Information for landholders
Owners or occupiers can apply for a Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence to manage native game birds for sustainable agricultural management purposes only. This means the licence can only be issued to manage native game birds on agricultural lands where hunting will contribute positively to farm, regional and the State's productivity and economy; and that adaptively manage and enhance biological and physical resources and support the State's regional and rural communities.
Volunteer hunters who hold a NSW Game Hunting Licence are available to help you manage native game birds once you are licensed.
How to apply for a licence
To apply for a licence to manage native game birds over agricultural crops, you can fill out Form GB-B Application for a Native Game Bird Management Licence (Owner/occupier) (PDF, 87.24 KB) or opt-in for a Native Game Bird Management Licence on their SunRice Rice Seed Order Form & Paddy Supply Offer for the 2016 Crop. There is no fee for a Native Game Bird Management Licence.
If you are applying by filling out the form, you will need to:
- Nominate the term of your licence, which can be from one to five years - you still need to apply for new native game bird quotas each year (PDF, 105.66 KB) though. Read more on property quotas for native game birds.
- Provide details for each property where native game birds are to be removed (you can list all of your properties on a licence).
- Nominate the species and numbers of native game birds to be removed from each property (quotas).
- Read, understand and sign the declaration.
Applying through SunRice, which is a Streamlined Licensing System, reduces red-tape for landholders who need assistance.
If you are applying through SunRice:
- Read the Crop Seed Circular by logging into SunRice's Grower Services. Alternatively, you can download an excerpt from the circular, covering the native game bird management licence, with an order form (PDF, 185.8 KB).
- Opt-in on your Rice Seed Order Form & Paddy Supply Offer for the 2016 crop.
- Select quota allocation.
- SunRice will give DPI information about the licence and quota you want and also some property spatial information.
- Depending on your choice of quota and whether you already have a licence, the Native Game Bird Support Team may need to phone you.
- DPI activates your licence and quota.
Hunters helping landholders
Under the NSW Native Game Bird Management Program, licensed hunters are available to help you manage native game birds.
This includes landholders allowing licensed hunters to protect their crops at night. Hunters must be in the immediate vicinity of a planted crop and have an artificial light source of sufficient brightness so they can see clearly and identify target and protected species.
To ensure licensed hunters operate in a legal, safe and responsible manner when hunting native game birds on your property, they need to ask for permission to hunt on your land, known as 'express authority'. You can give them permission by whatever means is easiest for you, it doesn't have to be in writing.
The Hunter Register
We're currently developing an online register where hunters who are available to help landholders during the week (not weekends) can list their details and the regions they are willing to travel to.
The Landholder Register
If you want to be contacted by licensed hunters, you can authorise us to list you on the Native Game Bird Landholder Register.
Submit Form GB-L - Native Game Bird Management Licence - Landholder Register (PDF, 52.8 KB), which authorises the release of your name and contact details and can be accessed by hunters who have registered for the program.
The Native Game Bird Support Officer maintains the register.
Listings on the Native Game Bird Landholder Register are voluntary only.
Landholders who are hunters
Landholders, members of their household and their employees who will be personally hunting native game birds are now required to hold a NSW Game Hunting Licence and pass the Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) if they wish to hunt native game birds as part of this program.
These changes are designed to ensure that all individuals who hunt native game birds can identify target game birds and protected species when participating in this program and that they must follow the NSW Hunters' Code of Practice.
All fees to attempt the WIT and apply for a General Game Hunting Licence are waived for landholders, members of their household and employees covered by a Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence.
Landholders who want to hunt native game birds themselves on their property can apply to do so by filling out Form B7 - Application for a NSW General Game Hunting Licence (Native Game Bird Management Licence holder) (PDF, 127.41 KB).
Support services
The Native Game Bird Support Team can help you with:
- managing hunters to ensure they operate in a legal, safe and responsible manner when hunting native game birds as part of this program.
- tracking your native game bird property quotas and assisting you to apply for property quota increases when they are needed
- assistance to you, members of your household and employees who are now required to obtain a NSW Game Hunting Licence and pass the WIT
- waiving all fees for you, members of your household or employees who are now required to obtain a NSW Game Hunting Licence and pass the WIT
You can call the Native Game Bird Support team on 03 5874 2983 or email them through gamelicensing.southern@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
