Falconry

Name: eRegulations
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Three photos showing falconers and their birds of prey — a smiling man holding a falcon, a merlin perched on a pigeon, and a woman with a hawk on her arm — demonstrating the art and skill of falconry. — Falconry in action: passionate falconers and their trained birds of prey showcase the ancient sport through responsible wildlife management and conservation. Photos by Rob Conohan & Winsome Williams, Andrew Thomas, and Caitlyn O’Neill.

If a raptor captures any species of wildlife (quarry) in a closed season, the falconer must release the quarry if it is not seriously injured. If the quarry is seriously injured or killed, the quarry must be left at the site, but the raptor may feed on the kill.

If the accidentally killed wildlife is a Washington State Candidate species (including jackrabbit), the falconer must immediately record on a WDFW form or facsimile: the falconer’s name, falconry permit number, date, species and sex (if known) of the quarry, and the location of the kill (as accurately as possible).

Total accidental take of Candidate species cannot exceed 5/season; falconers must cease hunting for the day if a candidate species is taken.

To explore the current list of wildlife species under review or in decline, visit the WDFW’s candidate species list.

All reports of accidental take must be submitted to the WDFW falconry permit coordinator by April 1 each year.

Released quarry are not considered “take.” Federal and state laws to not permit the take of endangered, threatened, sensitive or other protected species.

To learn more about falconry regulations, licensing requirements, and training guidelines in Washington, visit the WDFW falconry overview page.

2025-2026 Falconry Seasons
Species	Area	Season Dates (inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Turkey	Eastern Washington	Sept. 1 - Feb. 15 (falconry)	1 turkey, either sex, per turkey tag with a maximum of 2 turkeys per season	2 (tag required for each turkey)
Upland Game Birds & Forest Grouse	Statewide	Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 (falconry)	2 pheasants (either sex), 6 partridge, 5 California (valley) quail or bobwhite, 2 mountain quail (W. WA only), & 3 forest grouse	Twice the daily bag
Cottontail and Snowshoe hare	Statewide	Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 (falconry)	5 cottontail or snowshoe hares, straight or mixed bag	15 straight or mixed bag
Jackrabbit, pygmy rabbit, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ptarmigan - Closed statewide
Mourning Dove	Statewide	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (falconry)	3 mourning doves, straight or mixed bag with snipe, coots, ducks, and geese during established seasons	Three times the daily bag
Ducks, Coots, Snipe and Geese (except Brant)	Statewide	Same season dates for each species in each area listed previously (falconry)	3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots, snipe, geese and mourning doves during established seasons	Three times the daily bag
Ducks, Coots & Geese (extended falconry)	Western Washington	Sept. 20	3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots, Canada and White-fronted Geese	Same as the daily bag
	Eastern Washington	Sept. 27	3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots, Canada and White-fronted Geese	Same as the daily bag
	Statewide	Jan. 31	3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots and all geese	Same as the daily bag