NSW Department of Primary Industries

Hunting

  • 25,821 recreational license holders on average in 2023-24, including 23,916 Restricted License holders.
  • 63,015 public land hunts booked in 2023-24 resulting in 68,076 reported days hunting, 10% higher yoy.
Hunting is recognised as a legitimate recreational pursuit which provides substantial economic benefits to rural and regional communities in NSW. Further, recreational hunting is a tool used in the management of many game and pest animals that negatively impact the environment, agricultural production and communities.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) manages hunter licensing, education and compliance, and administers important hunting programs including hunting on public land and the native game bird management program. Game and feral animal hunting in NSW is subject to regulations to ensure the safety of surrounding communities. Conditions that apply to legal hunting in NSW are set out in the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and the Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2022.

Various educational programs are run by DPIRD to support responsible hunting and compliance by recreational hunters on both public and private lands such as the Hunter Learning, Education and Accreditation Program (LEAP), the NSW firearms safety initiative GunSmart and the Hunter Learning, Education and Accreditation Program (LEAP), and responsible pig dogger, and ethical bowhunter programs. Additionally, DPIRD manages the Shut the gate on illegal hunting program, in partnership with the NSW Police Force, part of a larger campaign to reduce rural crime in NSW.

Hunting activity

Following a spike in the number of people obtaining hunting licenses during the COVID pandemic, the number of licensed recreational hunters has continued to grow with an almost 40% increase over the last seven years. There were 25,821 current license holders on average in 2023-24, this included 23,916 Restricted License holders. A Restricted License is required to hunt game and feral animals on public land that has been declared and opened to hunting, or on private land with the permission of the landholder, while a General Licence is required for hunting game birds on private property in NSW, including native species under the Native Game Bird Management Program which requires additional endorsement. General licences represented about 7 percent of the total number of recreational hunting licenses (General and Restricted) in 2023-24. 61
There were 224 forests open for hunting as at August 2024, while a total of 63,015 public land hunts were booked in 2023-24 resulting in 68,076 reported days hunting a 10% increase from 2022-23. 61

Consistent with the increased number of Restricted License hunters (year-on-year up almost 4%) and an increase in the associated hunting days logged up (almost 10% - indicating increased activity by Restricted licensed hunters), there was a reported increase in the number of pest animals harvested from the open state forests through 2023-24. 61

Number of recreational hunting licences (Restricted and General)

Download data (.XLSX)
Source: DPIRD (internal data)

Reported pest animals harvested from NSW state forests

  • 2021-22
  • 2022-23
  • 2023-24
Download data (.XLSX)
Source: DPIRD (internal data)

DPIRD Initiatives in Focus

Redeclaration of NSW State forests for hunting

The NSW Government has redeclared 351 State forests for hunting effective between 1 February 2024 and 1 February 2034. Only hunters holding a NSW Restricted Game Hunting Licence and written permission issued by DPIRD Hunting can legally hunt in State forests that are declared and opened for hunting.

Across 2023 and 2024, DPIRD Hunting (part of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) worked closely with the Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) to redeclare certain State forests for the purpose of hunting.

Under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and its Regulation 2022, public land must be declared for the purpose of hunting. Hunters holding a NSW Restricted Game Hunting Licence (R-Licence) and written permission issued by DPIRD Hunting may legally hunt in State forests that have been declared and opened for hunting.

The NSW Government redeclared 351 State forests for hunting in January, with the declaration effective between 1 February 2024 and 1 February 2034.

Over 54,000 written permissions were issued in 2023-24 to over 24,000 R-Licence holders, with 18,530 feral and pest animals removed from declared public land. The regulated hunting community is almost 26,000 strong, including General Game Hunting Licence holders who hunt on private land only.

Regulated hunting generates a range of social and economic benefits for NSW. Hunter expenditure supports many businesses, especially in regional and rural NSW, including outdoor and camping products, specialist hunting stores and tourism-related businesses (fuel, food and accommodation).

Legal, regulated hunting in NSW is supported by hunter education and training. Online training that qualifies hunters for an R-Licence ramped up over 2023-24 with over 5,100 courses completed. Mandatory training can also be completed through a network of accredited partners, with around 1,200 face-to-face courses completed. A range of tailored courses are available for education partners to deliver to their local community and more online courses are in development.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au