Last updated 2026-08-17
TL;DR
Starting falconry in Alaska means getting both a federal falconry permit from the USFWS and a state license from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You need a licensed sponsor, a 100-question written exam, a facility inspection, and the right equipment before you can take a bird. Budget $800 to $2,500 for year one, not counting the bird.
Do you need a license for falconry in Alaska?
Yes, you need two licenses: one federal and one state. The federal permit comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under 50 CFR Part 21 [1]. The state license comes from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) [2]. Neither alone is enough. You apply for both around the same time, and you cannot trap or possess a raptor until both are in hand.
The federal framework was restructured in 2008, when the USFWS issued a final rule that shifted administrative control back to individual states and tribes. That rule is still the operating document: "The falconry regulations allow falconers to practice falconry, take birds from the wild for use in falconry, and hold certain raptors as falconry birds under a State or tribal falconry license or permit." [6] Alaska accepted that delegation and runs its own program under Alaska Statute 16.05 and 5 AAC 92 [7].
The short version: no permit, no bird. Possession of a wild raptor without the proper paperwork is a federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act violation, and the penalties are real [5].
What are Alaska's falconry license classes?
Alaska follows the three-tier federal structure: Apprentice, General, and Master.
| Class | Minimum age | Years at prior level | Birds allowed | Species restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | 16 (with sponsor) | N/A | 1 | American kestrel or red-tailed hawk only |
| General | 18 | 2 years as Apprentice | 2 | Most raptors except eagles |
| Master | 18 | 5 years as General | 3 (up to 5 in some cases) | All permitted species |
The species limits above reflect the federal baseline in 50 CFR 21.29 [1]. Alaska may impose tighter restrictions on locally regulated species, so confirm current ADF&G rules before targeting any specific bird [2].
Apprentices work directly under a licensed General or Master falconer who lives in Alaska or a bordering jurisdiction. Your sponsor is more than a paperwork checkbox. They have to physically inspect your facility, evaluate your equipment, and vouch for your readiness before ADF&G will issue your permit. Pick someone you can actually drive to.
What does the Alaska falconry written exam cover?
The written exam is the first concrete thing you'll do. The federal regulations require a passing score before a state can issue an Apprentice permit [1]. ADF&G administers a 100-question test, and the passing threshold is 80 percent, meaning you can miss no more than 20 questions [2].
The test covers raptor biology, molt, behavior, health and disease, equipment nomenclature, capture methods, housing requirements, and applicable federal and state law. It is not a beginner quiz. People who underestimate it and skim a pamphlet tend to fail. The study materials ADF&G points to are the North American Falconers Association (NAFA) resources and the ADF&G falconry packet itself [2].
Spend at least two to three months on the material before you sit. That timeline is anecdotal from the falconry community rather than a published figure, but it tracks with what the content demands. You need to know the difference between a creance and a leash, what bumblefoot looks like and what causes it, and what 50 CFR 21.29 says about band reporting. None of that is trivia. It's daily operations.
Contact ADF&G's Division of Wildlife Conservation to schedule the exam. Confirm current scheduling procedures with the department directly, because exam administration details change.
How do you find a falconry sponsor in Alaska?
Finding a sponsor is genuinely the hardest step. Alaska has a small falconry community spread across a large state, and General or Master falconers are not obligated to take on an apprentice. There is no state-run matching list.
The Alaska Falconers Association is the practical starting point [3]. Their member network is the closest thing Alaska has to a sponsor directory. NAFA's state contact list is another resource [4]. Reach out, attend a meet or field event if one is within reach, and make it clear you've already started studying. Sponsors say yes more often to someone who has read the regulations and started on their equipment than to someone who hasn't opened the study guide yet.
Once you have a sponsor, they need to inspect your mews (housing facility) and equipment before ADF&G will approve your permit. Your sponsor signs off on the inspection form, certifying that your setup meets the minimum standards. That inspection is not a formality. If your mews fails, your permit application stalls.
If you're having trouble finding a local sponsor, look at how to start falconry in Arizona or how to start falconry in Colorado for comparison on how other small-community states handle this problem. The search strategies are similar.
What facility and equipment standards does Alaska require?
Federal regulations at 50 CFR 21.29(b) spell out the minimum mews (housing) standards [1]. Alaska adopts those minimums and may add state-specific requirements, so pull the current 5 AAC 92 language directly [7].
For an Apprentice holding one bird, the federal minimums include an indoor or outdoor weathering area that protects the bird from predators and weather, a perch appropriate to the species, a tethering system (jesses, swivel, leash), and a bath dish. Indoor mews must have at least one window or skylight. The space must keep the bird safe from cats, dogs, and other hazards.
