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https://ssaa.org.au/hunting/state-territory-hunting-regulations

State & Territory Hunting Regulations

Hunting in Australia is regulated separately by each state and territory government. This has lead to a variety of different regulations and laws as well as different fees, charges and licence requirements. The following information provides a snapshot of what’s required to hunt in each state of Australia.

Australian Capital Territory

Hunting is limited to feral animals on private property with landowners’ permission to hunt on the property. The ACT doesn’t have any species currently classified as game that can be taken by recreational hunters.

Only a current firearms licence is required to hunt on private property. There is no hunting permit or fee applicable. Juniors between the age of 12 and 18 years can apply for a minors firearm permit.

The following animals are some of the species classified as feral and can be taken.
Rabbit
Hare
Fox
Pig
Goat
Feral cat
Feral dog
New South Wales

There are great recreational and commercial hunting opportunities in New South Wales, with laws that allow the hunting of game, native and non-protected species, as well as hunting access on a variety of public lands. There are several different legislations in NSW administered by separate government agencies that govern recreational and commercial hunting. The appropriate licences, permits and regulations for your intended target species will depend on what animal is being hunted, where it is hunted and for what purpose it is hunted. The information provided below is designed to give you an overview of these licences, permits and regulations. However, hunters should always confirm the provided information is current from the appropriate government agency before any hunting takes place.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries Game Licensing Unit (DPI GLU) oversees and issues licences for the hunting of declared game species. Game species in NSW are split into two separate categories. Category 1 game species include all wild deer and some game birds. These species require a licence to hunt whether on private or declared public lands.

Category 2 game animals include a number of animals commonly referred to as ‘feral’ animals including feral pigs, feral goats, wild dogs, feral cats, rabbits, foxes, hares and several game birds. These species do not require licences for hunting on private land, but may be hunted on declared public hunting lands with an appropriate licence.

In NSW, there are 350 state forests declared as public hunting lands. Persons wishing to hunt in state forests require a Restricted Game Hunting Licence (R-Licence) and written permission issued by the DPI GLU.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) oversees and issues licences for the hunting of native animals (such as kangaroos) and native waterfowl (through the Game Bird Management Program) and hunting on national parks estate. Native animals can only be hunted in NSW under a licence issued by the NPWS. Licences for hunting of native species are only issued under certain circumstances where harvesting is required, such as permits to cull kangaroos that are affecting agricultural activities. Recreational hunters can apply for appropriate licences to assist landowners who have been issued with an Occupiers Licence.

NSW hunters can assist landholders to mitigate the damage caused by ducks to agricultural crops through the NSW Game Bird Management Program. Under this program, hunters who have met certain training and licensing requirements can apply for a game bird licence to be involved in this program.

NSW hunters are able to assist NPWS to control certain vertebrate animals on national parks estate through the Supplementary Pest Control (SPC) program. Currently, NPWS is partnering with experienced and skilled volunteer shooters to help reduce pests in 12 national parks and reserves. The NPWS has established a partnership with SSAA NSW for the initial selection and recruitment of volunteers to ensure they are appropriately qualified and skilled.
Northern Territory

The Northern Territory currently allows the hunting of feral pigs and waterfowl under a permit system. All other classified feral animals can be taken on private land with the landholders’ permission, without a specific permit under the normal conditions of a firearms licence.
Waterfowl hunting in the Northern Territory is seasonal and is declared by a notice each year in the Government Gazette.
Permits to hunt pigs are issued for a period of one year from August 1 to July 31 each year. Permits are issued to allow hunting of pigs within the Northern Territory hunting reserves of Shoal Bay and Harrison Dam. Permits to hunt pigs on designated crown land can also be obtained from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
To hunt on private land or hunting concession, you require only landowner permission. To hunt on Aboriginal Lands, a permit from the respective Land Council and endorsement from the Traditional Owner is required. Hunters can also participate in the Back Country Hunting Program. This initiative is available to Northern Territory residents where hunters must be members of approved hunting organisations, undertake a program accreditation course and have the appropriate permit to participate.
All waterfowl hunters are required to obtain a Waterfowl Hunting Permit prior to hunting, whether hunting on or off the Parks and Wildlife Hunting Reserves. The Waterfowl Hunting Permit details the conditions that apply to the annual season, which must be adhered to by hunters.
In the Northern Territory, the following duck/geese species can be taken during a declared open season.
Magpie geese
Pacific black duck
Wandering whistle duck (or water whistle duck)
Plumed whistle duck (or grass whistle duck)
Grey teal
Pink-eared duck
Hardhead duck (or white-eyed duck)
Maned duck (or wood duck).

In the Northern Territory, the following species are classified as feral and can be taken any time. The following animals have been declared pests.
Arabian camel
Buffalo
Cane toad
Donkey
Feral cat
Horse
Red fox
Wild boar
Goat
European rabbit
Wild dog
Feral cattle
House sparrow
Pigeon
Sambar deer
Rusa deer
Turtle dove

For the latest in game licence types, fees and regulations please visit the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport website.
Queensland

Hunting is limited to feral animals on private property with landowners’ permission to hunt on the property.
Only a current firearms licence is required to hunt on private property. There is no hunting permit or fee applicable. Full licence holders must be 18 years of age and children of at least 11 years can use firearms under a minors licence with adult supervision.
Queensland doesn’t have any species currently classified as game that can be taken by recreational hunters during an open season.
The following animals are some of the species classified as pests and can be taken any time.
Bali cattle
Bison or American buffalo
Camel
Chital (Axis) deer
Donkey
European hare
Fallow deer
Hog deer
Cat, other than a domestic cat
Dingo
Dog, other than domestic dog
European fox
European rabbit
Feral pig
Goat, other than domestic goat
South Australia

In South Australia open seasons under certain conditions permit the hunting of certain species of protected game. A few species of native animals and all species of introduced animals can be hunted with no bag restrictions; however a hunting permit is required before it is permissible to hunt such animals. A hunter must obtain and carry written permission when hunting on private land.

