Quote Originally Posted by spygirl View Post
As a falconer, I have to have a lot of permits. Since becoming a falconer, I've fought along side long time falconers to keep our sport alive. So needless to say, I've experienced lots of encounters with Fish & Game officials who either hated the sport and/or who are ignorant about falconry. Each state has a different set of falconry laws. So if I wanted to drive to Mississippi from Texas with my bird, there's a chance that I would need an out of state permit for each state my car crosses. I could drive straight through Louisiana and my bird never leave the car, but if I were to get pulled over and not have that permit, I could be in a world of trouble. Or if I was hunting my bird near the Louisiana border and he were to pursue game across state lines and I didn't have a out of state permit, I could lose my license if caught. And yes, this has been an issue.

So would I be surprised if I was charged with a felony if my reptile package crossed state lines, even through I was shipping in state? No, I wouldn't. You can claim you had no clue FedEx would route your package that way and they'll come back and say that it is your responsibility to know where it's going, just like it's your responsibility to know your local laws.

Think I'm making this up? Talk to the people who truly are ignorant and hate what we do. They have an agenda and they won't stop till they get what they want.

I suppose I sound a bit jaded. But that's what comes with being told I'm an animal abuser, I'm destroying the environment, and putting my son in danger. And that's for being both a falconer and reptile keeper.
You've made some very good points and I agree with everything you have said. I simply want to point out the one major difference between falconry and keeping boas and pythons in America.. As a falconer, having a wild caught bird, you can choose to release it at any time. I know a long time falconer who is doing just this with her red tail after quite a few years of hunting with it.

Snake keepers however, can not release their snakes. Unless its a wild caught native specimen. Even then it's frowned apon unless it's a conservation/re establishment program.

I don't understand at all why do many people are against falconry. I've been around falconers for years and I think it's a wonderful hobby/sport. It is very strictly regulated also. More so than the keeping of most reptiles, so why do people care?

Anyway. Waaaay off topic! Lol


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*Factoid: "There are no such things as Hogg Island or Columbian boas"