Falconry in Washington state
Falconry is the art of training raptors to hunt in cooperation with a human and the sport of actively pursuing wild quarry with a trained raptor. A person who hunts with a raptor is called a falconer. Raptors (falcons, eagles, hawks and owls) have always held a special place in the lives of humans. Raptors instinctively know how to hunt. The training of a bird for falconry is to allow her to accept a falconer as a partner in the hunt. Today’s falconers are not only sports men and women, they are committed conservationists. Falconers played a large part in the peregrine falcon’s comeback from the brink of extinction, and every raptor used in falconry has stable and increasing populations.
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Falconry overview
Learn about the basics of falconry in Washington State
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Becoming a falconer
Steps and requirements to become a falconer.
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Classes of falconers
There are three classifications for falconers in Washington, each with its own set of requirements.
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Application materials
Educational material, laws and regulations, permit applications, and more
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Falconry seasons
Seasons and regulations for hunting birds and small game with raptors