Equipment you need before your facility inspection: properly sized jesses, swivel, leash, a perch (block or bow depending on species), a scale accurate to 2 grams (a digital postal or jeweler's scale works), transport carrier, and a falconry bag. Gloves, hoods, and a lure come next. You do not need everything on day one, but you need the safety gear and housing before the bird arrives.
Do not cut corners on the scale. Raptor weight management is how you keep a bird from going dangerously low or getting too fat to fly. That one piece of equipment matters more than almost anything else.
FalconryPath offers a first-year mews kit checklist alongside its state exam prep materials at /start if you want a single place to cross-reference equipment against ADF&G's inspection list. The primary source for what's required is always the ADF&G packet and your sponsor's direct guidance.
How do you apply for the Alaska falconry permit?
The paper path has a specific order, and skipping steps costs time.
1. Get the ADF&G falconry application packet from the Division of Wildlife Conservation [2]. 2. Pass the written exam (80 percent or better). 3. Secure a sponsor and have them inspect your facility and equipment. 4. Complete the ADF&G state application with the sponsor's signed inspection certification. 5. Obtain a Federal Falconry Permit through the USFWS electronic licensing system or your state's preferred federal reporting mechanism. In practice, Alaska coordinates the state and federal applications so they move together. 6. Pay applicable state and federal fees (see the cost section below). 7. Receive approval before trapping or acquiring any bird.
Turn the application in complete. A missing sponsor signature, missing fee payment, or an application submitted before you've passed the exam all stall the process. ADF&G processing times vary. Confirm current timelines with the department rather than assuming any specific window.
Once permits are issued, you can trap a wild bird during the legal trapping season or acquire a captive-bred bird from a licensed breeder. Wild-trapped birds must be reported to ADF&G. Captive-bred birds require documentation from the breeder. Both must be banded per federal requirements [1].
How much does falconry cost in Alaska?
Nobody has clean aggregate data on Alaska-specific falconry startup costs. What follows is a real-range breakdown using published fee schedules and equipment market prices as of mid-2024. Confirm all fees with ADF&G and USFWS directly, because they change.
| Cost item | Estimated range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ADF&G falconry license fee | Confirm with ADF&G | State fee schedules update; do not assume a figure |
| Federal falconry permit | $0 (Apprentice, often no federal fee) | Confirm at USFWS [1] |
| Written exam fee | Confirm with ADF&G | Some states charge a test fee; verify with ADF&G [2] |
| Initial equipment (jesses, swivel, leash, glove, scale, lure, hood) | $150 to $400 | Varies by brand and whether you buy used |
| Mews construction or modification | $200 to $1,500+ | Wide range: a converted shed vs. new build |
| First bird (wild trap: free; captive-bred) | $0 to $1,500+ | Captive-bred kestrels run ~$150-$400; red-tails ~$300-$600 from breeders |
| Veterinary exam (first year) | $75 to $200 | Baseline health check is standard practice |
| Food (quail, mice, chicks) | $400 to $800/year | Depends on bird size and hunting frequency |
| Telemetry transmitter and receiver | $300 to $700 | Not federally required but practically necessary |
Realistic first-year total, excluding major mews construction: $800 to $2,500. Build a mews from scratch on the high end and you can reach $4,000 or more.
Alaska adds a logistical layer most lower-48 states don't have. If you're outside a major population center, sourcing frozen quail and mice means shipping costs or buying in bulk and freezing. Factor that in.
The state exam prep bundled with a sponsor connection and a mews equipment checklist runs $149 one-time through FalconryPath's first-year kit at /start. That covers the knowledge prep, not the physical equipment or licensing fees.
How long does falconry take in Alaska from start to first bird?
Most people who start the process in January and move efficiently get their first bird by late summer or fall of the same year. People who struggle to find a sponsor or fail the exam once can take 18 months or more. There is no published average for Alaska specifically.
Here's how the time stacks up:
- Studying for the exam: 2 to 4 months for most people, depending on prior bird knowledge.
- Finding a sponsor: 1 week to 6 months. This is the most variable stage and the one you have the least control over.
- Building or modifying the mews: 2 to 8 weeks depending on the project.
- Application processing at ADF&G: confirm current timelines with the department. Processing varies by season and staffing.
- Federal permit processing: generally runs concurrent with the state process; confirm at USFWS [8].
Total realistic window for a motivated applicant with a cooperative sponsor: 4 to 8 months. If you hit the trapping season at the wrong time after permits arrive, you wait another year to trap a wild bird. Captive-bred birds are available year-round from breeders, so that route sidesteps the season timing problem.
The Apprentice period itself is a minimum of two years before you can upgrade to General. That's the federal floor [1]. You cannot petition your way out of it regardless of experience or skill.