South Australia has a permit system in which any person wanting to hunt must hold the appropriately endorsed permit. The ‘Basic’ permit enables a person to hunt all species of introduced animals and a few selected native species. To hunt duck and quail will require an ‘Open Season’ permit (quail and duck plus Basic) for the hunting of protected game. There is currently also an ‘Open Season Quail’ permit available for those not intending to participate in duck hunting. It is a requirement that prior to applying for an Open Season permit (which endorses Duck Hunting) an applicant must have first passed the Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT). Juniors aged between 15 and 18 years old or sub-juniors under the age of 14 years can apply for a hunting permit.

In South Australia, the following species are classified as game and can be taken during a declared open season.
Stubble quail
Pacific black duck
Grey teal
Hardhead (white-eyed duck)
Mountain duck (Australian shelduck)
Pink-eared duck
Maned duck (wood duck)
Chestnut teal
Blue-winged shoveler

In South Australia, the following species are classified as feral and can be taken any time on private property with permission from landowners.
Feral goat
Pig
Camel
Deer
Rabbit
Red fox
Starling
Domestic pigeon
European blackbird
Spotted turtle-dove

For the latest in hunting licence types, fees and regulations please visit the Department for Environment and Heritage website.
Tasmania

In Tasmania, a Game Licence authorises the taking of game during a declared open season. Pest or feral animals can be taken at any time on both private land, state forest and crown land.
Pest animals such as rabbits, hares, foxes and feral domestic animals such as pigs and goats can be taken at any time on crown land, state forest and on private property with the permission of the landholder.

Minor firearm permits are available for those under 18 years who cannot apply for a full licence. There are two classes of minor permits, one for minors between 12 and 16 years and the other for minors between 16 and 18 years. Hunting permits are only available to minors who are 16 to 18 years of age.
Any persons wishing to take deer, wild duck, muttonbird, wallaby, brown quail or pheasant during the gazetted open seasons in Tasmania will require a licence.These licences are for recreational hunting only within the prescribed open seasons.

All persons aged 18 and older who wish to take deer, duck, wallaby, brown quail and pheasant will require a current firearms licence. Firearms licences issued from all Australian states or territories are acceptable.

For all species types except wallaby, a licence will not be issued unless take details from the previous season have been received and recorded. A letter requesting take details will be sent out in July each year and, as required by Regulation 8 of the Wildlife Regulations 1999. The hunter is requested to complete and return this form to the address shown on the back of the return form by the date indicated.

In Tasmania, the following are referred to as a game species and can be taken during a specified open season.
Deer
Wild duck
Muttonbird (non-commercial)
Wallaby (non-commercial)
Brown quail
Pheasant

In Tasmania, the following are referred to as introduced pest animals and can be taken at any time.
Rabbits
Hares
Foxes
Feral domestic animals such as pigs and goats

For the latest in game licence types, fees and regulations please visit the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website.
Victoria

In the State of Victoria, a person can currently hunt a variety of game species under a state licence system. All other pest or feral animals can be taken on both state forest and private land with the landholders’ permission, without a specific permit under the normal conditions of a firearms licence.
Some species of the game can only be taken during a proclaimed ‘open season’ where there may be a set ‘bag limit’ on that species. A bag limit is normally the limit or total number of the species you can take a day.
Victoria has a number of different types of game licences available. Various licences require that the applicant has passed a Hound Hunting Test and/or Waterfowl Identification Test in the case of deer and duck hunting.
In Victoria, the following species are generally classified as game and can be taken during a declared open season subject to seasonal variations.
Stubble quail
Pheasants and partridges
European quail
Californian quail
Pacific Black duck
Grey teal
Hardhead (white-eyed duck)
Mountain duck (Australian shelduck)
Pink-eared duck
Maned duck (wood duck)
Chestnut teal
Blue-winged shoveler
Hog deer
Red deer
Sambar deer
Fallow deer

Victoria’s Department of Sustainability and Environment has declared the following species to be pest and can be generally hunted any time.
Rabbits
Hares
Foxes
Feral dogs and dogs run wild
Feral goats and goats run wild
Feral pigs and pigs run wild

For the latest in game licence types, fees and regulations please go to the Department of Sustainability and Environment website.
Western Australia

Hunting is limited to taking feral and pest animals on private property with landowner’s permission. Western Australia has a duck hunting open season from January 1 to June 30 every year. The season allows the taking of wood duck and mountain duck on private lands in the South-west Land Division and Eucla Division regions under a mitigation permit system.

Only a current firearms licence is required to hunt on private property. There is no hunting permit or fee applicable. A firearms licence cannot be issued to a person under the age of 18 years.

The following animals are some of the feral or pest species that can be regularly taken in Western Australia.
Rabbits
Hares
Foxes
Pigs
Wild dog
Goat
Camel
Donkey
Wild horse
Wild cattle
Starling
Wood duck
Mountain duck

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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