CHAPTER 102
FALCONRY REGULATIONS FOR HUNTING GAME
[Prior to 12/31/86, Conservation Commission[290] Ch 100]
571—102.1(481A) General. Game may be taken annually, by permitted falconers only, subject to the following:
	102.1(1) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule, the following definitions are used:
“Falconer” means any person permitted under the provisions of 571—Chapter 101, Iowa Administrative Code, who pursues the sport of falconry.
“Falconry” means the sport of taking game by means of a raptor.
“Raptor” means any of the following wild species: American kestrel, Cooper’s hawk, Ferruginous hawk, Goshawk, Great horned owl, Gyrfalcon, Harris’ hawk, Merlin, Prairie falcon, Red-tailed hawk, Rough-legged hawk, Sharp-shinned hawk and any captive-bred species used for falconry.
	102.1(2) Licenses and permits. In addition to the falconry permit, a falconer must have all other licenses, stamps, and permits required by law. A falconry observer is not required to be licensed for hunting, but an observer shall not assist in the hunt.
	102.1(3) Other requirements. Except for the provisions of rule 571—102.2(481A), any person taking game by falconry must comply with all other statutes and rules governing this activity.
[ARC 9188B, IAB 11/3/10, effective 12/8/10]
571—102.2(481A) Migratory bird regulations. Seasons and limits for taking migratory birds by means of falconry shall be as follows:
	102.2(1) Ducks and coots. The season for taking ducks and coots statewide by means of falconry may vary among duck hunting zones. Falconry seasons for ducks and coots shall be open whenever the conventional (gun) duck and coot hunting season is open in each zone, as described in rules 571—91.1(481A) and 571—91.2(481A), and shall also be open beginning December 15 in each zone and remain open until the combined total of the conventional hunting season days plus falconry hunting season days reaches 107 for the zone or February 28, whichever occurs first.
	102.2(2) Geese. The season for taking geese by means of falconry may vary among goose hunting zones. Falconry seasons for white-fronted geese and light geese (white and blue-phase snow geese and Ross’ geese) shall begin each year on the first day of the conventional (gun) hunting season for these geese in each zone, as described in rule 571—91.3(481A), and continue in each zone for 107 consecutive days. Falconry seasons for Canada geese and brant shall be open concurrently with the conventional (gun) hunting season for these geese as well as any days between the first, second, or third segments of the conventional (gun) hunting season for Canada geese and brant.
	102.2(3) Rails, snipe and woodcock. The seasons for taking rails, snipe and woodcock by means of falconry shall begin each year on the first day of the conventional (gun) hunting seasons for these species, as described in rules 571—97.1(481A), 571—97.2(481A), and 571—97.3(481A), and continue for 107 consecutive days. The entire state is open for these species.
	102.2(4) Hawking hours and limits. Hawking hours for migratory game birds are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit shall include no more than three migratory game birds, singly or in aggregate. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit. There are no hawking hour restrictions for nonmigratory game during the legal season.
[ARC 9188B, IAB 11/3/10, effective 12/8/10]
571—102.3(481A) Small game. Seasons and limits for the taking of pheasant (both sexes), quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontail rabbit and jackrabbit, by falconry only, shall be as follows:
	102.3(1) Seasons.
	a. 	Pheasant (both sexes), quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, and jackrabbit. The season for the taking of pheasant, quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, and jackrabbit shall be from October 1 of each year through March 31 of the following year.
	b. 	Cottontail rabbit and squirrel. The season for the taking of cottontail rabbits and squirrels shall be from September 1 of each year through March 31 of the following year.
	102.3(2) Limits.
	a. 	Pheasants (both sexes) and jackrabbit. The daily limit shall be two pheasants, no more than one of which may be a hen, and one jackrabbit; possession limit shall be four pheasants and two jackrabbits.
	b. 	Quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, squirrels and cottontail rabbit. The daily limit shall be two quail, two gray partridge, two ruffed grouse, four cottontail rabbits and four squirrels; possession limit shall be four quail, four gray partridge, four ruffed grouse, eight cottontail rabbits, and eight squirrels.
571—102.4(481A) Means and methods of take. No falconer or observer may carry a firearm while in the field with a raptor or in the act of falconry.
[ARC 9188B, IAB 11/3/10, effective 12/8/10]
571—102.5(481A) Exclusions. Nothing in this chapter shall pertain to the taking of game under 571— Chapters 91, 96, 97 and 107, Iowa Administrative Code.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 481A.38, 481A.39 and 481A.48.
[Filed emergency after Notice 8/10/82, Notice 6/23/82—published 9/1/82, effective 9/1/82]
[Filed 5/31/85, Notice 2/27/85—published 6/19/85, effective 7/24/85]
[Filed without Notice 12/12/86—published 12/31/86, effective 2/4/87]
[Filed 5/12/89, Notice 3/8/89—published 5/31/89, effective 8/1/89]
[Filed 10/8/93, Notice 9/1/93—published 10/27/93, effective 12/1/93]
[Filed emergency 8/12/94 after Notice 3/2/94—published 8/31/94, effective 8/12/94]
[Filed 6/14/96, Notice 4/10/96—published 7/3/96, effective 8/7/96]
[Filed 8/22/97, Notice 4/9/97—published 9/10/97, effective 10/15/97]
[Filed 5/29/98, Notice 3/11/98—published 6/17/98, effective 7/22/98]
[Filed emergency 8/11/05—published 8/31/05, effective 8/11/05]
[Filed ARC 9188B (Notice ARC 9007B, IAB 8/11/10), IAB 11/3/10, effective 12/8/10]