NSW R-Licence Hunting Study Guide 2026

The NSW R-Licence

Hunting in New South Wales is governed by the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and its regulation. You need a game hunting licence to hunt on public land, and to hunt native or introduced game birds on private land. No licence is needed to hunt deer on private land, but you still need the landholder's permission.

The Restricted Game Hunting Licence (R-Licence) lets you hunt game and feral animals on declared public land that is open to hunting, and on private land with permission. To apply, you must:

• be older than 12 (under-18s need a parent or guardian's approval)
• be a member of an Approved Hunting Organisation
• be accredited in at least one category: firearms, bows or dogs

Every standard R-Licence includes $25 million public liability insurance. Carry your licence at all times while hunting and show it straight away if an inspector, a police officer or the landowner asks. To use a firearm on public land, you need an R-Licence endorsed for firearms and a current firearms licence. To hunt native game birds, you need at least grade NSW-T in the Waterfowl Identification Test.

The R-Licence Accreditation Course

The accreditation course is compulsory training for the R-Licence. It is based on the Hunter Education Handbook and takes up to four hours. You can do it online at your own pace or in person with a Hunter LEAP trainer.

Section 1 is compulsory. It covers NSW hunting laws, ethics, animal identification and welfare, hunting on public and private land, outdoor safety and survival, and safe hunting. Section 2 has a test for each category you choose: firearms (15 questions), bows (10) and dogs (10). You may only use a method on public land if you are accredited for it.

Young hunters

• People over 12 and under 18 can hold a standard game hunting licence with parent or guardian approval.
• They must hunt under the close personal supervision of a licensed person aged at least 18.
• The supervisor and the young hunter must hold the same licence type and endorsements, and both need written permission. Only the supervisor must carry the GPS.
• A minor who uses a firearm also needs a Minors Firearms Training Permit from the NSW Police Force Firearms Registry.
• People under 18 cannot hold a hunting guide or commercial hunter's licence.

Hunting on public land

To hunt on declared public land, you need written permission for the area and dates. Carry a copy, on paper or on your phone. Only book a permission if you plan to hunt, and amend it if your vehicles, dogs or dates change. Submit your harvest return within 30 days of the hunt.

On public land you must wear an item of blaze orange on your upper body, visible from all sides, whenever you are hunting or have hunting equipment with you.

• Hours: a day permit allows hunting from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Night hunting needs a night permit.
• Buildings: do not hunt within 100 m of an occupied house, dwelling or building.
• GPS: carry a working GPS device with current hunting maps, and hunt only in marked hunting areas.
• Vehicles: firearms must be unloaded (including any fitted magazine) and out of sight, with ammunition locked away separately. Do not use a vehicle to hunt. Keep to 60 km/h on forest roads unless signs say otherwise.
• Not allowed: tree stands, sighting-in or target practice, bait or other attractants, and hunting during a Total Fire Ban or a closure.
• Fire: never hunt game fleeing from fire or smoke.
• Rubbish: take it all with you. Bury toilet waste at least 15 cm deep.

Hunting with dogs

Every hunting dog must be microchipped and wear a collar tag with the owner's name, address and phone number. It must be on a lead or wear a switched-on tracking collar, and must never be left on public land. When hunting with dogs at night under a night permit, each free-ranging dog must carry a light, and firearms, bows and vehicle spotlights are not allowed.

The Code of Practice: safety and ethics

The NSW Game Hunting Licence Code of Practice is a condition of every licence. A breach can bring a penalty of up to $5,500 per breach and the loss of your licence. It says you must:

1. Follow all safe firearm handling practices and the Firearms Act 1996.
2. Hunt on land only with the authority of the occupier.
3. Not shoot unless the animal can be clearly seen and identified, and there is no risk of injury to any person or significant damage to property.
4. Avoid unnecessary pain, use equipment likely to give a humane kill, and shoot only within its reasonably accepted killing range.
5. Make every reasonable effort to find and humanely kill the dependent young of a lactating female you have killed.
6. Make every reasonable effort to find a wounded animal and kill it quickly and humanely.
7. Use dogs only with the occupier's permission and within animal cruelty laws.