What raptors can an Apprentice take in Alaska?
Federal law at 50 CFR 21.29 limits Apprentices to two species: American kestrel (Falco sparverius) and red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) [1]. Alaska is home to both. The American kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America and a common first bird nationally. Red-tailed hawks are widespread across Alaska's road-accessible interior and southcentral regions.
Alaska also has species you cannot touch as an Apprentice: gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), peregrine falcon, golden eagle, and others. Alaska's gyrfalcons are among the most sought birds in the falconry world, but they're a General-level bird at minimum, and ADF&G has specific rules and quota considerations around Alaska's resident gyrs. Confirm current trapping quotas and season dates with ADF&G before any planning [2].
For Apprentices, the red-tailed hawk is the workhorse recommendation. They're hardy, forgiving of beginner errors, widely available from breeders and via wild trapping, and good hunters of rabbits and squirrels in Alaska's brushy terrain. The kestrel is smaller and demands more precise weight management, which adds difficulty for a first-year falconer.
How does falconry in Alaska differ from other states?
The core licensing structure is the same everywhere because federal law sets the floor [1]. What's different in Alaska comes down to four things.
First, the gyrfalcon. Alaska is the only U.S. state with a meaningful wild gyrfalcon population, and ADF&G manages trapping access with quotas that don't exist in the lower 48. General and Master falconers who reach the point of pursuing a gyr deal with a specific Alaska regulatory layer that has no parallel elsewhere.
Second, geography. Finding a sponsor in Fairbanks, Juneau, or the Mat-Su Valley is harder than in a state where falconers are distributed across a denser road network. The Alaska Falconers Association community is small and tight. You need to show up to it.
Third, the hunting environment. Alaska's open terrain, brush, and seasonal timing mean you're hunting in conditions that aren't in most lower-48 manuals. Snow, short winter daylight, and extreme cold require different equipment maintenance habits and different considerations for bird health.
Fourth, permit processing logistics can take longer simply because ADF&G's wildlife division covers an enormous state with a small staff. Build extra buffer into your timeline expectations.
To compare the Alaska paper path against a neighboring program, the falconry license in Alaska guide covers the permit document specifics, and how to start falconry in Colorado offers a useful contrast from a state with a larger but differently structured community.
What ongoing requirements apply after you get your Alaska falconry permit?
Getting the permit is the beginning of the paperwork, not the end.
Renewal: Alaska falconry licenses require renewal. Confirm the current renewal cycle and fee with ADF&G [2].
Federal reporting: Any change to your bird inventory, including acquiring, transferring, losing, or banding a bird, must be reported through the USFWS electronic reporting system. The federal regulations require reporting within specific timeframes [1]. Missing those windows is a compliance violation even if you didn't mean to.
Banding: Every falconry bird must carry an approved USFWS band. Wild-trapped birds get banded through the trapping report process. Captive-bred birds should come banded from the breeder with the appropriate documentation.
Housing and equipment: Your facility must continue to meet the standards that got you approved in the first place. If ADF&G or USFWS conducts an inspection, your mews needs to pass, more than to have passed once.
Veterinary care: Not federally mandated on a schedule, but sick or injured birds must receive care. Falconers who neglect obvious health problems face both welfare and legal exposure.
As an Apprentice, you also cannot fly your bird without your sponsor being reachable for guidance. The supervision requirement isn't a paperwork check after year one. It's an ongoing mentorship that shapes how the two-year period actually works.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for falconry in Alaska?
Yes. You need both a state falconry license from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and a federal falconry permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal law under 50 CFR Part 21 requires the federal permit, and Alaska state law under 5 AAC 92 requires the state license. Neither alone is sufficient. You must have both in hand before you trap or possess any raptor.
How much does falconry cost in Alaska?
First-year costs realistically run $800 to $2,500 for most new falconers, not counting major mews construction. That covers equipment ($150 to $400), food for the bird ($400 to $800 annually), a vet check ($75 to $200), and licensing fees (confirm current amounts with ADF&G and USFWS directly). Build a new mews from scratch or buy captive-bred birds and costs climb higher. Alaska's geography can add food-sourcing shipping costs.
How long does falconry take in Alaska?
Most motivated applicants with a willing sponsor are ready for their first bird within 4 to 8 months of starting the process. Finding a sponsor is the most variable part and can take anywhere from a week to six months. The Apprentice period itself is a minimum of two years by federal law before you can advance to General class. Processing times at ADF&G vary; confirm current timelines with the department.
What is the passing score for the Alaska falconry exam?
