NAC503.205. License or permit required to hunt, trap, possess or sell raptors; possession of eggs and feathers.

     1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 and NAC 503.228, 503.405 and 503.415, it is unlawful for any person to hunt, trap, possess or sell any species of owl, hawk or other bird of prey, including any raptor or its parts, without first obtaining a license or permit from the headquarters of the Department.

     2. The Department shall not issue a license or permit authorizing a person to possess a raptor unless the facility at which the raptor will be housed satisfies the requirements of NAC 503.375 to 503.395, inclusive.

     3. A person shall not transport, fly or otherwise work with a raptor outside of the facility at which the raptor is housed without having the license or permit required pursuant to subsection 1 in his or her immediate possession.

     4. A falconry licensee who lawfully possesses a raptor may allow a person who is not a falconry licensee to hold or practice flying the raptor if the falconry licensee is present and supervising the person.

     5. Raptor eggs may not be taken or possessed, except that raptor eggs laid by a bird in the possession of a person who holds a permit for captive propagation of raptors may be possessed if the holder of the permit notifies the headquarters of the Department in writing within 5 business days after the first egg has been laid. Eggs laid by a raptor held under the authority of a falconry license must be reported by the falconry licensee to the Department within 5 business days after the first egg has been laid. The falconry licensee will dispose of the egg as directed by the Department.

     6. Raptor feathers that are molted or are from raptors held in captivity that die, may be retained and exchanged by falconry licensees for imping purposes only and subject to the following conditions:

     (a) Raptor feathers may not be purchased, sold or bartered.

     (b) A falconry licensee may:

          (1) Possess feathers for each species of raptor he or she lawfully possesses or has possessed;

          (2) Receive feathers for each species of raptor he or she lawfully possesses or has possessed from any other falconry licensee, a propagator in the United States, a raptor rehabilitator or a wildlife rehabilitator licensed or permitted by the Department or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and

          (3) Donate feathers to a falconry licensee, a propagator in the United States, a raptor rehabilitator, a wildlife rehabilitator licensed or permitted by the Department or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, any person otherwise authorized by a license or permit to acquire and possess raptor feathers or any person or institution exempt from those license or permit requirements pursuant to 50 C.F.R. § 21.12.

     (c) If a license or permit authorizing a person to possess raptor feathers expires or is revoked, any raptor feathers possessed by the person must be:

          (1) Donated to a falconry licensee, a propagator in the United States, a raptor rehabilitator, a wildlife rehabilitator licensed or permitted by the Department or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, any person otherwise authorized by a license or permit to acquire and possess raptor feathers or any person or institution exempt from those license or permit requirements pursuant to 50 C.F.R. § 21.12; or

          (2) Burned, buried or otherwise destroyed.

     [Bd. of Fish & Game Comm’rs, No. 15 § 25.10, eff. 6-1-72; A 12-15-76; 12-30-77]—(NAC A by Bd. of Wildlife Comm’rs, 7-1-97; R168-99, 1-19-2000; R047-11, 4-5-2013)