Exams Online April 1; Registration Deadline March 25
The New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced 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 1.
The registration deadline for these free exams is Friday, March 25. To
provide broad access to these examinations, DEC is offering them
exclusively online.
To register for any of these
exams, visit the NYSDEC Special Licenses Unit webpage.
The link to the registration website is
provided on each of the individual license webpages, along with
directions on how to register. An email acknowledgment of registration
will be sent to applicants along with an additional one-time link to
access the website on the day of the exam.
Apprentice Falconry License
Falconry has a rich history
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 at no
cost from DEC. 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;
·
maintain DEC-approved facilities for
housing falconry raptors; and
·
be a resident of New York State.
Wildlife Rehabilitator License
Wildlife rehabilitators
provide for the care of 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 at no cost from DEC. 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;
·
be interviewed by DEC Regional wildlife
staff; and
·
be a resident of New York State.
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 helping
hunters locate wounded big game that otherwise may go unrecovered.
A leashed tracking dog study guide s available at no cost from DEC. 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.
For questions or assistance,
please contact the Special Licenses Unit by mail (NYS DEC Special
Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4752), phone
(518-402-8985), fax (518-402-8925), or email SpecialLicenses@dec.ny.gov.
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