General Information
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) completed a Final Environmental Assessment for the take of passage (first year birds) Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) during 2008. The USFWS determined that 36 passage birds could be taken east of 100 degrees longitude without having any negative impacts on Peregrine Falcon populations. Overall take limits remained at 36 birds since 2009. On September 11, 2017 take was increased by the USFWS to 144 individuals, east of 100 degrees longitude. Each flyway was allocated 48 individuals. This year the USFWS and the Flyway Councils, which have members from each state, developed and approved a plan for take during the winter of 2023. During the winter of 2023 the Atlantic Flyway Council allocated the number of falcons to be taken among the Atlantic coastal states. This was accomplished by evaluation of two factors. These included: (1) the desire of each state to participate; and (2) the geographical distribution of passage falcons along the Atlantic Coast. Through this process, Virginia was allotted four passage Peregrine Falcons for the September 20 – October 20, 2023 trapping season.
Falconer Eligibility
Virginia residents and non-residents who are classified as Master or General Class falconers are eligible to apply. At the sole discretion of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), however, falconers with limited experience handling and hunting with falcons may be excluded from authorization to take a Peregrine Falcon.
Program Requirements
- The season for take will be from September 20 – October 20, 2023, but will close when four passage birds have been taken and reported to DWR per condition #6 below.
- A random draw will be conducted of three qualified Virginia applicants who will be eligible to take a passage peregrine.
- Only one of the four birds allocated to Virginia may be taken by a non-resident falconer. The trapping season is open to all qualified non-residents but will close after the first falcon is taken by a non-resident and checked in as described in item number 7.
- Only one passage Peregrine Falcon may be captured and possessed by a falconer.
- No banded Peregrine Falcons may be taken. If a banded raptor is accidentally captured, band numbers and colors must be recorded, photographs taken if possible, and the bird must be immediately released. Band numbers and photographs of such incidentally-captured birds must be submitted to DWR no later than 31 October 2023, to the attention of: Andrew Stanley, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, 115 Lee Highway, Verona, VA 24482 or andrew.stanley@dwr.virginia.gov.
- A Peregrine Falcon that is captured must be released no later than one hour before sunset on the day of its capture if it is deemed unsuitable for falconry purposes. Birds that falconers take and intend to possess for falconry must be immediately banded with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service black falconry band. If you do not have a USFWS falconry band, contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) at (804) 367-6913.
- Report of your take of a Peregrine Falcon is mandatory by calling Andrew Stanley at (804) 634-0098 no later than 10:00 pm on the day of capture. Your message must report your name, time of capture, location of capture, and USFWS falconry band number.
- Upon reporting of the capture and possession (as required in #6 above) of the fourth passage peregrine, all falconers authorized to take a falcon will be contacted by telephone to inform them of the season closure, and the Department’s web site will be updated to report the season closure. All permittees must be accessible by telephone from September 20 until the season closes, or they must check the Department’s web site each day to determine whether the season is open or closed. No attempts to take a peregrine falcon are authorized after notification of season closure.