Virginia falconry license

First-year fees

$50 initial (or nonconsecutive-year) permit fee; $20 per year for subsequent consecutive years

Statutory schedule under Va. Code § 29.1-419

DWR has held full federal delegation for falconry permitting since January 1, 2012 — no separate federal permit needed. A Virginia hunting license is required to hunt.

Exam & minimum age

Exam: 105 questions, 80% to pass. DWR-administered exam: 100 multiple-choice questions plus 5 Virginia-specific items (≥80%); no re-examination for renewals, class changes or interstate moves.

Minimum age: 12 — Apprentice applicants must be at least 12; under 18 needs a parent/guardian signature (Virginia DWR falconry guidance).

Classes: Apprentice → General → Master

Birds by class & trapping

Apprentice (12+): one raptor under the federal framework with a General/Master sponsor letter. General (16+): federal limits after 2 apprentice years. Master: federal limits after 5 general years, including eagle provisions under 50 CFR Part 22 — Virginia's administrative-code falconry sections were repealed in favor of direct adoption of the federal standards.

Nonresidents may take raptors in Virginia by permit if their home state extends the same privilege (home permit + import-permit copies required). Falconry hunting for nonmigratory game runs October 1 – March 31; Sunday hunting with raptors is lawful. Passage peregrine take runs as an annual program with unsuitable birds released within one hour before sunset on capture day.

Notes from the official sources

Guidance document of record is DWR 'Falconry Regulations, Facilities & Equipment' (updated September 30, 2020), which reproduces § 29.1-419 and the federal standards. 3-186A reporting follows federal timelines.