R657-20-7. Temporary Care of Falconry Raptors

  (1) Short-term handling of a raptor by a person other than the permitted falconer, such as allowing a person to handle or practice flying a permittee's raptor, is not considered temporary possession for the purposes of this rule, provided the permittee is present and supervising the individual that is handling the raptor.

  (2) Temporary care of raptors by another falconry permittee.

  (a) Another falconry permittee may care for a falconer's raptors for up to 120 consecutive calendar days.

  (b) The temporary care permittee must have a signed and dated statement from the falconer authorizing the temporary possession, in addition to a copy of the FWS Form 3-186A for that raptor.

  (i) The signed and dated statement must identify the time period for which the temporary permittee will keep the raptors and what activities are allowed to be carried out with the raptors.

  (ii) Falconry raptors in temporary care will remain on the original falconer's COR and will not be counted against the possession limit of the person providing the temporary care for the raptors.

  (iii) If the permittee providing temporary care for the raptors holds the appropriate level falconry permit, then the temporary permittee may fly the raptors in whatever way authorized by the falconer, including hunting.

  (iv) Temporary care of raptors may be extended by the Division Director or designee in extenuating circumstances such as, illness, military duty, and family emergency. The Division Director or designee will consider extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

  (3) Temporary care of raptors by a non-falconer.

  (a) A non-falconer may care for a falconer's raptors for up to 45 consecutive calendar days.

  (b) The raptors will remain on the original falconer's COR.

  (c) The raptors must remain at the original falconer's facilities.

  (d) Temporary care of raptors by non-falconers may be extended by the Division Director or designee in extenuating circumstances such as illness, military duty, or family emergency. The Division Director or designee will consider extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

  (e) A non-falconer caring for a falconer's raptors may not fly them for any reason.

  (4) Transfer of falconry raptors when a permittee dies.

  (a) A surviving spouse, executor, administrator, or other legal representative of a deceased falconry permittee may transfer any raptor(s) held by the deceased permittee to another authorized permittee within 90 calendar days of the death of the original falconry permittee.

  (b) After 90 calendar days from the death of the falconry permittee, disposition of raptors held under the permit is at the discretion of the Division.