You are not required to hold a NSW game hunting licence if you are:
The type of licence you need to legally hunt in NSW depends on:
Licence type | Non- indigenous game animals - Part 1 | Other non- indigenous animals - Part 2 | Guide others | Sell harvested animal | Insurance | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public land | Private land | Public land | Private land | Public land | Private land | Public land | Private land | ||
Restricted (standard) | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | No | No | No | No | $20 million |
General (standard) | No | Yes | No | N/A | No | No | No | No | $20 million |
Restricted Guide | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes | Yes | No | No | Nil |
General Guide | No | Yes | No | N/A | No | Yes | No | No | Nil |
Restricted Commercial | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | No | No | Yes | Yes | Nil |
Restricted Visitor's | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | No | No | No | No | $20 million |
General Visitor's | No | Yes | No | N/A | No | No | No | No | $20 million |
Please note: General Commercial and General Professional Game Hunting Licences are no longer required for feral deer on private land.
If you would like to harvest non-indigenous game birds commercially (not native game birds) on private land, please contact DPI Hunting to discuss your circumstances.
To determine which NSW game hunting licence is right for you, we usually ask you a few questions, as shown in the accordion below.
If you want to hunt game and feral animals on public land in NSW, you need to apply for a Restricted licence. Restricted licence holders must:
If you want to hunt game birds on private land, you need to apply for a game hunting licence. This can be either the Restricted licence, which also gives you public land access, or a General licence for private land only. General licence holders must also be over 12 years of age.
You don't need a licence if you are only hunting rabbits, foxes, pigs, goats, deer, hares, feral cats or wild dogs (not dingoes) on private land (listed in Part 2 of Schedule 3 of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002) .
If you want to hunt game and feral animals on public land in NSW, and then sell the harvested meat or another part of the animal for consumption, you need to apply for a Restricted Commercial licence. Restricted Commercial licence holders must:
Please note, information on commercial harvesting of kangaroos and other native species is available from the Office of Environment and Heritage.
Information on other legal requirements relating to the sale of wild game meat, such as deer, is available from the NSW Food Authority.
If you want to guide other hunters in their pursuit of game and feral animals on public land in NSW, you need to apply for a Restricted Guide licence. Restricted Guide licence holders must:
If you want to guide other hunters in their pursuit of game birds on private land in NSW, you need to apply for a General Guide licence. General Guide licence holders must also be over 18 years of age and a member of an Approved Hunting Organisation. To guide others as they hunt native game birds, both the hunter and the guide must meet the requirements of the Native Game Bird Management Program.
If you live outside of Australia and want to hunt in NSW, you need to apply for either a Restricted Visitor's licence (required for public land) or General Visitor's licence (for hunting of game birds on private land). Holders of both types must be over 12 years of age and accompanied by a licensed individual or guide.
Please note, information about importing firearms into NSW is available from the NSW Police Force Firearms Registry.
Read more about the process of applying or renewing a licence and the supporting information that is required.
Concession rates are available for minors, veterans and pensioners.
Read more about the processing of NSW hunting licences, which are generally processed within 20 working days.
There are restrictions on who can hold a NSW Game Hunting Licence.
If you are an Aboriginal person, you are exempt from the NSW game hunting licensing provisions, provided that:
The Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 does not affect the operation of the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993, or of the Native Title (New South Wales) Act 1994, in relation to the recognition of native title rights and interests within the meanings of those Acts, or in any other respect.
Every standard Restricted and General licence comes with $20 million public liability insurance through Marsh Pty Ltd.
The policy covers legal liability to third parties for bodily injury and/or property damage up to the value of $20 million.
Holders of standard Restricted and General licences are covered when hunting any species listed in the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 on private land Australia wide. Restricted licence holders are also covered when hunting under the terms of their licence on public land in NSW.
Commercial and hunting guide licence holders are only covered while they are hunting privately (recreationally). Hunters holding one of these licences should keep appropriate records to satisfy the insurer that they were hunting privately.
For more information on any of these licences, exemptions or restrictions, please contact DPI Hunting on 02 6363 7650, or hunting@dpi.nsw.gov.au.