The Georgia Falconry Association
is a group of individuals dedicated to preserving the art and
practice of falconry, as well as educating the public on the
conservation, management and ecology of raptors. Members are
expected to adhere to a strict code of ethics regarding game
laws, treatment of birds and conduct in public. We willingly
assist new falconers and those interested in the sport.
Falconry, one of the world's oldest hunting sports, is defined
as the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat
by means of a trained raptor. No one knows for sure when and
where falconry began but, based on pictoral records, it is thought
that it originated in either Asia or the Middle East about 4,000
years ago. Prior to the invention of firearms in the early 17th
century, raptors were used as a method of obtaining food. The
term 'falconry' covers all trained birds of prey, not just the
birds known as falcons.
Falconry is the most highly regulated of all hunting sports today. Permits
and licenses are required from the US Fish and Wildlife Service as well as
all states. There are rigid regulations addressing the possession, care and
flying of birds for falconry. |