Membership Chair:
The California Hawking Club ("CHC") was formed in 1971 by a small group of dedicated falconers to preserve and promote the public image of the art of falconry, to assist in the conservation of birds of prey, and to collect and disseminate information through its publications. The CHC is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation which was incorporated in 1979 for the purpose of preserving birds of prey and advancing the art and practice of falconry by:
- The improvement of the qualifications and abilities of falconers through high standards of practice, experience, ethics, conduct and achievement
- The dissemination of knowledge through research, meetings, reports, papers, discussion and publications;
- The active promotion of the public image of falconry to the end of having falconry viewed as an art and sport, to be preserved for future generations; and
- The preservation of all birds of prey through the active education of the public as an appropriate and effective conservation measure.
- Membership is open to falconers and non-falconers alike who support these aims and purposes.
Membership Dues
The CHC's annual membership year runs from March 1 through the following February. The membership dues are subject to change in accordance with the CHC's bylaws.
The California Hawking Club is committed to valuing our members' privacy by NEVER sharing their personal information with anyone.
Membership Categories
CHC membership has been divided into the following five categories:
- General Member: This membership category is open to holders of a Master or General level falconry license issued by the State of California. California residents holding a General membership may vote and hold office within the CHC.
- Apprentice Member: This membership category is open to holders of an Apprentice level falconry license issued by the State of California. California residents holding an Apprentice membership may vote but may not hold office within the CHC.
- Affiliate Member: This membership category is open to any organization or individual not qualifying as a General or Apprentice member. Affiliate members may not vote or hold office within the CHC.
- Family Member: This membership category is open to immediate family members of a "sponsoring" General, Apprentice, Affiliate, or Honorary Lifetime member. Family members do not receive separate CHC mailings but do receive the rights and privileges of any other membership category for which they otherwise qualify. Family membership terminates concurrent with membership termination of the sponsoring General, Apprentice, Affiliate, or Honorary Lifetime member.
- Honorary Lifetime Member: This membership category is reserved for individuals designated by the CHC's Board of Directors for extraordinary and unique contributions to the CHC and the art and practice of falconry.
Applicants requesting General or Apprentice membership* must reside in California, must possess current federal and California state falconry permits, and must submit their federal permit number as proof of their licensing. Non-licensed applicants and applicants residing outside of California receive Affiliate membership. Affiliate members are unable to vote on matters under consideration by the CHC, but in all other respects receive the same rights and privileges as General and Apprentice category members. Family members seeking the rights and privileges of a General or Apprentice member must demonstrate that they meet the General or Apprentice member licensing and residency requirements.
* Applicants applying for the Family Member category must also provide their federal falconry license number if voting rights are desired.
How to Apply
Application for membership in the CHC is a one or two-step process depending upon the form of payment for your dues. It's a one-step process if you choose to use online payment; a two-step process if you choose to mail a check or money order. If mailing check or money order is the preferred method of payment, the process involves submitting your membership application and then paying your membership dues by sending a check or money order to the address shown below. If payment will be online, your membership dues are paid at the same time that your membership application is submitted.
A membership application may be:
- submitted online or viewed and printed directly from this web site
- requested by e-mailing
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - requested by sending a letter to the address shown below,
Printed membership applications with the appropriate dues check or money order should be sent to the following address:
Mary Hoffman, CHC Membership Chairs
14834 Daffodil Avenue
Canyon Country, CA 91387-1904Home: 661-299-5555
Alternate: 661-644-7324Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Note: Please allow four weeks for processing of membership applications.
When Do I Begin Receiving My Publications?
Depending upon when your membership application is received and processed, you may be entitled to previous Newsletters published during your membership year. Newsletters are normally published each April, August, and December. Journals are published after the membership year for which they apply (e.g., the Journal for the 2000 membership year will be published in 2001). In order to minimize costs, a limited number of Newsletters and Journals are printed. Therefore, late renewals or late applications for membership may result in the member "missing" one or more Newsletters and/or the Journal if the related mailing list was compiled prior to processing your application. Nevertheless, members will receive back issues of the Newsletter and the Journal to the extent additional copies are available. For answers to other frequently asked questions about CHC membership, please review the New Member FAQ.
