Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 76 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES › Part V - Wild Quadrupeds and Wild Birds › Chapter 3 - Wild Birds › Section V-301 - Falconry

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The Louisiana
				falconry regulations pertain to the use of native raptors (Accipitriformes -
				vultures, osprey, kites, harriers, accipiters, buteos, and eagles;
				Falconiformes - caracaras and falcons; and Strigiformes - owls) that are
				protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and exotic raptors, for purposes
				of falconry. No person may possess wild or captive bred raptors for the purpose
				of falconry without a valid permit as provided in these regulations.
B. Definitions
Aerie
- the nest of an eagle or other bird
				  of prey, built in a high inaccessible place such as a cliff face.
Department
- Louisiana Department of
				  Wildlife and Fisheries.
Eyass
- a young raptor that is still in the
				  nest.
Falconer
- a person with a valid Louisiana
				  game breeder's license for falconry or a person with a valid falconry
				  license/permit from another state.
Hack
- temporary release of a falconry
				  raptor to the wild for purposes of conditioning and training.
Hybrid
- offspring produced from the
				  cross-breeding of two or more species of raptors or offspring of cross-bred
				  raptors.
Imping
- using a feather to repair or
				  replace a broken feather of a raptor.
Imprinted Raptor
- a raptor that was
				  hand-raised from two weeks of age, or younger, until it has fledged; it is
				  considered an imprint for the duration of its life.
Molting Weight
- the heavier, non-hunting
				  weight of a raptor, when the weight is not reduced for training and
				  hunting.
Passage Bird
- a raptor that has left the
				  nest and is less than one year of age.
Permit
- Louisiana game breeder's license
				  for falconry.
Sponsor
- a general or master falconer with
				  a valid Louisiana falconry license who is at least 18 years old and has at
				  least 2 years of experience at the general falconer level who agrees to
				  supervise the training of an apprentice falconer.
Take
- to trap or capture a wild raptor,
				  including removal of a nestling from a nest or aerie.
USFWS
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife
				  Service.
Wild Raptor
- a species of native raptor
				  that originated in the wild. No matter how long the bird is held in captivity,
				  or whether it was transferred to another licensee, it remains a wild bird.
				  However, for purposes of wild take restrictions, the department does not
				  consider the raptor to be taken from the wild by any subsequent licensee to
				  whom it is legally transferred.
C. Types of Permits, Requirements and
				Responsibilities
1. Apprentice Permit
a. Apprentice falconers must be at least 16
				years of age.
b. An apprentice
				falconer under 18 years of age must have a parent or legal guardian sign the
				application, attesting that he or she is legally responsible for the
				permittee's activities.
c. An
				apprentice falconry applicant must have a letter from a sponsor, stating that
				he or she will assist the apprentice with learning about the husbandry and
				training of raptors held for falconry, relevant laws and regulations and
				deciding what species of raptor is appropriate for the apprentice.
d. Apprentice falconry applicants must
				correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions on the falconry exam to
				qualify for a license. The applicant's facilities and equipment must pass an
				inspection before obtaining a bird.
e. Apprentice falconers may possess no more
				than one raptor for use in falconry, even if the permittee has a falconry
				permit issued in another state.
f.
				Apprentice falconers may take a wild raptor of any species except, a bald eagle
				(
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
), a white-tailed eagle
				(
Haliaeetus albicilla
), a Steller's sea-eagle
				(
Haliaeetus pelagicus
), a golden eagle (
Aquila
				chrysaetos
), a swallow-tailed kite (
Elanoides
				forficatus
), a Swainson's hawk (
Buteo swainsoni
), a
				peregrine falcon (
Falco peregrinus
), a flammulated owl
				(
Otus flammeolus
), an elf owl (
Micrathene
				whitneyi
), a short-eared owl (
Asio flammeus
) or any
				federally listed endangered or threatened species.
g. Apprentice falconers may possess any
				Accipitriform, Falconiform, or Strigiform raptor species, including wild,
				captive-bred, or hybrid individuals, except a federally listed threatened or
				endangered species or a bald eagle, a white-tailed eagle, a Steller's
				sea-eagle, a golden eagle, or a swallow-tailed kite.
h. Apprentice falconers do not need to
				capture their own wild raptor; a raptor can be transferred to an apprentice
				falconer by another falconer.
i.
				Apprentice falconers may only take raptors less than one year old, except
				nestlings may not be taken.
j.
				Apprentice falconers may not possess a raptor taken from the wild as a
				nestling.
k. Apprentice falconers
				may not possess a raptor that is imprinted on humans.
l. Apprentice falconers may take passage
				birds from September 1-February 28 only.