Information for hunters

The NSW Native Game Bird Management Program allows licensed hunters to help landholders manage the impacts of native game birds on their agricultural crops. It is legislated under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and its Regulation 2022.

How to get involved

To take part in the Native Game Bird Management Program, you must:

• pass the Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) and achieve a grade of at least NSW-T
• hold a current NSW General or Restricted Game Hunting Licence that is updated for game birds (‘GB’ must be printed in the special conditions section on your licence card)
• have permission to hunt from an owner or occupier who holds a current Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence that covers the properties you will hunt
• log in to the Hunt NSW portal to watch the mandatory online Native Game Bird Tutorial and complete the declaration to gain access to the NGB hunter section.
• comply with the special native game bird game hunting licence conditions in addition to the game hunting licence conditions
• comply with the mandatory NSW Game Hunting Licence Code of Practice.

Existing licence holders

If you already hold a NSW General or Restricted Game Hunting Licence, you can email evidence that you've completed the WIT to hunting@dpird.nsw.gov.au. Ensure you include your NSW Game Hunting Licence number. We will add the native game bird endorsement to your profile and reissue your licence.

New licence applicants

You can apply for either a NSW General or Restricted Game Hunting Licence to qualify for the Native Game Bird Management Program. If you select 'yes' to the question about native game bird hunting, you'll need to upload evidence that you've completed the WIT before submitting your application.

There are extra training requirements for a Restricted licence as it provides for hunting on both private and public land. If you do not wish to access these public land hunting opportunities, simply apply for a General licence.

Read more about licence processing for help with the online application.

About the program

Before native game birds can be hunted in NSW, private lands must be covered by a Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence and there must be a total allocation of game birds applied to the licence.

Permission to hunt

Once you are endorsed for the Program, you must have permission to a hunt from a licensed landholder. Having permission before you enter a property is one of the principles in the NSW Game Hunting Licence Code of Practice. Complying with the code of practice is a mandatory condition of NSW Game Hunting Licences.

When you receive permission to hunt, you must obtain the landholder's Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence number so you can create a digital hunter diary through the Hunt NSW portal.

You should also ask the landholder about property boundaries, use of dogs and what to be aware of while hunting on their lands.

Find landholders who need help

To find landholders who need help managing native game birds you can:

• add or remove your contact details to the hunter register
• access the landholder register.

Both registers are available by logging in to the Hunt NSW portal. Log in with your username and password, then select the 'Native game birds' menu, and then 'NGB hunter'.

Hunter register

You can list your contact information on the hunter register to let licensed landholders know you are seeking permission to hunt native game birds. Licensed landholders can access the register to find volunteer hunters and the dates they are available.

Landholder register

Licensed landholders seeking hunters to help manage native game birds are invited to list their details on the landholder register. You can download the register from the Hunt NSW portal.

Landholders may add or remove their details voluntarily at any time and we cannot guarantee there will be entries on the register. DPIRD Hunting will not provide the contact information of any landholders not listed on the Landholder Register.

Hunting rules

Once endorsed for the program, you must comply with the special native game bird licence conditions, which are in addition to your standard licence conditions and other hunting legislation.

Digital hunter diary

To comply with the special conditions, you must create a digital hunter diary online through the Hunt NSW portal.

Before your hunt

No more than 2 days before you intend to hunt native game birds:

1. log in to Hunt NSW (app or website) with your username and password
2. open the 'Native game birds' menu
3. select 'NGB hunter'
4. select 'Start hunter diary'
5. enter the landholder’s Native Game Bird Management (Owner/Occupier) Licence number (the letters NGB are prefixed so you only need to enter the licence numbers)
6. review the authorised properties and remaining total licence allocations
7. enter the start date of your hunt (you won't be able to enter a date more than 2 days in advance)
8. select 'Create hunter diary'.

Make sure you download a PDF of your hunter diary from the NGB hunter main screen so you're able to produce it in the field if checked.

Harvest return

To comply with the special conditions, you must lodge a harvest return before leaving a property, online through the Hunt NSW portal.

It's your responsibility to know the licensed property boundaries. If unsure, always seek advice from the landholder.

After your hunt

Each time you leave a property:

1. log in to Hunt NSW (app or website) with your username and password
2. open the 'Native game birds' menu
3. select 'NGB hunter'
4. locate your hunter diary entry and select 'Submit return'
5. enter the total number of native game birds you have physically harvested
6. select 'Submit'.