Hello from Maryland's Eastern Shore

[murph935]

At this stage in life I finally have the time and financial resources to properly pursue Falconry. It's been a lifelong interest. My children are grown and my significant other is nothing but supportive of my new endeavor. She realizes it will occupy a great portion of my time but thinks it will be good for me so I'm ready to get started. I've been reading everything I can such as the Falconers Apprentice by William Oakes etc. I've familiarized myself with my state regulations and I am prepared to submit my application for my permit and get scheduled for the exam. According to Maryland regulations, I need a sponsor to sign the application before I can do either. I've reached to the only two listed within 2 hours of my location according to my states websites and both numbers are no longer in service. Does anyone have any ideas? I assure you I am serious and prepared to do whatever it takes to get things underway. I have a perfect location for a mews and weathering yard. Ample land to hunt and plenty of time to spend with my bird. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[Breeze]

Welcome to NAFEX and I am sure some folks in Maryland will be kind enough to reach out to you! Best wishes on your journey into falconry!

[Diana-Morrissey]

Hello and welcome! Just curious, are you absolutely certain you need a sponsor signature just for the exam? I know many of the laws vary by state and here in MA, you don't need a sponsor to take the test. My club had a meet a week ago and our state falconry coordinator was there along with a number of pre-apprentices, many of whom thought they needed a sponsor before taking the exam. They were surprised and happy to hear from him directly that was not the case.

[murph935]

I wish that were the case but in MD, getting a sponsor is step one. They need to sign off on my application and then I can apply to take the exam. For what it’s worth I think it would make more sense for someone to take and pass the exam first. Having that under your belt my help convince a potential sponsor that you are serious.

[Diana-Morrissey]

I agree completely. It makes no sense to me to require a sponsor to take the exam. You can't get a license with just a passed test, you need the sponsor signature when your facility is inspected/passes. At least, that is how it's done here in MA.

[andreen]

If possible, widen your search beyond the two-hour radius. While it might be more of a commitment, finding a sponsor even a bit further away could be worth it to get your foot in the door.

slitherio

[Cuz]

Why take the exam, if you cannot find a sponsor? This is the case in Pa. law, and I agree. Here in Michigan, I regularly find would be apprentices who think you are required to sponsor them, because they have passed the test. I would not sponsor someone over one hour away. Good luck in Maryland.

[ddcast1234]

Murph:
I am in Upperco MD and willing to help if I can. A pointed out above being several hours away is not super good. I think if you are pretty independent (I am guessing you are not a teenager) it can work. My sponsor was there when I had questions or problems to solve, but I think I only saw him face to face once or twice. Kind of depends on you. I have probably signed for 6-8 apprentices over the years and not one has made it to General. Some never get past the test, one caught a bird for the first year than had domestic issues that side tracked him. Like I said a lot has to do with you. The Potomac Falconry Club had several member that lived on the Eastern Shore but they seem to have faded over the last few years and I don't have any contacts there.. Anyway let me know if you want to pursue the long distance approach. We will need to plan to meet at least a few times just for some of the hands on stuff. The internet; phone pictures; and face time are big resources
Dennis Casteel