Nebraska 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
Ask the agency — the falconry regulations require a fee with the application but the amount is set by the Commission, not printed in the rule; confirm with Nebraska Game & Parks
A nonresident Raptor Collecting Permit (separate) is issued at the Commission's discretion; passage peregrine written-permission applications are due by August 1.
Exam & minimum age
Exam: 80% to pass. Any raptor permit applicant must answer ≥80% on a supervised Commission exam (biology, care, literature, laws); permit renewal lapse of 2+ years triggers re-examination.
Minimum age: 12 — Apprentice permittees must be at least 12 with a General (2+ years) or Master sponsor; each sponsor may mentor at most 2 apprentices (163 NAC 4-009.06A).
Classes: Apprentice → General → Master
Birds by class & trapping
Apprentice: one raptor, and only a red-tailed hawk — Nebraska is stricter than most states. General (16+, 2 apprentice years): up to 3 raptors. Master (5 general years): up to 5 raptors. Max 2 wild raptors per 12-month period; falconers visiting Nebraska are bound by the same possession limits.
Passage birds Aug 1 – Jan 31; eyasses by General/Master only, max 2 per calendar year, with written authorization required for prairie falcon, sharp-shinned, goshawk, merlin, red-shouldered and ferruginous hawk eyasses; adult birds only American kestrels and great horned owls. Special raptor hunting season (pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbit, jackrabbit, squirrel) Sept 1 – Mar 31 with 2-bird daily aggregates; a year-round raptor training season applies to pen-raised game.
Notes from the official sources
Regulation of record is Title 163 Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 4, §009. Acquisition/disposition reports are due within 5 days of any transaction; peregrines, gyrfalcons and Harris's hawks must carry permanent non-reusable bands.
Mews size: Nebraska sets a numeric mews minimum: an indoor facility must have an interior space of at least 250 cubic feet, with adequate perches, sanitation, a secure door and at least one protected window (163 NAC 4-009.05H).
Official sources for this page
Regulations change. Verify every figure against these sources and the agency's current rules before you rely on it.
Getting geared up in Nebraska?
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.