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Steller's Sea Eagle

Steller's Sea Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

Advanced
Large
Best for General/Master
General Notes

Legal for falconry in multiple states.

State-by-State Legality
State Legal Permit Type Notes
Alaska
Yes
State Falconry Permit

Master only. Extremely rare, expert handlers only.

Arizona
Yes
Sport Falconry License + Department Approval

NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (H.1.c.vi, H.2.c.iii). Master only with Department approval (H.3.d). Max 3 eagles total (combined golden, white-tailed, Steller's) (H.3.b.iii). Requires proof of experience handling large raptors and 2 reference letters (H.3.d). All levels: max 2 wild-caught/year. Not native to Arizona - captive-bred or legally transferred only.

Florida
Yes
Florida Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (68A-9.005(4)(b)4). Not native to FL (captive-bred only). Requires 1,000+ hours experience with large raptors (68A-9.005(4)(c)6a). Must provide documentation and 2 reference letters. Max 3 eagles total (Golden, White-tailed, Steller's combined). Counts toward 5 wild bird limit. Max 2 wild replacements/year. Captive-bred only - no US wild population.

Idaho
Yes
Idaho Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to ID (captive-bred only). Requires proof of experience handling large raptors (eagles, ferruginous hawks, northern goshawks, great horned owls). No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: max 5 wild birds total.

Illinois
Yes
Illinois Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice (1590.80(a)) or General (1590.80(b)). REQUIREMENTS: Experience documentation plus 2 letters of reference required (1590.80(c)(3)). MAX 3 EAGLES: Golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, and Steller's sea eagles in aggregate. Not native to US - captive-bred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: max 5 wild birds total (eagle counts toward limit).

Indiana
Yes
Indiana Falconry License + Department Approval + Eagle Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Max 3 eagles total (golden, white-tailed, Steller's sea eagle in aggregate) if department approves request (t)(3)(D)). Must submit experience documentation handling large raptors and 2 letters of reference (t)(3)(E)). Not native to IN - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit.

Kentucky
Yes
State Falconry Permit + Prior Department Approval

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. REQUIRES PRIOR APPROVAL from Kentucky Department. Max 3 eagles total (golden, white-tailed, Steller's sea eagle in aggregate). Not native to KY - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit.

Louisiana
Yes
Louisiana Falconry Permit + Department Authorization + Reference Letters

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires written department authorization and at least 2 letters of reference from people with large raptor experience per LAC 76:V.301. Not native to Louisiana - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit.

Maine
Yes
Maine Falconry Permit + Prior Department Approval

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires prior written Department approval per 09-137 C.M.R. ch. 4. Not native to Maine - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: may possess up to 3 eagles total, counts toward 5 bird limit.

Maryland
Yes
Maryland Falconry Permit + Additional Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires additional documentation per COMAR 08.03.09.07. Not native to US - captive-bred or legally transferred only. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward raptor possession limits.

Massachusetts
Yes
Massachusetts Falconry Permit + Federal Authorization

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires federal authorization per 50 CFR 21.82. Not native to MA - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: max 5 birds total, counts toward possession limit.

Michigan
Yes
State Falconry Permit + Written Application

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (10.3(4)(b)(v)). Requires written application (10.3(4)(c)(iv)). Golden Eagle: max 3 taken from wild (10.3(4)(c)(iii)). Master: max 5 wild-caught + 10 federally protected total.

Mississippi
Yes
Mississippi Falconry Permit + Department Authorization

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires department authorization for possession of large sea eagles. Not native to Mississippi - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit.

Montana
Yes
Montana Falconry Permit + Federal Authorization

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice or General per ARM 12.6.1103. Requires federal authorization per 50 CFR 21.82. Not native to MT - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: max 5 wild birds + unlimited captive-bred.

New Hampshire
Yes
NH Falconry Permit + Prior Authorization

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires prior authorization for possession of large sea eagles. Not native to NH - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit, max 2 wild/year.

New Jersey
Yes
New Jersey Falconry Permit + Written Division Authorization

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires written authorization from NJ Division for possession of large sea eagles. Not native to New Jersey - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: counts toward base 3-5 bird limit.

New Mexico
Yes
New Mexico Falconry Permit

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to New Mexico - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: counts toward captive-bred birds (unlimited). Requires large raptor experience.

New York
Yes
State Falconry License + Federal Eagle Permit

Master falconers only. Non-native species. Masters may not possess more than 3 white-tailed or Steller's sea eagles (173.2(e)(4)(iii)). Requires federal permit and special approval.

North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina Falconry License (Captive-bred only)

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to North Carolina - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: max 5 birds total. Requires large raptor experience.

North Dakota
Yes
North Dakota Falconry Permit (Captive-bred only)

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to North Dakota - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: max 5 birds total. Requires large raptor experience.

Oregon
Yes
Oregon Falconry License

General and Master falconers. NOT indigenous to OR - captive-bred or legally transferred only (635-055-0030(7)). Cannot be taken from wild in Oregon. Possession of legally acquired non-indigenous raptors allowed. General: max 3 birds. Master: max 5 birds.

Rhode Island
Yes
RI Falconry Permit + Federal Authorization

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Listed as excluded but if federal requirements met per 250-RICR-60-00-7. Not native to RI - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit.

South Carolina
Yes
South Carolina Falconry Permit + Special Qualifications (Captive-bred only)

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General per federal regs. SC allows possession with special qualifications per § 123-170. Not native to South Carolina - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: unlimited captive-bred. Requires large raptor experience (2 years with eagles or large raptors).

Virginia
Yes
Virginia Falconry Permit + Additional Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires additional documentation per federal regulations. Not native to US - captive-bred or legally transferred only. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward raptor possession limits.

Washington
Yes
Washington Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General per 220-420-070(8) and 220-420-060(7). Master only with experience documentation and 2 reference letters from people with experience handling large raptors (220-420-050(8-9)). Max 3 eagles total (combined golden, white-tailed, Steller's). Counts toward 5 wild bird limit. Not native to WA (eastern Russian sea eagle). Captive-bred only. Master: max 5 wild birds total. Requires large raptor experience.

West Virginia
Yes
West Virginia Falconry Permit + Additional Documentation

Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires additional documentation per federal regulations. Not native to US - captive-bred or legally transferred only. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward raptor possession limits.

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