I would consider yourself lucky because my sponsor required my mews and a weathering area be built and inspected by the State before I trapped my first hawk.
I believe ALL states require a mews inspection prior to issuing a trapping permit, so what your sponsor "required" you to do was actually required by law.
Personally, I think a sponsors job is to assist their apprentice in the mews construction. This doesn't necessarily mean to physically help build it but at least give solid construction ideas/plans in order to pass inspection. Sponsoring is a 2-way street.
A mews is not required in Washington State. The regulations say that they realize many falconers keep their birds inside the home and weather them in the yard which is acceptable. If you read your state's regulations carefully it may not be required in yours or other states.
A mews is not required in Washington State. The regulations say that they realize many falconers keep their birds inside the home and weather them in the yard which is acceptable. If you read your state's regulations carefully it may not be required in yours or other states.
Ummm...where does it say that? My packet says one is required and it has to be a specific size, unless the bird is to be tethered and then it can be a smaller size.
In fact, according to my Sponsor, an inspection is required before they issue your license.
A mews is not required in Washington State. The regulations say that they realize many falconers keep their birds inside the home and weather them in the yard which is acceptable. If you read your state's regulations carefully it may not be required in yours or other states.
Ummm...where does it say that? My packet says one is required and it has to be a specific size, unless the bird is to be tethered and then it can be a smaller size.
In fact, according to my Sponsor, an inspection is required before they issue your license.
On the pink form titled State Of Washington Department Of Fish And Wildlife Information Relating To Issuance Of Falconry Permits And Facility Inspection."It is not our intent to establish specifications for hawk houses or mews. Such specifications are readily available in reliable falconry texts if a falconer wishes to construct such a facility. WDFW recognizes that raptors can be retained in captivity and properly cared for without construction of a mews. Many falconers house their raptors in the home or garage, and utilize the backyard to meet the needs of their raptors." On the second page under tethered Raptors. "raptors can be sheltered in reduced sized mews, a garage or even in the home." You do not have to build a mews but they will inspect where you are going to keep the bird if it is in the garage, your home or somewhere else.