SC Falconry Regulations

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources requires all applicants for a South Carolina Falconry permit take and pass an examination designed to test their knowledge of falconry, regulations, housing and care of raptors and diseases. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass. If necessary, you may retake the test after 7 days. The test is given at any South Carolina Department of Natural Resources office by appointment only.

After you have passed the examination, your facilities and equipment for housing and weathering a raptor will be inspected. If your facilities meet the minimum criteria you will be given an application for a South Carolina Falconry Permit. Please complete it accurately and completely and return it with your sponsor’s signature. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will then issue your permit that will be valid for 3 years.

If you are interested in becoming a licensed falconer in the State of South Carolina, there are three classes of permits for which you may apply:

Apprentice Class

Applicants must be at least 12 years old and must have a sponsor who holds a General or Master Falconry Permit. A Falconry Apprentice Permittee must have a sponsor for a minimum of two years. Also, an Apprentice may not possess more than one raptor. An Apprentice may possess a raptor of any Falconiform or Strigiform species, including wild, captive-bred, or hybrid individuals, except a federally listed threatened or endangered species, a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), a white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a Steller's sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), or a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). An Apprentice may take raptors less than 1 year old, except nestlings, from the wild during any period or periods specified herein. A person may take any raptor species from the wild except a federally listed threatened or endangered species or the following species: Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Steller's sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), American swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), flammulated owl (Otus flammeolus), elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi), and short-eared owl (Asio flammeus).

General Class

Applicants must be at least 16 years old and have at least two years of experience in the practice of falconry at the Apprentice Class level, or its equivalent. A General Class Falconer may not possess more than three raptors. A General Falconer may take and possess any species of Falconiform or Strigiform except a golden eagle, a bald eagle, a white-tailed eagle, or a Steller's sea-eagle. A General Falconer may use captive-bred individuals and hybrids of the species he or she is allowed to possess.

Master Class

Applicants must have at least five years of experience in the practice of falconry at the General Class level, or its equivalent. Also, a Master Class Falconer may not possess more than five raptors from the wild. ) A Master Falconer may take and possess any species of Falconiform or Strigiform except a bald eagle. However, a Master Falconer may take and possess a golden eagle, a white-tailed eagle, or a Steller's sea eagle only if he or she meets the qualifications set forth under the South Carolina Falconry regulations. A Master Class Falconer may possess any number of captively-produced raptors. A Master Permittee may not take, transport or possess any species listed as threatened or endangered in federal regulations pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 unless authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Other Requirements

There are laws and regulations in place that govern the three classes of falconry permits, facilities and equipment, inventory and marker requirements, transportation and transfers, open season dates for taking raptors from the wild, release of raptors into the wild, propagation of raptors, annual reporting requirements, and hunting regulations and seasons.

South Carolina’s falconry regulations: SCDNR regulations 123-170

If you have any questions, or would like to make arrangements for the exam or facilities inspection, please contact Emily Kearse at 803-734-3887.

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