Falconry is the art or sport of hunting with trained birds of prey. This ancient art originated in the Middle East and central Asia.

Falconry is an ancient sport in which the falconer uses a trained raptor, usually a hawk or falcon, to pursue and take wild quarry. It is not for everyone, as the competent falconer spends time every day caring for his raptor. A hawk cannot be put away and forgotten like a shotgun. In the United States, you must pass a written test, a facilities inspection, and obtain a sponsor in order to become an apprentice falconer. You will spend a minimum of two years as an apprentice, during which you will likely fly either a redtail hawk or a kestrel falcon. New federal regulations allow apprentices access to a wider range of species; however, each state can have more restrictive regulations. As states go through the certification process over the next few years, we will see a range of options that vary from state to state.