Recreational Game Licences


Detailed information about hunting and harvesting during the COVID-19 pandemic is available on the COVID-19 Hunting Arrangements page​.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Muttonbird and Pheasant Licence​ Refunds ​

Persons who have purchased a Muttonbird or Pheasant licence and could not hunt due to the COVID-19 restricted movement or hunting arrangements are able to apply for a refund for the cost of their Recreational Muttonbird and Pheasant licences.

The cut off date for Muttonbird and Pheasant refund applications is December 31, 2020. 

See ​COVID-19 Hunting Arrangements to find the correct forms and information. 
​

Hunting Seasons and Licence Costs

​​Under the Wildlife (General) Regulations 2010 and the Nature Conservation Act 2002 recreational game licences are required to hunt the following animals during the gazetted seasons described below:
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Licence Fees

                                           ​Full Fee             Conc Fee

  • ​Brown Quail                  $32.40               $25.92
  • Deer                              $72.90               $58.32
  • Muttonbird                     $32.40               $25.92
  • ​Pheasant                       $16.20               $12.96​
  • ​​Wallaby                          $32.40               $25.92
  • ​Wild Duck                      $32.40               $25.92​


Season Dates

Please note: season dates are subject to change without notice in response to the results of monitoring and changes in seasonal conditions.

2020 Season 
  • Antlerless*: 
    Season runs from 15/03/2021 to 15/11/2021
  • Wallaby:  
    2020 Season runs from 24/02/2020 to 21/02/2021
2021 Season - provisional dates
  • ​Deer 
    Adult Male:  
    Season runs from 27/02/2021 to 04/04/2021  
  • Antlerless*: 
    Season runs from 15/03/2021 to 15/11/2021
  • ​Wild Duck: 
    ​​​Season runs from 6/03/2021 to 06/06/2021 
  • Muttonbird (non-commercial):  ​
    ​​The season runs from 03/04/2021 to ​18/04/2021
  • Wallaby:  
    2021 Season runs from 22/02/2021 to 20/02/2022 
  • Brown Quail:  
    Season runs from 15/05/2021 to 27/06/2021 
  • Male Pheasant (King Island only):  
    ​Season runs from 12/06/2021 to 13/06/2021

*Please note the conditions of crop protection permits for antlerless fallow deer changed in March 2020.  Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or Game Services Tasmania​ website for further information. 
 

Game Hunting Requirements

Before applying for a licence applicants must read and understand the game hunting requirements. These requirements cover things like 
  • firearms licence requirements, 
  • pension concessions, 
  • replacing lost/damaged licences and tags, 
  • waterfowl identification test certificate and more. 
​If you are applying to renew your licence, you must also first have returned the Game Take Return​ form for the previous season.

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

Applicants purchasing via the game licensing website may be required to produce their firearms licence for verification.

Any game licence application or renewal application sent via post, that does not show an applicant's current firearms licence number, will be returned to the applicant without processing.

Requirement to declare prior convictions

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

​"relevant offence" means -
(a) an offence under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, the Animal Welfare Act 1993, the Firearms Act 1996, the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002, or the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995; or
(b) regulations made under any of those Acts;
or
(c) such other offence as determined by the Secretary for the purpose of this regulation

All applications for a recreational​ game licence made through any Service Tasmania shop 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 Reception. 
 
Similarly if you answer Yes to this question when applying online please contact Wildlife Reception before completing the application. Details can be found at the bottom of this page. 

The Wildlife (General) Regulations 2010 require that a game licence is not to be granted to any person convicted of a relevant offence within the last five years.  Please note that the Wildlife Management Branch cannot overturn or waive a conviction to allow granting of a game licence. If an applicant wishes to contest their conviction, they must do so with the agency that made the conviction. ​

How to Apply

There are two ways to apply for a recreational game licence once the Game Season opens each year:
 

1. In pe​rson  

Visit your closest Service Tasmania shop and submit a Recreational Game Licence Application Form ​

2. Apply online 

Click on the declaration below to proceed to the online application portal. 

Contact

Wildlife Management Branch
Level 8, 59 Liverpool St
GPO Box 44
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6165 4305
Fax: 03 6173 0253
Email: wildlife.reception@dpipwe.tas.gov.au