Falconry License

Announcements

Legal Update: As required pursuant to a Stipulated Judgment and Court Order issued on November 14, 2022 in the case Peter Stavrianoudakis v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service et. al , Case No. 1:18-cv-01505-JLT-BAM, CDFW will no longer be enforcing provisions of California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 670, subdivision (h)(13)(A) that are crossed out below:
(A) Education and Exhibiting. A licensee may use raptors in his or her possession for training purposes, education, field meets, and media (filming, photography, advertisements, etc.), as noted in 50 CFR 21, if the licensee possesses the appropriate valid federal permits, as long as the raptor is primarily used for falconry and the activity is related to the practice of falconry or biology, ecology or conservation of raptors and other migratory birds. Any fees charged, compensation, or pay received during the use of falconry raptors for these purposes may not exceed the amount required to recover costs. An Apprentice falconer may use the licensee's falconry raptor for education purposes only under the supervision of a General or Master falconer.
Falconry Exams: CDFW has resumed offering falconry examinations on a limited basis at some CDFW regional offices. Please contact the CDFW Regional Office near you for more information.

Fees include a nonrefundable three percent (3%) application fee, not to exceed $7.50 per item (CCR, Title 14, Section 700.4).

Valid July 1 through June 30

Entitlements	2025 Fee	Description
Falconry Application Fee	$19.83	Required for processing new and renewal applications.
Falconry License	$109.70	Issued to any person at least 12 years of age, in possession of raptors to take game or nongame birds or mammals. Must also possess a hunting license.
Administrative Processing Fee	$18.54	Required for Department staff entering reporting information into the Department's online reporting system.
Examination Fee	$69.00	Required at time of initial examination or to retake the examination.
Inspection Fee	Up to five enclosures: $364.25 Each additional enclosure: $18.54	Required for a new applicant, an applicant renewing a lapsed license, or a licensee that moves housing facilities to a new address. Note: The inspection fee is not required if the applicant or licensee is sharing an existing raptor facility with another licensed falconer and possesses proof of a passed inspection for the raptor facility.
Nonresident Raptor Capture Permit	$446.75	Issued to any nonresident who wants to take raptors in from the wild in California and is licensed to practice falconry in another state.
Special Raptor Capture Drawing Application	$8.13	Required at the time of application.