(1) Nonresident falconers may practice falconry in Washington. The nonresident falconer must possess a valid permit to possess raptors and practice falconry in his/her home state, tribe, or country. The nonresident may possess, transport through the state, fly, practice falconry, or hunt with legal raptors held under the authority of such permit.
A falconer from another country may need federal permits to bring a raptor into the United States to be legally possessed in Washington.
- (2) A falconer may import a raptor into Washington if a health certificate for the raptor is in the possession of the importer. When flown free, any raptor brought into Washington temporarily from another country must have two attached radio transmitters.
- (3) In order to release a falconry raptor to pursue game, or hunt, depending on the type of game hunted, a nonresident falconry permit holder may be required to purchase appropriate nonresident state and/or tribal hunting licenses, permits, tags, Washington Bird Stamp, migratory bird validation, and/or a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.
- (4) Nonresident falconers may be authorized by permit from the director to capture one legal raptor per year in Washington with the requirement to purchase a nonresident raptor capture permit. A premium Class 1 nonresident raptor capture permit may authorize a nonresident falconer to capture a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), a gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), or a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). A basic Class 2 nonresident raptor capture permit may authorize a nonresident falconer to capture any other raptor species authorized for capture in Washington.
- (5) The taking of a legal raptor by a nonresident must comply with Washington regulations for the appropriate class of falconer. The nonresident raptor capture permit shall be valid for one year.
[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 § 220-420-110, 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), § 232-30-172, filed 8/20/10, effective 9/20/10.]