Hunting
An overview of hunting, access and lawful participation
Hunting is an established part of shooting in Australia and is undertaken for recreation, game hunting, pest-animal control and land management. It can take place on private land with the permission of the landholder and, where hunting is permitted, on public land under regulated access arrangements.
Hunting differs from target shooting because it takes place in a field environment rather than on a controlled shooting range. Terrain, vegetation, livestock, buildings, roads, other land users and the movement of animals can all affect whether a shot can be taken safely. Hunters must identify the intended animal, assess the surrounding area and ensure there is a safe area of fire before shooting.
Rifles and shotguns are the firearms most commonly associated with hunting, with the appropriate firearm and ammunition depending on the species, hunting conditions and applicable legal requirements. Effective hunting also requires an understanding of the firearm being used, its practical limitations and the need to take shots that can be made safely and humanely.
Participation is subject to more than firearms licensing alone. The species being hunted, the land being accessed and the purpose of the activity can bring additional hunting, wildlife, game-management and land-access requirements into effect. These requirements differ across Australia and need to be checked before hunting.
Hunting Laws and Licensing
Hunting in Australia is regulated separately from firearms ownership. A firearms licence authorises the possession and use of firearms subject to the conditions of that licence, but it does not automatically authorise the licence holder to hunt every species or on any land.
Additional hunting requirements depend on the jurisdiction, species and location. These may include hunting or game licences, permits or accreditation, landholder permission, public-land hunting authorities, seasonal restrictions and other conditions applying to particular species or areas.
Hunters must therefore comply with both the firearms laws governing the firearm they use and the hunting, wildlife and land-access requirements that apply to the activity.
Game, Feral and Pest Animals
Hunting in Australia includes both regulated game hunting and the hunting of feral or pest animals. The distinction is important because different species can be subject to different licensing, seasonal and management requirements.
Game species are animals that may be lawfully hunted under specific game-management arrangements. Depending on the jurisdiction and species, these arrangements can include hunting licences or endorsements, defined seasons, bag limits, tagging or harvest-reporting requirements, and restrictions on hunting methods. Game hunting in Australia includes deer and game birds, as well as other species specifically provided for under state or territory hunting laws.
Feral and pest animals are commonly hunted to reduce impacts on agriculture, livestock, native wildlife and the environment. Species such as pigs, goats, foxes, rabbits and other introduced animals are widely hunted, but the requirements that apply can depend on the species, location and land tenure. Hunting on public land may involve additional licensing or permission even where the same species can be hunted on private land with landholder permission.
The legal status of a species is not uniform across Australia. An animal treated as game, pest or wildlife in one jurisdiction may be regulated differently in another, so hunters must check the current rules applying to the species and location before hunting.
Public Land Hunting
Public land hunting is permitted in some states under structured access programs. These programs are administered by state agencies and operate under defined rules covering location, species, seasons and methods. Participation typically requires:
- a valid firearms licence
- registration or licensing within the relevant state hunting regulator
- completion of any required training or accreditation
- compliance with permit conditions
Access is controlled and may be limited to designated zones or species. Requirements differ between jurisdictions, and participants must follow the rules that apply in the state where they intend to hunt.
Private Land Access and Permission
Private land provides an important pathway for recreational hunting and pest-animal control in Australia. Unlike public-land hunting, access is arranged directly with the landholder or occupier rather than through a government hunting program.
Permission may be informal for the purpose of access, but written authority is commonly used and can also have a regulatory purpose. In some jurisdictions, evidence of permission to hunt or control pests on suitable land can be used to establish or support the recreational hunting or vermin-control genuine reason for a firearms licence.
Where written authority is required or used, it will generally identify the landholder, the person given permission, the property, the purpose of the activity and any period or conditions applying to the access.
Permission to use private land does not determine what may lawfully be hunted. Firearms licensing requirements, species protections, game regulations and any other conditions applying to the activity continue to apply.
Responsible Hunting
Responsible hunting extends beyond taking a safe and effective shot. If an animal is wounded, reasonable efforts should be made to locate it and ensure it is dispatched as quickly and humanely as possible.
Hunters should also minimise unnecessary disturbance or damage, respect livestock, property and other people using the land, and comply with any conditions placed on access by the landholder or relevant authority.
Good field conduct helps protect animal welfare, maintain access to hunting areas and support the responsible use of those areas by other hunters and land users.