Volunteer non-commercial kangaroo shooting
In 2018, the NSW Government announced changes to non-commercial kangaroo management, including initiatives to allow volunteer shooters to support landholders.
The changes included:
- Physical tags – no longer required.
- More than two shooters may operate under a landholder licence at any time.
- Shooters no longer need to be listed on the landholder’s licence at the time of application and only need to be listed on landholder licence returns after culling operations.
- Carcasses may be removed for personal use (but not sold, swapped or traded).
Why change how kangaroos are managed?
Large populations of kangaroos can cause damage to properties, eating what little pasture is left on the ground and accessing limited water resources. These changes streamline non-commercial management of overabundant kangaroo populations to the benefit of landholders and regional communities.
The NSW Government continues to pursue commercial harvesting as the most humane and efficient method for managing kangaroo populations.
Personal use of kangaroo carcasses
While kangaroo carcasses may now be removed for personal use, it is strictly prohibited for non-commercial shooters to sell, trade or swap any part of a harvested kangaroo.
Non-commercial kangaroo management
| Step-by-step guide for volunteer non-commercial Kangaroo culling | ||
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Landholder applies for a Licence to Harm Kangaroos over the phone or in-person. |
National Parks & Wildlife Service Find your local NPWS office |
| Step 2 | Landholder receives an allocation of kangaroos that may be taken on each property covered by the licence. | National Parks & Wildlife Service |
| Step 3 | Once licensed, landholders may connect with commercial harvesters, professional shooters or experienced volunteer shooters for assistance with kangaroo management. To find volunteer shooters, landholders may obtain the details of professional or volunteer shooters via the LLS Shooters Register. | Local Land Services 1300 795 299 Register your interest |
| Step 4 | Learn about the humane and ethical shooting of kangaroos by reading the Volunteer Non-Commercial Kangaroo Shooters Best Practice Guide (PDF, 803.38 KB). | NSW Department of Primary Industries |
| Step 5 | Shooters obtain permission from landholders and learn about property rules and the number and type of kangaroos that can be culled under the landholders licence. | Volunteer Shooters |
| Step 6 | On expiry of the landholder’s Licence to Harm Kangaroos, landholder submits to National Parks & Wildlife Service:
| National Parks & Wildlife Service |
National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes
Landholders and shooters culling kangaroos non-commercial must comply with the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes.
Volunteer Non-Commercial Kangaroo Shooters Best Practice Guide
The comprehensive Volunteer Non-Commercial Kangaroo Shooters Best Practice Guide (PDF, 803.38 KB) has been developed to further educate shooters about provisions in the national code as well as other important information on shooting safety, food hygiene and disease identification.
All shooters are encouraged to read and abide by the Volunteer Shooters Guide to ensure humane and ethical non-commercial harvesting of kangaroos.
More information
- Kangaroo management – Frequently asked questions
- Landholder licensing – National Parks & Wildlife Service
- Connecting landholders with commercial harvesters, professional shooters and experienced volunteer shooters – Local Land Services
- Commercial Kangaroo Management Program – Office of Environment and Heritage.
