Upgrading to General Permit

[Tiercel78]

Ok everyone,
I have a few questions to ask the Generals on this forum. I wanted to know if you got your upgrade after 2 hunting seasons or the full 2years(730days). I have heard of plenty of falconers upgrading after thier second season. An maybe only having a bird 6months out of each season. I've been told that 4months is qualified as a season then heard 6 months. Anyways, say the second year I start hunting in Sept and release my bird in March. Turn in aplication in April to have a generals permit in June(hopefully) so that I can either take a eyas or aquire a young bird from a breeder. My permit was issued 09/13/04 and I was told I couldn't summit paperwork till 09/13/06. That means technically I'll do probally closer to three seasons as a apprentice. I just had to get a response from y'all. It just makes me a little pissed that the law is subjected to so much interpertaion of the reader. I know for a fact at least 5 other apprentices that upgraded at the end of the second season and not the full two years. Any advice would be appreciated.-Zach

[colohen]

Tiercel
Thats a good question !!
Main fed office told me I had to wait till the end of my 2 yr app. and 5 yr general , in order to up grade to master even after I explain that I have 4 yr in app. class due to problems with lost ?? paper work .
They said I still have to wait till the Dec 31 5 yr general class roll over date , regardless of the total time or number of sessions.
Good luck !!

[Weasel]

Here in Texas, They require two years from the date on your permit.

[frootdog]

It depends on the state. In TX as well as 2 calander years you must have I think 8 total months of hunting time.

[Tiercel78]

The 8 total months both years combined is the Feds requirement. I talked to them today and they told me I meet thier requirements. Paul Juregens told me that Tx will at least upgrade to general a little early and they try to do it by June.

[colohen]

Great Tiercel
Welcome to the soon to be ranks of General!!
Just talk to Atlanta Fed office , myself !
My own status up-grades to Master this month . All requirements met.
They should be ! as I spent 4 yr as a apprentice do to a file up in paper work , submitted three times before I finally got my up grade ! And now 5 complete tears (correction> years ) as a General !!!!!!!!!!

[Tiercel78]

Well Thanks Colohen,
I'm just not sure exactly when I'll be able to upgrade yet. I do know that the very latest will be Sept 06 so I'll have it for at least some of next season. My sponsor called the State Fish and Wildlife and at least got them to agree to call the Feds later this week. The Feds are on our side and like I said consider me eligible. SO, it's not a Yes but at least it's not a No like last time. Like I said it's up to interpetation of the person in charge of the permits. In this case the Law Enforcement side for Florida. Plus,There is no admendment in writting like FL's reg on apprentices not being able to take Kestrels. So hopefully I'll get the Ok to send in my permet in FEB 06.-Zach

[colohen]

I just noticed !
It takes almost as long to get up-grade in falconry as it does to get up-graded on this site! ;D
I hope Weasel don't see this!!!

[Weasel]

.post more..... ;D

[colohen]

Tiercel
Did you find out when you can do your up grade ?
Way I Fugger , you should be able to after this years seasons are closed . ;)For Arkansas , that would mean June . We have a spring squirrel season included as part of the 2005-06 regulations and all hunting license end June of each year . ;D
I got my first RT Oct. 26 1996 . I Finley get my Masters , after a screw up in paper work up gradeing to general , Dec 26 2005 .
Hope you have a much better road to General then I did !

[Tiercel78]

The state is going to make me wait the full 2yrs even after talking to the Feds. So I will upgrade in September this year.

[slicedodger]

Indiana made me wait until I had two full years of bird possesion. During my apprenticship my first bird was killed (transformer) and there was a gap of time between first and second birds. They counted possesion down to the day.