I'm in the beginning stages of research and gathering information about becoming an apprentice falconer.
Two main questions I have - I heard the state regulations have changed recently, I wonder which birds are allowed for apprentices to handle now, or are they still the Kestrel and the red tail?
second question - I have a friend who is a general falconer. she is moving to VA soon. I am within driving distance to her and would like to apprentice under her. Is it possible for someone located in PA to apprentice under a general falconer located in VA? If not, is it possible for someone located in PA to get a VA apprentice license?
Here are the Apprentice specific regulations for PA
Apprentice. Permittees of the apprentice class shall be subject to the following requirements and limitations: (1) Permittees shall be 12 years of age or older. (2) Permittees shall be sponsored, at all times, by a Pennsylvania general or master class falconry permit holder. If a permittee's sponsorship is withdrawn or lost for any reason, the permittee shall provide written notification of the loss to the Commission within 5 days and shall be required to replace the sponsorship within 15 days. (3) A first year permittee of this class may take and possess only one raptor with no replacement during the first permit year. Other permittees of this class may take and possess only one raptor with only one replacement during each permit year. (4) Permittees are limited to taking and possessing only wild passage (no eyases) raptors of the following species: (i) American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). (ii) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).