Hunting Licence Eligibility and Requirements

​Before applying for a licence applicants must read and understand the game hunting requirements.  

Before buying another licence, take returns are required for any previously held hunting licence. The exception is a wallaby hunting licence where take returns are not required.  

Hunters are reminded that hunting licences purchased for taking species with a firearm, are only valid in conjunction with the applicant's current firearms licence​.

Who needs a hunting licence​

Anybody who wants to hunt:

  • Deer

  • Wild Duck

  • Muttonbird

  • Wallaby

  • Brown Quail

  • Pheasant

Eligibility criteria​

Applicants must:

  • Be older than 14 years of age if use of a firearm is required

  • Hold a current firearms licence if applying to take deer, duck, wallaby, brown quail or pheasant.  Current firearm licences issued from all Australian states or territories will be accepted (there are firearms exemptions for deer and wallaby)

  • Have provided Take Returns for any previously held licence with the exception of a wallaby hunting licence.

  • Have the permission of the landowner if on private land

  • Have passed a Waterfowl Identification Test​ if applying for a licence to take wild duck

Firearms licences​

  • Everybody aged 18 and older who wants a hunting licence will need a current firearms licence (except those hunting muttonbirds, or those who are participating in the hunt but not shooting)

  • Everybody aged 14 to 17 needs a current Tasmanian Minor's (Firearms) Permit to use a firearm.  Hunting licences will not be issued to a person under the age of 14 where a firearms is required to be used

  • Interstate visitors applying for a hunting licence require a current firearms licence from their home state

  • Overseas firearms licences are not recognised in Tasmania. It is necessary for international hunters to obtain an International Visitors Exemption 

Applicants purchasing a Hunting Licence online may need to produce their firearms licence for verification.

Please contact Tasmania Police Firearm Services on (03) 6173 2720 for more information on firearms licences.

If applying for a wallaby and/or deer hunting licence only to be a non-shooting participant in a property protection activity (for example, as a spotlight holder or driver) write 'non-shooting HL' on the hunting licence application form.

Requirement to declare prior convictions​

All hunters making an application to purchase a hunting licence are required to declare any relevant offence of which they have been convicted during the last 5 years.

Applications made through any Service Tasmania Service Centre where the YES box is ticked in relation to the question "Have you been convicted of a wildlife related offence in the past five (5) years?" will be declined and the applicant directed to Wildlife Services. 

Similarly if you answer Yes to this question when applying online please contact Wildlife Services before completing the application. Details can be found at the bottom of this page.

The Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 2021​ require that a hunting licence is not to be granted to any person convicted of a relevant offence within the last five years.