The Alaska falconry written exam has 100 questions and requires a score of 80 percent or better to pass. That means you can miss no more than 20 questions. The test covers raptor biology, health, equipment, housing, trapping methods, and federal and state law. Most people who study seriously for two to three months pass on the first attempt.
How old do you have to be to get a falconry license in Alaska?
You must be at least 16 years old to hold an Apprentice falconry license in Alaska, consistent with the federal minimum under 50 CFR 21.29. A licensed General or Master falconer sponsor is required for all Apprentices. To advance to General class, you must be at least 18 and have completed two years at the Apprentice level.
Can you trap a gyrfalcon as an Apprentice in Alaska?
No. Gyrfalcons are off-limits for Apprentice falconers under federal law, which restricts Apprentices to American kestrels and red-tailed hawks. Gyrfalcons require a General or Master license at minimum. Alaska also manages gyrfalcon trapping through quotas and specific seasons administered by ADF&G. Confirm current quota availability and season dates with ADF&G before planning.
Do you need a sponsor for Alaska falconry?
Yes. Every Apprentice must have a licensed General or Master falconer as a sponsor. Your sponsor must inspect your mews and equipment and sign the certification before ADF&G will approve your permit. The Alaska Falconers Association is the best starting point for finding a sponsor, since ADF&G does not run an official matching service. Being prepared, studied, and having your equipment started makes sponsors more likely to say yes.
What birds can an Apprentice take in Alaska?
Federal law limits Apprentice falconers to two species regardless of state: the American kestrel and the red-tailed hawk. Both are present in Alaska. Red-tailed hawks are the more common first bird recommendation because they're hardy, more forgiving of beginner weight-management errors, and effective hunters in Alaska's rabbit and squirrel habitat. Kestrels require more precise daily management.
Where do I apply for a falconry license in Alaska?
Contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Division of Wildlife Conservation to get the current application packet and schedule the written exam. The federal falconry permit runs through the USFWS electronic licensing and reporting system. Both applications typically move in parallel. Start with ADF&G to get the state process instructions, then follow their guidance on coordinating the federal side.
How many birds can a General falconer have in Alaska?
General falconers can possess up to two falconry birds under the federal baseline in 50 CFR 21.29. Alaska follows the federal framework. General falconers also have access to a much wider range of species than Apprentices, excluding eagles, which require Master-level authorization. Confirm any Alaska-specific possession limits with ADF&G, as the state can set tighter rules than the federal floor.
What does a falconry mews need to have in Alaska?
At minimum, a mews must protect the bird from weather, predators, and escape. It needs an appropriate perch, a tethering system, a bath dish, and at least one window or skylight for indoor structures. Federal minimums are in 50 CFR 21.29. Alaska may have additional requirements under 5 AAC 92. Your sponsor inspects the facility before you apply, so build to standard before that visit.
Can you practice falconry in Alaska without a resident license?
Nonresident falconers who visit Alaska must have a valid falconry license from their home state and a federal falconry permit. They are generally bound by Alaska's regulations for any birds they trap or fly in the state. If you plan to trap a wild bird while visiting Alaska, including a gyrfalcon, you need ADF&G authorization. Confirm nonresident trapping rules directly with ADF&G before any plans.
How do I report a new falconry bird in Alaska?
Any bird you acquire, whether wild-trapped or captive-bred, must be reported through the USFWS electronic reporting system within the timeframes specified in 50 CFR 21.29. Wild-trapped birds also require a trapping report to ADF&G. Missing a reporting deadline is a federal compliance issue. Your sponsor can walk you through the first report; after that, you own the obligation.
Sources
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 50 CFR 21.29 Falconry Permitting: Federal falconry permit required; Apprentice species limited to American kestrel and red-tailed hawk; Apprentice minimum age 16; two-year minimum Apprentice period; bird possession and reporting requirements
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, official website (Division of Wildlife Conservation): Alaska state falconry license required; written exam required with 80-percent passing threshold; ADF&G administers licensing under 5 AAC 92
- North American Falconers Association, official website: NAFA is the primary national falconry organization and a resource for locating state falconry communities and sponsors
- North American Falconers Association, official website: NAFA state contacts are useful for locating sponsors and local falconry communities
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918: Possession of a wild raptor without proper permits constitutes a Migratory Bird Treaty Act violation
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Final Rule on Falconry Standards and State Permit Requirements, 73 FR 59448 (2008): 2008 final rule shifted administrative control of falconry to states and tribes; quoted rule text on falconry permit authorization
- Alaska State Legislature, Alaska Administrative Code, Title 5 (Fish and Game): Alaska falconry regulated under 5 AAC 92; state-level housing and licensing requirements
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds program: Federal falconry permits and bird inventory reporting processed through USFWS electronic system