Game and pests
Game and feral animals that may be hunted in NSW are listed in Schedule 3 of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 (the Act). The rules and regulations that apply to hunting these species, including whether a licence is required or not, are set out in the Act and the Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2022 (the Regulation).
It is important to understand which animals you can legally hunt and under what circumstances. Read our Hunting licences and Rules and regulations pages carefully to understand these requirements before hunting in NSW.
The Act provides for three categories of animals that can be legally hunted in NSW:
- Part 1 - Game animals (non-indigenous birds)
- Part 1A - Native game birds
- Part 2 - Feral or pest animals for private land hunting and game animals for public land hunting.
The main difference between the categories is that one group is identified simply as game and the other are more commonly referred to as feral or pest animals. They are classified this way as a hunting licence may or may not be required, depending on the species and the type of land being hunted.
Non-indigenous game birds (Part 1)
A game hunting licence is required for these species, which may only be hunted on private land.
- Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)
- California Quail (Lophortyx callipepla californicus)
- Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris)
- Partridge (Alectors alectoris chukar)
- Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
- Pheasant (Phasiniacus phasianus colchicus)
- Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
- Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Native game birds (Part 1A)
You may only hunt native game birds if you are licensed and endorsed for the private land Native Game Bird Management Program.
Ducks
- Australian Shelduck or Mountain Duck (Tadorna tadornoides)
- Australian Wood Duck or Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
- Black Duck or Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
- Blue-winged Shoveler or Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis)
- Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
- Grass Whistling Duck or Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
- Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
- Hardhead Duck or White-eyed Duck (Aythya australis)
- Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)
- Water Whistling Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck or Whistling or Wandering Tree Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata)
Note: The following native game bird species of quail and pigeon may not be hunted as there is no State-wide quota. There is not enough scientific information on populations of these species to set a hunting quota, meaning native pigeon and quail must not be hunted in NSW.
Quail
- Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora)
- Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis)
Pigeons
- Common Bronzewing Pigeon (Phaps chalcoptera)
- Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
Feral or pest animals (Part 2)
The following species, listed in Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the Act, are often identified as feral or pest animals. A game hunting licence is not required when hunting these animals on private land. However, you must hold permission to hunt from the landholder or manager and a current firearms licence (where firearms will be used) before entering lands to hunt these species.
These species are all considered game animals for the purpose of public land hunting by NSW Restricted Game Hunting Licence holders.
- Cat (Felis catus)
- Dog, other than dingo (Canis familiaris)
- Goat (Capra hircus)
- Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- Hare (Lepus capensis)
- Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
- Common or Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
- Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
- Pig (Sus scrofa)
Deer
- Fallow (Dama dama)
- Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
- Rusa (Cervus timorensis)
- Sambar (Cervus unicolor)
- Chital (Axis axis)
- Hog deer (Axis porcinus)
- Wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis)
