Restricted Guide licence

Apply for or renew your licence

You can apply for a new game hunting licence or renew an existing licence using our online services. You can read more about applying or renewing online or use the links below to get started.

If you want to apply for a licence type that is Restricted, it is important to read about how to become accredited and qualify for the licence before you apply.

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A hunting guide is a person who accompanies other persons on a hunt for game or feral animals in return for a fee or reward.

If you want to guide others in their pursuit of game and feral animals on public land in NSW, you need to apply for a Restricted Guide Licence (R-Guide).

The R-Guide licence confers the authority of a standard R-Licence. You do not need to purchase both licences. The R-Guide licence also incorporates authority for guiding others on their hunt for game birds on private land.

Use the links above to apply for or renew an R-Guide. If you can't apply online, use the application forms below.

NSW Restricted (Guide) Game Hunting Licence - application/renewal form (PDF, 184.02 KB)

NSW Game Hunting Licence - licence replacement form (PDF, 157.42 KB)

Note: you must download and submit a PDF form to request a replacement licence.

Qualifying

There are four requirements that must be met before you can apply for the R-Guide licence. Applicants must:

• be over 18 years of age
• hold a Firearms Licence
• be a member of an Approved Hunting Organisation (AHO), and
• become accredited for one or more R-licence categories.

Approved Hunting Organisations

Before qualifying for an R-Guide licence, you must become a member of an Approved Hunting Organisation (AHO). A directory of AHOs is available.

You must also maintain your membership for your R-Guide licence to remain valid. You will be asked to provide proof of your membership when you apply.

Special conditions

R-Guide licence holders must:

• maintain a current membership with an AHO
• hold a current Firearms Licence and carry a firearm of the appropriate calibre for the animal(s) being hunted on all guided hunts for the purposes of animal welfare
• understand relevant sections of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and its associated Regulation 2022 before undertaking any hunting or guiding under licence. This includes complying with the mandatory NSW Game Hunting Licence Code of Practice and related legislation
• ensure that all clients comply with the relevant legislation, including all licence conditions, and hold a current NSW Restricted Game Hunting Licence (R-Licence) when hunting on public land, or a current NSW General Game Hunting Licence (G-Licence) when hunting game birds on private land
• keep a log book recording your hunting guide activities. This will help distinguish between general hunting and guided hunting for the purposes of enforcement and public liability insurance. The log book must record:
  • the date of guided hunting
  • the location
  • name and NSW game hunting licence number of each person being guided
• when guiding clients to hunt native game birds, the guide must notify DPI Hunting:
  • of the Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence number and the properties they will be guiding on each year
  • within 7 days of when an additional property is acquired for the purpose of guiding, or permission to guide on a property is revoked by the owner/occupier.

Guiding on declared public hunting land

R-Guide hunters are responsible for the following:

• all hunters being guided on public land must be licensed. Australian residents must hold a NSW R-Licence and international residents must hold a NSW Visitor's licence
• both the hunter and the guide must be accredited in the R-Licence category/ies for the type of hunting occurring
• both the hunter and the guide must apply for, and carry at all times (either digitally or physically), written permission to hunt.

In fairness to other R-Licence holders, group bookings are unavailable. All bookings for public land are made on a first-in-first-served basis.

Permits from the Firearms Registry

Persons wanting to guide others in their pursuit of game and feral animals in NSW must also obtain a Safari Tour Permit from the NSW Police Force Firearms Registry.

Overseas hunters must first obtain a permit from the NSW Police Force Firearms Registry authorising their possession and use of a firearm in NSW. They may also require a NSW Visitors Game Hunting Licence.

Applying

Once you have become a member of an AHO and completed the accreditation requirements you need to apply to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Use the links at the top of the page to either apply online or submit an application form.

Your application must contain:

• completed application form
• R-Licence accreditation form/s
• proof of your membership with an AHO
• payment details.

Applications not containing all the required information will be returned to the applicant.

Cost

The concession rate is only available to pensioners holding an eligible pension card. Minor hunters are not eligible to hold a guide licence.

Insurance

Guide licences do not include public liability insurance cover. Insurance covering paid guided hunts is the responsibility of the licence holder.

However, if you are using your licence for the purpose of private (standard) hunting, your licence includes $20 million public liability cover. You should keep a record of your paid and private hunting to satisfy the insurer should you make a claim.