap heavily — Aylmeri jesses, a weathering-resistant leash and swivel, a bath pan, a weathering perch and a graduated scale. Build a list matched to your class and climate with the equipment checklist builder, or print the start-up equipment checklist for your mews inspection visit. Comparing neighboring states? Back to the full state matrix.