Post by eaglesvision on Feb 19, 2014 1:21:34 GMT -5
I am in east tenn by knoxville.. and i have been researching on this... is anyone willing to take on a student.. it is my dream to work with wild animal's when i see one injured i can't just walk by and ignore it.. i want to be able to do this legally.. any help would be appreciated.
As Cryss pointed out , falconry is a hunting sport and a weekly part of that sport is assisting your raptor in taking the lives of other wild animals, humanely so they don't suffer. If your goals are a legal means to keep and " Help" injured wild animals you should look into wildlife rehabilitation centers in your area for volunteer opportunities. The Captive Animal Coordinator for the TN Wildlife Resources Agency ( Walter Cook Region 2 ) will not allow dual license-ship for a rehab permit and a falconry permit and the State regulated falconry license is not a legal substitute to Handle, House or Keep Wildlife. An apprenticeship isn't an easy commitment to be done correctly and you will have a hard time finding a sponsor blindly asking for one before meeting them in person. It is a 2 year minimum commitment. You will have to build a federally approved housing for your hawk , purchase equipment , books and take a state administered test before having your raptor. You will also need access to hundreds of acres land on which to hunt it . Generally this would be private land because hunting in state or federal parks in TN is not allowed . You are lucky enough in east TN to have a good amount of Wildlife Management Areas where you can hunt with the proper permits.
If that last bit didn't discourage you away from falconry , contact the TWRA and request a Falconry Packet . It will contain all the federal and state regulation you need to be familiar with and more information on how to contact local falconers . We also have a website www.tennesseefalconersassociation.com where you can find more information about Falconry in TN.
This forum is full of all the information you will need to familiarize yourself with American falconry as a whole . It just requires a little bit of digging in old threads.
I would recommend that you go to the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge as well. They operate a raptor show at DollyWorld and participate In eagle and raptor conservation. Some of their employees are great falconers and board members of the TFA . They would be a wealth of information for you if you decide to go the rehabilitation route. As well . Good luck on your quest ....
Last Edit: Feb 19, 2014 15:37:23 GMT -5 by echotadog
It is good to have an end to Journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the End. - Ernest Hemingway