International Falconry

[Fredman]

Has anyone on the forums had any dealings with International Falconers moving to the U.S. and practicing falconry? I am currently living abroad in the UAE and will be here 4 to 6 years (or more). Will I have to go through another apprenticeship when I return home (North Carolina) or will I have to leave my falco's in the UAE when I return? I am not looking for specifics on legality, just any experiences. I am currently awaiting clarification from the NCWRC and welcome any and all input. Thanks!

[Falcon Boy]

I'd send a PM to Jfseaman, he might know about the bringing birds back into the US stuff. As far as the apprenticeship, take a look at the new federal regs online, i think they address the issue.

[Fredman]

Thanks,

I'll keep scrubbing the regs. Still looking for experiences as well. Cheers

Fred

[jfseaman]

Oct 8, 2011 9:51:05 GMT -5 Fredman said:

Has anyone on the forums had any dealings with International Falconers moving to the U.S. and practicing falconry? I am currently living abroad in the UAE and will be here 4 to 6 years (or more). Will I have to go through another apprenticeship when I return home (North Carolina) or will I have to leave my falco's in the UAE when I return? I am not looking for specifics on legality, just any experiences. I am currently awaiting clarification from the NCWRC and welcome any and all input. Thanks!

You can bring birds back. Your license level in the US will depend on your documented experience in the UAE.

[peregrinus2000]

Hi All, does anyone by any chance have any information or experience with transferring an international falconry license from Germany to a State in the US? To obtain a falconry license in Germany is somewhat extensive from what I gather you have to first obtain a hunting license which is an ordeal in itself (a 2 week course which costs ca 2000Euros, with a four hour exam in 5 subjects and includes shotgun and shooting qualification like the Army?). After you obtain that you can qualify for a one week falconry class which has its own test and costs another 800 Euros. Then you are a licensed hunter and falconer - but there seems to be only one license class - no master/general/apprentice. I have seen various state regs saying you can get this transferred but to what class? Does it just depend on the number of years experience after the license? Do you still have to take a written test in the US then for example? State of choice would probably be Colorado in a few years time. Thanks if anyone has seen a similar transfer in the past.

[peregrinus2000]

Aha - think I found the answer in the regs. Looks like you would still have to take the written test in the state with 80%.
5)Permit to practice falconry at an appropriate level if you have experience in falconry but are a newresident in the United States. You may qualify for the falconry permit appropriate for your experience. Todemonstrate your knowledge of US falconry laws and regulations, you must correctly answer at least80 percent of the questions on the supervised examination for falconers administered by the State, tribe, orterritory under which you wish to obtain a falconry permit. If you pass the test, the State, tribe, or territorywill decide for which level of falconry permit you are qualified, consistent with the class requirements in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. To do so, the State, tribe, or territory should base its decision on yourdocumentation of your experience. Your falconry facilities must meet the standards in paragraph (d)(1) of thissection before you may keep a raptor to use in falconry