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DEC Announces Registration Now Open for Upcoming Falconry,
Wildlife Rehabilitator, and Leashed Tracking Dog Examinations
Published: March 12, 2024 at
11:00 a.m.
By: Press Release from NYS DEC
DEC Announces Falconry, Wildlife Rehabilitator, and
Leashed Tracking Dog Examinations
Registration Deadline is April 10 for Online Exams on
April 12
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
April 12. DEC is offering the examinations online and at no cost
to participants to increase access to the examinations.
The registration
deadline is April 10. To register, visit the 2024 Special Licenses Exams Registration website.
Applicants will receive email acknowledgement of registration; an
additional one-time link to access the website on the date of the
exams is sent to registrants at a later date.
The link to the exam registration webpage can also be found on each of the
individual license webpages at Division of Fish and Wildlife Special Licenses and Permits.
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. 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.
A falconry study
guide and examination manual are available from DEC at no cost on the DEC Falconry License webpage. The cost of a five-year
falconry license is $40. Birds of prey are protected species and cannot be
possessed without a license or other authorization from DEC.
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. 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.
A wildlife
rehabilitator study guide and examination manual are available
from DEC at no cost on the DEC Wildlife Rehabilitator License webpage. There is no
cost for the five-year wildlife rehabilitation license.
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 in
aiding hunters in locating wounded big game that otherwise may go
unrecovered. 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.
A leashed
tracking dog study guide is available from DEC at no cost on
the DEC Leashed Tracking Dog License webpage. While the
exam is free, first-time license applicants have a non-refundable $25
license application fee. The five-year leashed tracking dog license is $50.
For questions or
assistance, contact DEC’s Special Licenses Unit:
DEC 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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