I have to study, and pass, my hunters safety course first. Then pass the Falconry exam, gather equipment and build housing, find a sponsor (there might be one in my own town, which would be amazing), get my license, and Apprentice for two years.
I'll also have to learn how to trap, care for, and train my own bird with my sponsor
I'd be flying a Red Tailed Hawk. After two years I can get my General Falconer permit. Then I could fly, if I so wished to:
-The Apprentice birds (Red-Tailed Hawk, Red-Shouldered Hawk, American Kestrel)
-Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Prairie Falcon, Merlin, Lugger, Lanner, Barbary, as well as other species and these birds hybridized.
-Northern Goshawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Harris' Hawk, and these birds hybridized.
-Great Horned Owl
After I've had my permit and flown birds for five years, I can get my Master Falconer permit. With that I can legally fly all the Apprentice and General birds, PLUS the Golden Eagle. If you can get the permit for it, they're supposed to be very difficult to keep.
As an Apprentice, I'll only be able to fly (keep) one bird. As a General two, and as a Master three. One bird is a huge dedication and responsibility, I can't even imagine keeping two
This is really exciting for me
I've always wanted to keep a large bird, but thought the only thing I could possibly keep was a parrot or similar house bird. I finally looked into Falconry when I saw a young Red Tail lunching on one of my pullets in my backyard. Bothered my dad about it a bit, he said go for it....so I'm going for it!Thrills!
