Game and feral animals that may be hunted in NSW are listed in Schedule 3 of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 (the Act). The rules and regulations that apply to hunting these species, including whether a licence is required or not, are set out in the Act and the Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2012 (the Regulation).
It is important to understand which animals you can legally hunt and under what circumstance. Read our Hunting licences and Rules and regulations pages carefully to understand these requirements before hunting in NSW.
The Act provides for three categories of animals that can be legally hunted in NSW:
The main difference between the categories is that one group is identified simply as game and the other are more commonly referred to as feral or pest animals. They are classified this way as a hunting licence may or may not be required, depending on the species and the type of land being hunted.
A game hunting licence is required whether you are seeking to hunt these animals on private (General licence) or public land (Restricted licence).
You may only hunt native game birds if you are endorsed for the Native Game Bird Management Program.
Note: The following native game bird species of quail and pigeon may not be hunted in the absence of a State-wide quota. Currently, there is not enough scientific information on populations of these species to provide for a hunting quota.
The following species, listed in Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the Act, are often identified as feral or pest animals. A game hunting licence is not required when hunting these animals on private land. However, you must hold permission to hunt from the landholder or manager and a current firearms licence (where firearms will be used) before entering lands to hunt these species.
However, these species are considered game animals for the purpose of public land hunting by NSW Restricted Game Hunting Licence holders.