Before applying for a licence applicants must read and understand the game hunting requirements. Prior to purchasing another licence, take returns are required for any previously held hunting licence, with the exception of 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
Am I eligible for a hunting licence?
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
Do I need a firearms licence?
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 a Tasmanian exemption permit
Applicants purchasing via the hunting Licence online portal may be required to produce their firearms licence for verification.
Please contact Firearm Services on (03) 6173 2720 for further 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.
What is included with my hunting licence?
Licence purchasers will receive:
Each new hunting licence applicant is issued with a unique licence number. You will see this number cited on your;
Applicants can purchase a hunting licence for one or more game species at the same time, or individually as required at the start of each hunting season. If you need to vary your Hunting Licence or update your personal details during the season this can be done at no additional cost by visiting the Hunting Licence online portal.
Please contact Game Services Tasmania for a copy of Game Tracks.
Licence holders who have provided a valid email address will receive notification for take returns and re
Licence conditions and compliance obligations
The Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 2021 govern hunting in Tasmania. There are a number of regulations applicable to all species;
Conditions
The licence holder must only take and possess the game species specified on the Hunting Licence Card.
You must only hunt within the specified season and comply with bag limits as set in the Nature Conservation (Open Seasons) Order 2004 or found elsewhere on this page.
You must only hunt or take wildlife in areas where you have authority from the landholder.
You must not shoot from or on a public road.
You must not discharge a firearm within 250 metres of a dwelling without consent from the occupier.
Take must be by means of shooting only (except muttonbirds)
Muttonbird take must be by hand removal only
You must comply with any wildlife-specific Codes of Practice and Animal Welfare standards and guidelines/codes of practice
Any wounded wildlife and dependent young, that are unlikely to survive in the wild, must be humanely killed as soon as practicable. This must be done in accordance with approved methods in any Codes of Practice or Animal Welfare Guidelines.
Live wildlife must not be sold or gifted to anyone as a pet or to be rehabilitated, raised, or cared for without written approval from the Department
You must provide take returns for all species harvested (except wallaby)
Obligations
Your legal obligations can be found under the relevant legislation at https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au. Some of these key obligations include, but are not limited to, the following:
This Hunting Licence is issues subject to the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 2021
Non-shooting Hunting Licence holders for deer or wallaby must only possess products of deer or wallaby, taken by a person authorised to do so by a permit or licence.
You must only hunt wildlife with the type and calibre of firearm for that species as specified in the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 2021
You must not hunt wildlife during the period beginning one hour after sunset on any day and ending one hour before sunrise on the next day without written authority from the Department
You must not use, or possess, a detection device e.g. thermal or light for the purpose of taking wildlife during the period beginning one hour after sunset on any day and ending one hour before sunrise on the next day
You must not shoot from a conveyance; or within 10 metres of a conveyance
You must not sell or offer for sale any wildlife taken under this licence
The use of baits, live decoys, traps, snared, spears, bow and arrows, crossbows, explosives, nets, poison, bird lime and chemical compounds is prohibited
The use of dogs to catch, kill, or injure wildlife is prohibited
Immediately after taking an adult male deer, you must affix and lock your prescribed 'M' tag to the antler of that deer, around the beam between the brow tine and trez tine
You must not remove a prescribed tag that has been fixed to a deer
You must not damage, interfere with or deface a prescribed tag
You must not remove the head, or sever the body, of a deer at a location other than your usual residence unless the deer was tagged and all products of wildlife relating to the deer have been labelled with your name, residential address, licence number and tag number.
Hunting take return
To help the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) sustainably manage game species and continue to support recreational hunting, licence holders are required to submit an annual ‘take return’. The take return captures information including species, number taken, and approximate location (for select species). A take return is required even if your take was zero. Take returns are not required for wallaby.
More information on submitting your take return is available via the
Hunting Take Return page.
Please note: A hunting licence holder who does not provide their take information as required, will not be able to purchase a hunting licence for the following hunting season until the take information is submitted.
Lost or damaged hunting licence cards or tags
Hunting licence cards
If a Hunting Licence Card is lost or damaged, the holder should login to the Hunting Licence online portal and order a replacement licence card or alternatively contact Wildlife Services. There is no charge for a replacement card.
Deer tags
Lost or damaged deer tags may be replaced. Please contact Wildlife Services on the contact details at the bottom of the page to arrange a replacement.
A statutory declaration must be completed and submitted prior to a replacement tag being issued.
How to apply
There are two ways to apply for a hunting licence:
Apply online
Click on the declaration below to proceed to the Hunting Licence online portal.
We accept Mastercard and Visa payments.
