DEC Announces Online Falconry, Wildlife Rehabilitator, and Leashed Tracking Dog Exams

DEC Announces Online Falconry, Wildlife
Rehabilitator, and Leashed Tracking Dog Exams

March 12, 2021 12:30 p.m.

Press Release from NYS DEC:

DEC Announces Online Falconry, Wildlife Rehabilitator, and Leashed

Tracking Dog Exams

Online Exams Scheduled for Friday, April 30

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

announced today that examinations for individuals seeking a license to

practice the sport of falconry, become a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator, or

use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals are

scheduled for Friday, April 30. To ensure access to the examinations, and

prevent the spread of COVID-19, DEC is offering exams online this year

instead of in-person. The exams will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on

April 30. Registrants will have two hours to take each exam.

To register for any of these exams, click on the

exam registration link

and

follow the directions provided. An email will be sent acknowledging

registration.

Apprentice Falconry License

Falconry has a rich history and tradition throughout the world and requires a

significant commitment of time and effort. Apprentices are limited to

possessing one bird, either an American kestrel or a red-tailed hawk. A

falconry study guide and examination manual

are available on the DEC

website at no cost. The cost of a five-year falconry license is $40.

To qualify for the Apprentice Falconry license, applicants must:

score 80 percent or higher on the written exam;
be at least 14 years of age;
possess a valid New York State hunting license; and
maintain DEC-approved facilities for housing falconry raptors.

Wildlife Rehabilitator License

Wildlife rehabilitators provide care for injured, sick, and orphaned wild

animals for the purpose of returning rehabilitated animals to the wild.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to gain experience by serving as an

assistant to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. A

wildlife rehabilitator study

guide and examination manual

are available on the DEC website at no cost.

There is no cost for the five-year wildlife rehabilitation license.

To qualify for the Wildlife Rehabilitator License, applicants must:

score 80 percent or higher on the written exam;
be at least 16 years of age; and
be interviewed by DEC regional wildlife staff.

Leashed Tracking Dog Handler

Leashed tracking dog handlers use their dogs to track and recover dead,

wounded, or injured big game. Leashed tracking dog handlers provide a

valuable service by aiding hunters in locating wounded big game that

otherwise may go unrecovered. A

leashed tracking dog study guide

available on the DEC website at no cost. There is a $50 license fee for the

five-year leashed tracking dog license and a $25 non-refundable application

fee.

To qualify for a Leashed Tracking Dog Handler License, applicants must:

score 80 percent or higher on the written exam; and
possess a valid New York State hunting license.

To register for these exams, visit the

DEC Special Licenses Unit webpage

The link to the registration web page is provided on each of the individual

license web pages. For questions or assistance, please contact the Special

Licenses Unit at: NYSDEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany,

NY 12233-4752 Phone: 518-402-8985, Fax: 518-402-8925, Email:

SpecialLicenses@dec.ny.gov

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