Start falconry in Idaho
A serious path, taken one step at a time.
Falconry is not pet ownership or a shortcut to working with raptors. It is a regulated hunting practice built on daily care, field experience, and mentorship.
Before the paperwork
Make sure the life fits the dream
Becoming a Master Falconer takes years. An apprentice bird needs skilled attention every day, including weekends and holidays. You will need suitable facilities and equipment, fresh whole food, veterinary resources, legal hunting access, transportation, and time in the field.
A sponsor is a mentor—not simply a signature. Serious preparation and respectful participation in the community make it easier for an experienced falconer to invest in your development.
Different birds, different field styles
Falconry is broader than one familiar silhouette.
Hawks, falcons, and accipiters each bring distinct natural histories, care needs, and approaches to the field.
Red-tailed hawk
A powerful broadwing familiar to generations of North American falconers.
Harris’s hawk
A social desert hawk widely recognized in modern falconry.
American kestrel
A small, agile falcon whose scale and field style differ markedly from larger raptors.
Northern goshawk
A fast woodland accipiter with a long history in falconry.
The Idaho pathway
From interested observer to licensed apprentice
Study and connect
Read the current federal and Idaho rules. Join IFA, meet local falconers, and begin learning about husbandry, facilities, hunting access, and suitable apprentice birds.
Find an eligible sponsor
Your apprentice application requires a General or Master Falconer who agrees to guide you through husbandry, training, hunting, and legal responsibilities.
Pass the Idaho exam
Prepare thoroughly for the Department’s falconry examination. The current Idaho rules describe the passing score and permit prerequisites.
Build facilities and gather equipment
Your raptor housing, weathering arrangements, perches, jesses, leash, swivel, bath container, and weighing equipment must meet applicable standards.
Apply and complete the required inspection
Submit the current Sport Falconry Permit application and supporting materials. Idaho Fish and Game must approve the required facilities and equipment before you possess a raptor.
Acquire, report, and hunt lawfully
After permitting, work closely with your sponsor. Follow current species, capture, transfer, reporting, hunting-license, season, and possession requirements.
Ready to start making local connections?
Introduce yourself to IFA and tell us where you are in the learning process. You can also meet the wider community in the association’s active Facebook group.