While most hunting in NSW is regulated, private landholders who hunt on their own land do not need a game hunting licence, unless they hunt under the NSW Native Game Bird Management Program.
| Do I need a game hunting licence? (Landholders, members of their household and employees) | Own land | Other private land |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbits, foxes, feral pigs, feral goats, wild dogs (not dingo), feral cats, hares | No | No |
| Feral deer | No | No |
| Native game birds (ducks) - Owner/Occupier Licence to allow licensed hunters to manage game ducks on your land (minimum requirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Managing native game birds (ducks) yourself - you also need a NSW Game Hunting Licence (General or Restricted) and complete the Waterfowl Identification Test | Yes | Yes |
| When do hunters I allow on my property need a game hunting licence? | Licence | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbits, foxes, feral pigs, feral goats, wild dogs (not dingo), feral cats, hares | No | Permission |
| Feral deer | No | Permission |
| Non-indigenous game birds | Yes | Permission |
| Native game birds (ducks) | Yes | Waterfowl Identification Test and permission |
Licensed, safe and responsible hunters can help landholders with:
If you experience impacts from illegal hunting, request a free landholder kit today. The kit contains:
Are you impacted by feral deer?
You may give permission to hunt feral deer on your property to any individual holding a current firearms licence or who is a skilled bowhunter.
In NSW, feral deer were identified as a priority species in the 11 Local Land Services Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plans. They are also listed as a Key Threatening Process in Biodiversity legislation. As a result, the NSW Government removed the licence requirement for individuals seeking to hunt feral deer on private land, effective Friday 6 September 2019.
More information
If you already hold the appropriate licences, access the hunter register to find licensed, volunteer hunters who are ready to help you manage native game ducks.
You can also add your details to the landholder register to allow available hunters to contact you and offer their help.
You can access both of these registers online, send a request for access to gamebirds@dpi.nsw.gov.au or call 02 6051 7772 for verbal advice.
Everyone who needs to manage or hunt native game ducks in NSW must hold a licence and be part of the Native Game Bird Management Program.
The Program sets a high standard for hunting native ducks and provides an ethical framework that allows volunteer hunters to assist landholders to protect their crops.
There are two licences that apply to landholders:
This is the primary licence you need to allow management of native game birds on your land. It's free and there are two ways to apply:
When you apply for a management licence, you also need to tell us what species require management and the kinds of impacts you are experiencing.
Based on this information, we will set an individual harvest allocation for each property attached to your licence. You will receive advice about the approved allocations when you receive your licence.
There are strict rules about how we can set allocations and also about applying to increase them.
Anyone you allow on your land to hunt game species must hold one of these licences at a minimum.
If you hold a landholder licence allowing game ducks to be managed on your land, and you wish to manage them yourself rather than call on volunteer hunters, you need to hold a game hunting licence as a minimum. There is no licence fee if you already hold a landholder management licence. All you need to do is fill in a paper form and apply to DPIRD.
Before game hunting licence holders qualify to harvest game ducks on agricultural lands covered by a Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier Licence), they must pass the Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) and request they be endorsed for the program. This also applies to you, if you wish to manage them yourself.
Special provision is also made to waive the normal WIT fees for landholders holding a management licence. Contact the Wildlife Management Team on gamebirds@dpi.nsw.gov.au to find out when a WIT is scheduled near you.
In NSW, licensing and permits to manage kangaroos or native species other than game ducks are managed by the Office of Environment and Heritage (National Parks & Wildlife Service).
In August 2018, changes were made to non-commercial kangaroo management including initiatives to allow volunteer shooters to support landholders in drought.
What has changed?
Read a step-by-step guide to applying for a permit with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and to find volunteer shooters, on our kangaroo page.
