Redeclaration of State forests for hunting

On Friday 10 November 2023, a notice to declare certain NSW State forests for hunting was published in the NSW Government Gazette in accordance with Section 20 of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and Section 23 of the Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2022.

The final declaration notice was signed by the Minister and published in the NSW Government Gazette on Friday 19 January 2024. 351 State Forests have been redeclared for hunting of game animals from 1 February 2024 to 1 February 2034. Seven State forests were not redeclared due to changes in tenure, management status and urban sprawl.

You can:

• view the hunting exclusion zone maps of State forests on the Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) website.
• read the list of redeclared State forests below
• read some Frequently Asked Questions about the declarations.

Before declaring public lands as available for hunting, the Minister responsible considered:

• the impact on public safety
• the rights of others using the land
• any plan of management or other policy document relating to the use or management of the land, and
• any recommendation of FCNSW or the Regulatory Authority (delegated to NSW DPI).

About recreational hunting on declared public land

Safety and rights of other public land users

Recreational hunting on public land has occurred safely for over 17 years (since 2006) with no major injuries or deaths.

The activity is risk assessed to international standards and reviewed every year to ensure its continued effectiveness.

Safe and responsible hunting on public land is administered through:

Legislative requirements:

• public land must be declared for hunting
• hunters must hold a current NSW Restricted Game Hunting Licence (R-Licence) and carry the licence with them at all times
• before qualifying for an R-Licence, individuals must complete a comprehensive accreditation course, including training on written permissions, navigation and State forest signage, and be a member of a hunting club or organisation that is approved by NSW DPI
• when applying, hunters must complete comprehensive declarations around previous offences to ensure only fit and proper persons may be authorised to hunt on public lands
• minor hunters must be supervised by a fully licensed hunter
• licence holders must comply with NSW Game Hunting Licence Code of Practice, which provides important principles related to hunting, animal welfare and the use of firearms
• no hunting without permission – written permission must be obtained through NSW DPI
• licence holders must comply with licence conditions that are specific to hunting on declared public land and include rules around the use of motor vehicles and hunting dogs.

22 general written permission conditions, including:

• carry a GPS-enabled device containing approved hunting maps that display the hunting and exclusion areas
• wear an item of blaze orange externally on the upper part of the body
• rules for transporting firearms and other hunting equipment.

Other measures such as:

• conditions specific to certain State forests
• notification signage at major forest entrances
• compliance, enforcement and intelligence activities
• exclusion of hunting from recreational facilities such as mountain bike complexes, picnic areas and some camping grounds
• exclusion of hunting from FCNSW operational activities.

Use and management of the land

As the land manager, FCNSW ensures that legal hunting is administrated within plans of management and other requirements for timber harvesting arrangements. DPI Hunting works closely with FCNSW to ensure all legislative and policy objectives are balanced between recreational hunting and sustainable land management of NSW State forests. This includes regular meetings of an inter-agency working group.

Settings to ensure this balance include:

• assigning a category to declared forests that indicates its suitability for hunting
• closing and opening declared forests to hunting according to operational or other reasons
• producing quarterly hunting maps, provided by FCNSW, for licence holders to download from NSW DPI, showing areas where hunting is available or excluded
• requiring R-Licence holders to hold written permission to hunt, granted through an online booking system that ensures only declared and open forests are available to book
• ensuring adequate separation between forest workers and hunters though awareness, processes and procedures.

