571—101.1 (481A) Falconry regulations. No person may take, transport, or possess any raptor without having first obtained a valid state/federal falconer’s permit. Only raptors from the family Accipitridae (excluding the bald eagle), the family Falconidae, and the great horned owl of the family Strigidae may be taken, transported, or possessed, except any species listed as endangered or threatened.
	 101.1(1) Said permit allows the purchase, possession and use of designated legal raptors in hunting subject to state regulations.
	 101.1(2) A falconry license may be issued to any person 14 or more years of age who has successfully passed a written examination provided or approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior covering basic biology, care and handling of raptors, laws, regulations or other appropriate subject matter, with a minimum score of 80 percent, and who has satisfied the minimum requirements for keeping raptors as determined by inspection of the applicant’s facilities. In the event an individual fails the examination, this individual may reapply.
	 101.1(3) There shall be three classes of falconer’s permits as follows:
	  a.   	 Apprentice falconer. Applicant shall be at least 14 years old. A sponsor who is a holder of a general or master falconry license is required for the first two years in which an apprentice permit is held, regardless of the age of the permittee. A sponsor may have no more than two apprentices at any one time. Apprentice permit holders shall not possess more than one raptor and may not obtain more than one raptor for replacement during any 12-month period. Apprentice permit holders shall possess only a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Apprentice permit holders shall be restricted from taking nestling or fledgling birds. A sponsor has the right to withdraw sponsorship at any time. If an apprenticeship falconer fails to successfully complete the required two-year apprenticeship, the red-tailed hawk will be transferred to the sponsor of record. The sponsor will be required to properly care for the bird until it is transferred to another falconer or hacked back into the wild.
	  b.   	 General falconer. Applicant shall be at least 18 years old. Applicant shall have at least two years’ experience in the practice of falconry at the apprentice level or its equivalent; this shall be field experience and the mere keeping of raptors shall not count and will be strongly discouraged. General license holders shall not possess more than two raptors and may not take more than one raptor for a replacement bird from the wild during any 12-month period. Licensed general class falconers may purchase properly marked raptors only from a federally licensed raptor propagator.
	  c.   	 Master falconer. Applicant shall have at least five years’ experience in the practice of falconry at the general level or its equivalent. A master falconer shall possess no more than three raptors at any one time and be permitted to take no more than two replacement birds from the wild in any 12-month period. Licensed master class falconers may purchase properly marked raptors only from a federally licensed raptor propagator.
	 101.1(4) All falconry permits are nontransferable and shall expire June 30 of the third year after issuance. Permits may be renewed without examination following submission of an annual report of birds possessed during the previous year and provided the department of natural resources is satisfied as to the competency of the applicant whose permit has expired.
	 101.1(5) A federal raptor propagation permit is required before any person may take, possess, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or transfer any raptor, raptor egg, or raptor semen for propagation or sale purposes.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 481A.48 and conforms to the federal regulations promulgated under the “Migratory Bird Treaty Act.”