Native Game Bird Management Program

The NSW Native Game Bird Management Program allows licensed, responsible volunteer hunters to help landholders manage the impacts of native game birds over their agricultural lands.

Everyone who hunts native game birds under this program needs to hold a current NSW Game Hunting Licence that is endorsed for native game bird hunting. This involves passing the Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) before they can take part in the program. These requirements set a benchmark for individuals hunting native species in NSW and ensure that landholders are still able to access the free assistance of hunters to protect their crops.

Those who wish to hunt native game birds also require the landholder’s express authority to do so. This means the landholder needs to give their permission for hunting to occur and they can do so in any manner they see fit. Having permission to enter land is a key principle in the NSW Game Hunting Licence Code of Practice and a mandatory condition of NSW game hunting licences.

Native game birds (ducks)

There are 10 species of native game ducks that may be authorised for hunting under the program, subject to a quota and licence allocations.

• Australian Shelduck or Mountain Duck (Tadorna tadornoides)
• Australian Wood Duck or Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
• Black Duck or Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
• Blue-winged Shoveler or Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis)
• Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
• Grass Whistling Duck or Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
• Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
• Hardhead Duck or White-eyed Duck (Aythya australis)
• Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)
• Water Whistling Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck or Whistling or Wandering Tree Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata)

To sustainably manage native game birds, landholders may:

• Be issued a Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence
• Register for assistance to receive the help of licensed hunters, or
• Apply for a NSW Game Hunting Licence and complete the Waterfowl Identification Test to manage game bird impacts themselves (in addition to holding a management licence).

As part of the program, hunters are required to:

• Complete the Waterfowl Identification Test
• Apply for or update their NSW Game Hunting Licence to receive game bird endorsement
• Observe the conditions of their licence as well as the special licence conditions for hunting native game birds.

If you need more information on the program, contact the Wildlife Management Support Team on gamebirds@dpi.nsw.gov.au or 02 6363 7650.

Harvests

Program participation

Landholders

Hunters