The New York State DEC recently announced that annual examinations for individuals seeking a license to practice the sport of falconry, become a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator, or use leashed tracking dogs are scheduled for Friday April 1. The registration deadline for these free exams is Friday March 25. DEC is offering them exclusively online.

To qualify for a leashed tracking dog handler license applicants must score 80% or higher on the written exam and possess a valid New York State hunting license. There is a $50 license fee for the 5-year leashed tracking dog license and a $25 non-refundable application fee.

To qualify for the apprentice falconry license, applicants must score 80 percent or higher on the written exam, be at least 14 years of age, possess a valid New York State hunting license, maintain DEC approved facilities for handling falconry raptors and be a resident of New York State. The cost of a 5-year falconry license is $40.

To qualify for the wildlife rehabilitator license applicants must score 80 percent or higher on the written exam, be at least 16 years of age, be interviewed by DEC regional wildlife staff and be a resident of New York State. There is no cost for the 5-year rehabilitation license.

To register for any of these exams, visit the NYSDEC Special Licenses Unit website at dec.ny.gov/permits/359.html

For questions or assistance anyone interested in these exams should contact the Special Licenses Unit by mail: NYS DEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4752.

To contact by phone call 518-402-8985 or email SpecialLicenses@dec.ny.gov.

Pittman-Robertson Funds!

Since 1934 when the Pittman-Robertson Act was signed into law, hunters have raised more than $11 billion for wildlife management and restoration through voluntary excise taxes paid on the sale of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. Hunters raise $700 million annually in P-R funds, which are distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state agencies.

Since 1900, every species “lucky”enough to have a hunting season placed on it has thrived. Whitetail deer in 1900 were fewer than a million deer, today there are at least 32 million. Wild turkeys in 1900 were fewer than 100, 000, today more than 7 million inhabit the country.