List of redeclared State forests

Airly, Albert, Attunga, Avon River, Awaba, Bachelor, Back Creek, Back Yamma, Badja, Bagawa, Bago, Balgay, Ballengarra, Banyabba, Baradine, Barcoongere, Barrington Tops, Belanglo, Bellangry, Ben Bullen, Benandarah, Benbraggie, Bermagui, Bibblewindi, Billapaloola, Billilimbra, Bimbi, Bingara, Binya, Blenheim, Blow Clear West, Boambee, Bodalla, Bolaro, Bom Bom, Bombala, Bonalbo, Bondi, Bondo, Boona, Boonanghi, Boonoo, Boorabee, Boorook, Boundary Creek, Bourbah, Bowman, Boyben, Boyne, Braemar, Brassey, Breeza, Bretts, Bril Bril, Broken Bago, Brother, Bruces Creek, Buckenbowra, Buckingbong, Buckra Bendinni, Bulahdelah, Bulbodney, Bulga, Bulls Ground, Bungabbee, Bungawalbin, Bungongo, Burrawan, Butterleaf, Bylong, Cairncross, Camira, Campbells Island, Canbelego, Candole, Canobolas, Carabost, Carawandool, Cargelligo, Carrai, Carwong, Cathcart, Chaelundi, Cherry Tree, Chichester, Clandulla, Clive, Clouds Creek, Clyde, Collombatti, Comboyne, Comleroy, Conapaira East, Conapaira South, Coneac, Conglomerate, Coolangubra, Coomore Creek, Coopernook, Cope, Copeton, Coricudgy, Corrabare, Corringle, Cowal, Cowarra, Craigie, Culgoora, Cumbil, Cumbine, Curraburrama, Currambene, Currowan, Dalmorton, Dampier, Diehappy, Dingo, Divines, Dog Rocks, Doona, Doubleduke, Doyles River, Dungeree, East Boyd, East Cookeys Plains, Ellangowan, Ellis, Enfield, Essington, Etoo, Euglo South, Euligal, Eurabba, Ewingar, Flat Rock, Forest Land, Fosterton, Fullers, Ganmain, Gibberagee, Gibraltar Range, Gilgunnia, Gilgurry, Gillenbah, Gilwarny, Girard, Girilambone, Giro, Gladstone, Glen Allen, Glen Elgin, Glenbog, Glenugie, Glenwood, Gnupa, Grahway, Grange, Green Hills, Gunningbland, Gurnang, Hampton, Hanging Rock, Heaton, Hyland, Ingalba, Ingebirah, Irishman, Jacks Creek, Jellore, Jenolan, Johns River, Kalateenee, Kandos, Kangaroo River, Kerewong, Kerringle, Kew, Keybarbin, Kippara, Kiwarrak, Knorrit, Koondrook, Lachlan Range, Lansdowne, Leard, Lester, Lidsdale, Lorne, Lower Bucca, Lower Creek, Lowes Mount, Malara, Manna, Mannus, Maragle, Marara, Marengo, Maria River, Masseys Creek, Matong, McDonald, McPherson, Mejum, Merrinele, Merriwindi, Meryla, Miandetta, Micalong, Middle Brother, Minnon, Mistake, Mogo, Momo, Moogem, Moonpar, Moruya, Mount Belmore, Mount Boss, Mount David, Mount Marsh, Mount Mitchell, Mount Nobby, Mount Pikapene, Mount Tilga, Mount Topper, Mullions Range, Mulyandry, Mumbulla, Mundaroo, Murda, Murraguldrie, Murrah, Myall River, Myrtle, Nadgee, Nalbaugh, Nambucca, Nana Creek,  Nangerybone, Narraway, Nerang Cowal, Nerong, Neville, Newfoundland, Newry, North Branch, North Brooman, Nowendoc, Nowra, Nulla-Five Day, Nullica, Nullo Mountain, Nundle, Nungatta, Nymboida, Oakes, Oakwood, Olney, Orara East, Orara West, Orr, Ourimbah, Palmer, Pappinbarra, Parkhurst, Pennsylvania, Perricoota, Pilliga East, Pilliga West, Pine Brush, Pine Creek, Pokolbin, Pullabooka, Putty, Queens Lake, Quegobla, Ramornie, Ravensworth, Red Hill, Riamukka, Roseberg, Roses Creek, Royal Camp, Sandgate, Scotchman, Severn, Shallow Crossing, Sheas Nob, South Brooman, Southgate, Spring Ridge, Stewarts Brook, Strahorn, Styx River, Sugarloaf, Sunny Corner, Tabbimoble, Tailby, Talgong, Tallaganda, Tallegar, Tamban, Tanja, Tantawangalo, Taratta, Tarkeeth, Termeil, Terrible Billy, Thorndale, Thumb Creek, Timbillica, Tomalla, Torrington, Tottenham, Towamba, Tuckers Nob, Tuckland, Tuggolo, Tumut, Turon, Uffington, Upsalls Creek, Vickery, Viewmont, Vittoria, Vulcan, Wallaroo, Wallingat, Wandella, Wandera, Wang Wauk, Warraderry, Washpool, Watagan, Way Way, Weddin, Wedding Bells, Wee Jasper, Weelah, Wharfdale, Whiporie, Wild Cattle Creek, Wingello, Wittenbra, Woomargama, Wyrra, Yadboro, Yambulla, Yarratt, Yerriyong, Yessabah.

Frequently asked questions