Public Land Male Deer Ballot

​​​​Access to designated public land for hunting male deer is allocated through a ballot for the male deer season only (24/2/2024 – 31/3/2024). Applications​ open on 15 December 2023​ and close on 15 January 2024.​​

Applications are online only and will be available from 15 December.

Impo​​​​​rtant ballo​​​t information​ 

To be considered for the ballot each group MUST nominate a hunting party leader who enters the ballot once on behalf of the group.

The hunting party leader will be required to enter details for each member of the hunting party.

• The applicant will have the ability to nominate no more than 5 preferred hunting blocks, and up to 6 hunting dates.

• Authorisations will be issued subject to a random ballot process for each hunting period and Reserve(s). There will be no option of swapping the preferred dates or Reserve(s) you are allocated.

• Successful ballot Authorisations will run from Wednesday to the following Tuesday.  Apart from week 1 which will run from Saturday to Tuesday, and the final week of the male season which will run from Wednesday to Sunday.

• To ensure hunter safety, all hunters must wear some form of hi-visibility/blaze orange clothing (i.e. hat, vest) to be more identifiable to other hunting parties.

• Successful ballot Authorisation holders must adhere to the Authorisation conditions, including the terms and conditions.
  

Reserve information​​​

During the 2​024 seasons, hunting will be authorised on the following reserves:

• Great Western Tiers Conservation Area
  

• Five Mile Pinnacles Conservation Area

• Central Plateau Conservation Area: Brenton Rivulet block (PWS) and Mother Lord Plains block (HT)

• Great Western Tiers Conservation Area: Parson & Clerk Mountain Block (PWS)

• Great Lake Conservation Area: Tumbledown Creek block (PWS) and land known as Gunns Marsh surrounding Gunns Lake and Little Lake (HT)
  

• Top Marshes Conservation Area
  

• Tooms Lake Conservation Area (Not available opening week)
  

• Buxton River Conservation Area (Not available opening week)
  

• Castle Cary Regional Reserve (Not available opening week)
  

Rese​​rve closures​​​

Hunters should note that the three east coast Reserves (Castle Cary, Buxton River, Tooms Lake) will be closed to all hunting from 1 July 2023 – 1 March 2024 due to wedge tailed eagle and falcon breeding seasons. Hunting in these Reseves is not available during the first ballot period/opening week of the 2024 male deer season.​

Restrict​​ions​

• The east coast reserves have 'no hunting' buffer zones of 500m see​ maps​.

• Limitations on access have been placed on Reserves to minimise habit disturbance during the wedge tailed eagle breeding season and other PWS supported activities.​

Detailed information and maps can be found on the Reserve Areas page​.

​Antlerless deer booking system​​

Access to designated public land for hunting antlerless deer is allocated through an online booking systen. Registrations open 15 February 2024 and close 15 March 2024. 

Hunting authorisations will be emailed to registered hunters prior to the hunting booking. ​