NGB FAQs
Do I need permission to hunt native game birds?
Yes, you must obtain express authority, which can be written or verbal permission from the landholder who holds the owner/occupier licence.
Is there a list of licensed properties you could give me?
Landholders who have a Native Game Bird Management Licence are invited to list their details on a Landholder Register if they want to be contacted by licensed hunters. Not all landholders need help to manage native game birds on their properties and some may already have existing arrangements for hunters to assist them.
The Landholder Register is available on the Native Game Bird Portal, which is part of online licence holder services. You'll be given access to the Portal when you are endorsed for the Native Game Bird Management Program. You need your licence number and security PIN as well as the landholder's licence number to login online.
Endorsed hunters can also contact the Wildlife Management Team via gamebirds@dpird.nsw.gov.au or 1800 748 848 for verbal advice.
Can you recommend properties I could hunt on?
No, DPIRD Hunting is part of a government department and can't directly facilitate hunting opportunities. You will need to seek out hunting opportunities yourself.
Do I need to know the total licence allocation before I hunt?
Yes, it is mandatory to fill-in your Native Game Bird Hunter Diary with the total licence allocation before hunting and also the total numbers of native game birds you harvested after completing your hunt.
How do I find out what the total licence allocation is?
Login to online licence holder services and access the Native Game Bird Portal. You're given access to the portal when you provide evidence that you have passed the WIT and we upgrade your licence for game birds. You need your licence number and security PIN as well as the landholder's licence number to login online.
Which parts of the property can I hunt on?
Landholder licences cover the whole property and the landholder decides the areas they want you to hunt. You should ask the landholder about the property boundaries and permitted hunting areas before hunting.
Can I go on a list that's given to landholders?
Yes, the Hunter Register is a list of hunters who are available to help landholders manage native game birds. You need to nominate the regions you can travel to and what days you are available to hunt. Complete the registration form located on the Native Game Bird Management Portal.
Am I only allowed to hunt on rice growing properties?
Landholders can apply for a Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence for any type of private agricultural lands and production, such as wheat, lucerne or oats, that are impacted by native game birds. They must have a current licence and a total licence allocation for you to be able to hunt though.
How do I use the Native Game Bird Hunter Diary?
You can use either a physical or digital hunter diary (PDF, 133.9 KB) to record licence allocations and your harvests.
Before you hunt- obtain and record the number and type of native game birds remaining for the Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence total allocation, in the Native Game Bird Hunter Diary supplied by the Regulatory Authority no more than 48 hours before commencing your hunt.
Each time you leave a property, even if you will continue hunting on the same trip, you must record the total number and type of native game birds harvested in your Native Game Bird Hunter Diary. This means you must have one diary page for each property you hunt.
After your hunt - record the total number and type of native game birds harvested on each property you hunt in the Native Game Bird Hunter Diary supplied by the Regulatory Authority, before leaving that property. You must have one full diary page completed every time you leave a licensed property, even if you will continue hunting later.
When will I receive my hunter diary so I can start hunting?
When you provide evidence of your WIT certification (a copy of your WIT certificate, MyGL account record or Victorian Game Licence card that shows your WIT number), and are endorsed for the Program, you will be sent a Native Game Bird Hunter Kit, which includes the Hunter Diary.
If you've received your licence but not yet received a native game bird kit, you can use the digital hunter diary (PDF, 133.9 KB).
What duck species can I hunt?
There are 10 species of ducks that can be authorised under the Native Game Bird Management Program:
- 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)
Note: Each individual species of duck listed above can only be harvested under licences that have a total licence allocation.
How do I get licensed to hunt ducks in NSW?
You need to pass the Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) and hold either a NSW General or Restricted Game Hunting Licence that has been 'updated' for the program.
Can I hunt ducks anywhere in NSW?
No. You can only hunt ducks on properties that are covered by a Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence.
How many ducks can I harvest?
Each property covered by a Native Game Bird Management Licence has a total licence allocation of individual species that may be harvested. When you ask for permission to hunt, you must find out the landholders licence number so you can look up licence allocation by logging onto the Native Game Bird Portal.
Can I hunt ducks on dams or other storage waters?
Yes, you can hunt on dams or storage water including creeks as long as it is part of the property that is licensed. You can't shoot across creeks or rivers that aren't covered by a Native Game Bird Management (Owners/Occupiers) Licence. This includes any stream frontage public land that may be bordering private property. You should check property boundary information before hunting.
Can I hunt ducks at night?
Yes. The Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2022 provides for night hunting of native game birds if:
- the hunter uses lighting of sufficient brightness to enable them to clearly see and identify the species of native game bird being hunted, and
- the native game birds are in the immediate vicinity of, or are reasonably likely, to adversely impact a planted crop.
Night means the time from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise the next day.
Can I use decoys and callers?
Yes.
Can I use a dog to hunt ducks?
Yes, but you must have the landholders consent to use a dog and then only use them for retrieval of harvested ducks.
What type of shot can I use to hunt ducks?
You may use all shot types when hunting ducks in NSW; however, you are encouraged to use non-toxic shot.
What sort of firearm can I use to hunt ducks?
You may only use shotguns in NSW.
Can I take my harvested ducks home?
Yes, we encourage you to utilise ducks you harvest under the program.
Am I required to tag or identify that the ducks I take home were shot in NSW?
No, the program does not require you to tag the harvested ducks you take home; however, we recommend that you check with your local state authority if you will be taking them out of NSW.
Your Hunter Diary must be filled in correctly as it is evidence of the place and time you harvested the ducks.
Do I need to lodge a harvest return?
Yes, you are required to lodge a harvest return on each property you hunt, recording the total number and type of native game birds harvested under the owner/occupier licence, within 48 hours of completing your hunt.
If you didn't hunt, or if you didn't harvest any game birds on a hunt, you do not need to submit a nil return.
Will I get in trouble if I submit a large harvest return?
No, accurate reporting of your harvests is encouraged so we can have the best possible data available for the program in the future.
