- (1) An applicant for a Washington falconry permit must complete and submit an application form from the department. The applicant must meet the state residency requirements for Washington.
- (2) The temporary possession and short-term handling of a raptor, such as letting any other person hold or practice flying a raptor, is not possession for the purposes of this section if the handler is under the permitted falconer's supervision, employed, or under contract by the permitted falconer. A falconry observer, including a person accompanying a falconer when hunting or otherwise flying a falconry raptor, is not required to possess a falconry permit or a hunting license.
- (3) For determining possession and take of raptors for falconry, a regulatory year is the calendar year starting January 1st and ending the following December 31st.
- (4) Falconry permits shall be valid from the date issued until the date of expiration on the permit. The permit will be valid for a maximum period of two years to expire on December 31st.
- (5) A resident of Washington must have a valid Washington falconry permit to take, possess raptors for falconry, or to practice falconry. To release a falconry raptor to pursue or hunt, depending on the type of game hunted, a resident falconer may need resident state and/or tribal hunting licenses, permits, stamps, and/or a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (a "Duck Stamp").
- (6) A falconer must have permit(s) or legible copies of his/her permit in immediate possession if he/she is trapping, transporting, displaying, or engaging in falconry.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-420-040, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.210, and C.F.R. Title 50, Part 21, Subpart C, Section 21.29; Migratory Bird Treaty Act. WSR 10-18-012 (Order 10-214), § 232-30-130, filed 8/20/10, effective 9/20/10.]