When I was in Wy. antelope hunting, I came across a feather from a Bald Eagle. I picked it up and my cousin said "Look at it, and then drop it. I don't want to be bailing you out of jail if you're caught with it."
He was right. A friend also rehabs raptors, and she said that without the proper permits, (and IF you can get them) you can get in deep doo-doo.
Did you know that a turkey vulture is also considered to be a raptor, and falls under the same regs as hawks, owls and eagles?