Additional training for public land hunters
Complete additional R-Licence training requirements asap
NSW Restricted Game Hunting Licence (R-Licence) holders who completed the course through a trainer must complete their additional R-Licence training as soon as possible.
Following a hunting risk assessment review in 2014, R-Licence holders were required to complete some extra training before they were given access to hunt booking system.
You need to take action if you:
- are a current licence holder who can't access the booking system
- held an R-Licence in the past and may want the licence again in the future
- have completed R-Licence Accreditation training in-person who has not applied for a licence, but may wish to apply in the future.
In 2025, the ability to complete additional training will be removed. This means that old Accreditation Forms (issued by Hunter LEAP Trainers before August 2023) will no longer be accepted.
- Current and expired licence holders who have not completed the extra training will not be able to renew their licence until they complete the new R-Licence Accreditation Course.
- All new licence applications must be accompanied by an Accreditation Certificate from the new R-Licence Accreditation Course (available online or through a trainer).
The additional training is now included in the R-Licence Accreditation Course and there is no extra training needed if you complete this course.
Existing R-Licence holders
If you have already completed the additional training, you do not need to take any action.
If you have not completed the additional training, please watch the public land hunting tutorial, and complete the declaration as soon as possible.
Expired R-Licence holders
If you would like to renew your Game Hunting Licence at some point in the future, please note:
- if you renew and complete the additional training as soon as possible, you will not be required to complete the new R-Licence Accreditation Course.
- if you renew after the cut-off date in 2025, you will be required to complete the new R-Licence Accreditation Course before your licence can be granted.
Future R-Licence holders
If you have completed R-Licence accreditation in the past but have never applied for a licence, you must apply for your licence and watch the tutorial before the cut-off date in 2025 (final date yet to be determined).
The tutorial covers important information all R-Licence holders must know before hunting on public land, including:
- navigation
- general written permission conditions
- signs you may see in State forests.
Please ensure this is completed as soon as possible or you will be required to complete the new R-Licence Accreditation Course before DPIRD Hunting can process your licence.
Additional training requirements for R-Licence holders were brought in following a review of the NSW hunting risk assessment in 2014. The additional training ensures they are aware of how to navigate on public land, the general written permission conditions that apply to all public land hunting and how to identify signs in a State forest and know what they mean.
Until 2020, this training comprised two online education modules and an additional safety briefing. The public land hunting video tutorial simplifies the additional training requirements while ensuring R-Licence holders know and understand important information before they can book a public land hunt.
The tutorial must be watched and the declaration completed before you will be given access to book a written permission to hunt on public land.
Yes, you can access the public land hunting video tutorial by selecting the 'Watch a tutorial on public land hunting' option from the main menu of Online Licence Holder Services.
You can also refresh your training by watching the tutorial on YouTube.
