Hello
I was reading in the forums about hawks/ egals ect and I noticed all the legal processes and such of having a hawk. My questions is how hard is it to get a permit- and when you get one do they supply you with the bird or what.
Oh yes and if it helps I am located in wyoming
Thanks for your help
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There really isn't such a thing as a "permit" to mount hawks and eagles. In order for a private individual to have one done, he or she must me a Native American (with proof) who has a legitimate need to use the bird in ceremonies. In other words, you can't just have on for fun it you aren't a shaman. If you meet that requirement, then you can file a formal request with the National Repository in Washington state and get "on the list".
Others allowed to have the raptors are federal and state offices that can show some legitimate reason or need for having them and educational institutions to use as part of the curriculum. If and when these institutions so decide, they will bring the bird to a taxidermists possessing a federal permit along with a letter on official letterhead signed by the responsible individual allowing you to keep the bird for taxidermy. The taxidermist is still responsible for feather counts and returning the bird upon completion. All feathers that fall out during the process are required to be bagged and tagged and returned with the specimen.
If I meet all the qualifications to become a falconer and I posses a falcon or hawk and it dies, could I not mount it myself? Wonder if those falconry reg's specify what has to be done with the bird if it dies. I knew a guy years ago who had several hawks he used for falconry.
The regulations DO specifically spell out what has to happen when a raptor in a licensed handler's care dies or even flies away.
cant have both. So dont spend hundreds of hours constructing a mews,passing a 100 question test, get sponsered in under a master falconer, just so that you can kill your bird and mount it! Still curious? Request Fed Regs...
TITLE 50, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 10
GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 50,CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART13
GENERAL PERMIT PROCEDURES
TITLE 50, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 21
MIGRATORY BIRD PERMITS
After you finish this confuseing novel of legal jibberish, you will be primed and ready for the onslaught of your State regs...Michigan's are just shy of 1/4 inch thick, Oh joy!
I have a hand full of legal non native birds of prey for sale. They have all been imported legaly and i have the Fish and Wildlife Import paper work on all of them.
If I can help just let me know,
Mike
why these standards exist! Don't be surprised when the Feds and or State boys, hold you to the above stated regulations and (probably) confiscated your raptor and fine you!
Remember when you were a kid and you wanted a pony?
Remember what your parents said?
Apply the same logic.
Huge time demand.
EVERYDAY!
Trapper, If the above statement was directed towards me, let me Take a minute to educate you on the facts.
There are three reasons why you cannot possess a Native bird of prey (or song bird for that matter) here in the US.
The First ...Is the "Migratory Bird Act." This act protects Nearly every Native Bird to the US. The three exceptions are the English Sparrow, European Starling, and the Feral pigeon. So right off the bat all Native Birds of prey are out period.
The second ...would be "The Endangered Species Act." Native Birds are already out but this would further protect any endangered birds. This also would protect any "non native" species that one might want to import.
The third ...is The "Bald Eagle protection Act" Which further protects Bald and Golden eagles. Which really doesn't really matter because the are protected under the "Migratory Bird Act" any ways. It does put some restrictions on the sale or transfer of documented "Pre Act specimens"
Now with all that said, It is Legal to Import some Birds of prey In to the US. If they are Not listed on The "Migratory Bird Act" or the "Endangered Species Act" and you have the proper Export paper work as well and CITIES Paper work (if applicable) from the Country of origin, Fish and Wildlife Cannot refuse you as long as you go through the proper channels to import them.
ALL of my specimens have been imported legally, Have all the export documents and every Bird and mammal for that case has been inspected and cleared by Fish and Wildlife.
As for the Falconer question. You can possess a Live native Bird of Prey In most states If you hold a falconry permit. But once the bird Dies it would be Illegal to posses it. On the flip side to that there are a handful of nonnative raptors (For example Common Buzzard Buteo buteo) that can be possessed both live or dead, and in many states there is no permit necessary to possess them live. In my State of Georgia You have to have A falconry permit to have any Live bird of prey but there would be no federal permit necessary for a non native species.
Mike
Thanks for your help guys. You have even answered questions I have wanted to know but did not ask.
But Im still not getting the pony thing LOL
I stand by every word that I said. " cant have both. So don't spend hundreds of hours constructing a mews"...
(1)You wont be granted a Falconers license if you hold a Taxidermy license. (2)Constructing a mews. You MUST have an INDOOR as well as an OUTDOOR mews (Housing) for ANY raptor in your possession. It MUST be inspected by the issuing body (government agent) before it can receive ANY raptors,(protected or otherwise!)
Huntress...about the pony. Raptors are an incredible demand on your time. One that most people don't realise. They must be weighed almost daily for conditioning. Flight weight is critical, otherwise they get sick from being over weight. IE. Too full of food to fly or even wanting to hunt. Not heavy enough is as big a problem as over weight. IT goes on and on. At some point in time, almost everyone wanted to have a raptor. (just like a horse/pony) Its not until later that you realise just how much work is involved. So if sound like I was take shots at mjvaden, its because he was so eager to sell you a bird without telling you the WHOLE story. I can only hope that he would have done this BEFORE the sale, not after.
.. to break up a perfectly good fight, but I have to thank BOTH of you for a highly entertaining, educating, and enlightening posts from two entirely different viewpoints. I learned a lot. Thanx.
The Whole story is I ONLY Birds I would be selling are FROZEN so flight weight does not mean a whole lot. LOL
I am not in the business of selling any live Birds of prey. THIS IS A TAXIDERMY SITE after all!
You still need to do some reading! I know Taxidermist that have both Federal license and a Falconers license. No where does it say having a taxidermy license exempts you from holding a falconers license.
And By the way there is only one Bird or prey that can be imported live and that is the European buzzard "Buteo buteo" all other birds of prey are CITIES listed and fall under the "Wild bird Protection Act" Making them Illegal to import live since 1994 but legal to import dead (with the proper paper work).
In most states you can possess an "Exotic Raptor" without any permit federal or state. Look it up go to the F&W site and search for "Exotic Raptor"
I agree with you on the fact that Raptors are incredibly time consuming If you plan on flying them.
Now in the case of "EXOTIC RAPTORS" (for example, Bat falcons, Buteo buteos, Augur buzzards, Jackal buzzards, Forrest buzzard, Black hawks, European Eagle owls, Even African Fish Eagles, and many many more are breed and available here in the states if your pockets are deep enough.
In most states you are free to do what ever you want with these "exotic raptors" Except set them free. Unfortunately my state is not one of them otherwise I would have a few in my aviaries. I have friends that have all the above mentioned species. You can simply put them in a flight and enjoy them, Breed them, not breed them, what ever you want. No Mews and flight weight doesn't mean beans in that case. I will say they can get expensive to feed though.
And Trapper just encase you missed it no LIVE RAPTORS HERE.
SO NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY!
Cheers, Mike