Editing Falconry (section)

===In the United States===
In the United States, falconry is legal in all states except [[Hawaii]], and in the [[District of Columbia]]. A falconer must have a state permit to practice the sport. (Requirements for a federal permit were changed in 2008 and the program discontinued effective January 1, 2014.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2008-10-08/pdf/E8-23226.pdf|title=73 FR 59448|website=Gpo.gov|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-date=2017-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831144821/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2008-10-08/pdf/E8-23226.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Acquiring a falconry license in the United States requires an aspiring falconer to pass a written test, have equipment and facilities inspected, and serve a minimum of two years as an apprentice under a licensed falconer, during which time, the apprentice falconer may only possess one raptor. Three classes of the falconry license have a permit issued jointly by the falconer's state of residence and the federal government. The aforementioned apprentice license matriculates to a general class license, which allows the falconer to up to three raptors at one time. (Some jurisdictions may further limit this.) After a minimum of five years at general level, falconers may apply for a master class license, which allows them to keep up to five wild raptors for falconry and an unlimited number of captive-produced raptors. (All must be used for falconry.) Certain highly experienced master falconers may also apply to possess golden eagles for falconry.

Within the United States, a state's regulations are limited by federal law and treaties protecting raptors. Most states afford falconers an extended hunting season relative to seasons for archery and firearms, but species to be hunted, bag limits, and possession limits remain the same for both. No extended seasons for falconry exist for the hunting of migratory birds such as waterfowl and doves.

Federal regulation of falconry in North America is enforced under the statutes of the [[Migratory Bird Treaty]] Act of 1918 (MBTA), originally designed to address the rampant commercial market hunting of migratory waterfowl during the early 20th century. Birds of prey suffered extreme persecution from the early 20th century through the 1960s, where thousands of birds were shot at conspicuous migration sites, and many state wildlife agencies issued bounties for carcasses.<ref>{{Citation | last = Matthiessen | first = P | year = 1959 | title = Wildlife in America | publisher = Viking}}.</ref> Due to widespread persecution and further impacts to raptor populations from DDT and other toxins, the act was amended in 1972 to include birds of prey. (Eagles are also protected under the [[Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act]] of 1959.) Under the MBTA, taking migratory birds, their eggs, feathers, or nests is illegal. Take is defined in the MBTA to "include by any means or in any manner, any attempt at hunting, pursuing, wounding, killing, possessing, or transporting any migratory bird, nest, egg, or part thereof".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/pacific/migratorybirds/mbta.htm |title=Migratory Bird Treaty Act |access-date=2010-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203110142/http://www.fws.gov/pacific/migratorybirds/mbta.htm |archive-date=2010-12-03 }}</ref> Falconers are allowed to trap and otherwise possess certain birds of prey and their feathers with special permits issued by the Migratory Bird Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and by state wildlife agencies (issuers of trapping permits).

The Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna ([[CITES]]) restricts the import and export of most native birds species and are listed in the CITES Appendices I, II, and III.

The [[Wild Bird Conservation Act]], legislation put into effect ''circa'' 1993, regulates importation of any CITES-listed birds into the United States.

Some controversy exists over the issue of falconer's ownership of captive-bred birds of prey. Falconry permits are issued by states in a manner that entrusts falconers to "take" (trap) and possess permitted birds and use them only for permitted activities, but does not transfer legal ownership. No legal distinction is made between native wild-trapped vs. captive-bred birds of the same species. This legal position is designed to discourage the commercial exploitation of native wildlife.