Victoria is one of Australia's premier hunting states. Sambar deer in the Victorian Alps, fallow deer in the Grampians and western districts, duck seasons
How to Get Your Victorian Hunting Licence: The Complete 2026 Guide
Victoria is one of Australia's premier hunting states. Sambar deer in the Victorian Alps, fallow deer in the Grampians and western districts, duck seasons across the Murray wetlands, stubble quail on farmland, and broad access to state forests for pest control — the opportunities here are genuinely outstanding. The licensing process is structured but not complicated once you understand it. This guide walks you through every step from scratch.
How Victorian Hunting Licences Work
Victoria's system is split across two separate agencies. Firearms are managed by Victoria Police. Game licences are issued by the Game Management Authority (GMA). You need both before you can legally hunt game in Victoria, and the order matters — your firearms licence generally comes first.
Step 1: Get Your Victorian Firearms Licence
Firearms licensing in Victoria is administered by Victoria Police Licensing and Regulation Division.
Minimum age: 18 for a full licence. Juniors aged 12–17 may obtain a supervised licence with parental consent.
Genuine reason: You must demonstrate a genuine reason for possessing a firearm. For recreational hunting, this is typically demonstrated through membership of an approved hunting or shooting organisation. The SSAA Victoria, Field & Game Australia, and the Victorian Deer Association are all widely accepted options. Membership costs $80–$150 per year and provides both your genuine reason documentation and access to a valuable community of experienced hunters.
Firearms safety course: Victoria requires completion of a firearms safety course before a licence is issued. Courses are run by approved providers across the state and typically take half a day. Cost: $80–$150.
Secure storage: An approved gun safe must be installed and bolted to a solid structural element of your home before your licence application is granted. A quality safe suitable for Category B firearms costs $400–$900.
Licence categories:
- Category A: Rimfire rifles (.22 LR, .17 HMR), air rifles, shotguns — covers rabbits, foxes, game birds, feral pests
- Category B: Centrefire rifles — required for all deer species, feral pigs, and larger animals
- Category C/D: Restricted — not relevant for standard recreational hunting
Apply for both Cat A and Cat B simultaneously. There is no advantage in applying for one at a time, and the process is identical.
Cost: Approximately $120–$180 for a 5-year licence covering both categories, plus the safety course.
Processing time: 4–8 weeks for Victoria Police to process your application. Start early — there's no shortcut here.
Step 2: Apply for Your Victorian Game Licence
Once your firearms licence is in hand (or while it's processing — you just can't hunt until both are current), apply for a Victorian Game Licence through the GMA's online system called My Game Licence (MyGL) at licensing.gma.vic.gov.au.
Victorian Game Licences are species-specific — you apply for endorsements covering the type of game you want to hunt. This is not a single "hunting licence" — it's a collection of endorsements on one licence document.
Licence types and costs (approximate 2026 fees):
| Licence Type | What It Covers | Approx. Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Licence | All deer species in Victoria | $30–$40 |
| Duck Licence | All legal waterfowl species | $30–$40 |
| Stubble Quail Licence | Stubble quail | Combined with duck |
| Hound Hunting | Sambar deer with hounds (requires HHT) | Additional |
You can apply for all endorsements you want in a single MyGL application. Junior licences (ages 12–17) are free.
Processing time: Typically 1–2 weeks through MyGL once all documentation is submitted.
Step 3: Pass Required Tests
Depending on the game you want to hunt, you may need to pass one or more tests administered through your MyGL account. As of 2026, all tests are online — no more booking specific in-person sessions.
Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT)
Required for: All duck and game bird hunters in Victoria.
Format: Online through your MyGL account. You can sit it at any time once your account is set up.
What it tests: Identification of duck and game bird species by appearance, silhouette, and flight pattern. The purpose is to ensure hunters can distinguish legal huntable species from the approximately 40 protected waterbird species in Victoria.
Preparation: The GMA provides a comprehensive duck identification guide and practice images on its website. CHASA and Field & Game Australia run identification workshops before each season. Most hunters pass comfortably with 3–4 hours of preparation. Do not take the test without studying — badly prepared hunters fail it, and repeat failures attract attention.
Consequence of failure: You cannot be issued a Duck or Game Bird licence until you pass.
Hound Hunting Test (HHT)
Required for: Hunters wanting to pursue Sambar deer with trained hounds — a unique Victorian tradition.
Format: Online through MyGL since 2026.
What it tests: Legal requirements, ethical responsibilities, safety protocols, and welfare considerations specific to dog-assisted Sambar hunting.
Only if relevant: If you're planning to start with rifle stalking for deer, the HHT is not required. It only applies to hound-assisted hunting.
Gamebird Education Modules
Required for: All new gamebird licence applicants from 2026 onwards.
Format: Online modules through MyGL — not a pass/fail test, but mandatory completion before your licence is issued.
What it covers: Species identification, bag limits, safe shooting zones, lead shot regulations, and ethical conduct.
2026 Regulatory Changes: What's New
The Victorian Government introduced major updates under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024, effective September 2024. Key changes every Victorian hunter needs to know:
Lead shot ban for all game birds: From 2026, toxic (lead) shot is banned for all game bird hunting in Victoria — including non-indigenous game birds and stubble quail. You must use steel, bismuth, or another approved non-toxic shot. This has gear implications: not all shotguns handle steel shot safely. Check your specific model before loading non-toxic shot.
Thermal imaging for deer: Handheld thermal imaging devices are now permitted for daytime deer hunting in Victoria under specific conditions. This is a significant change from previous rules and opens up new scouting and spotting capabilities. Night hunting of deer remains prohibited.
Duck season timing: Adjusted start times and extended prohibited entry periods around wetlands are now in effect. Check the GMA for current season arrangements before going anywhere near a wetland on opening weekend.
Electronic lures for quail: Now banned. You cannot use electronic acoustic lures to attract stubble quail.
Expanded gun dog breeds: The list of approved breeds for use in game hunting has been expanded. Check the updated list on the GMA website.
Where Can You Hunt in Victoria?
Private land: Written permission from the landowner required. The permission must be in writing — verbal is not legally sufficient. Carry it at all times.
State forests: A substantial network of state forests across Victoria is open to hunting for deer, pigs, foxes, and rabbits by licensed hunters. No booking system is required for deer in Victorian state forests — unlike NSW, you can simply enter open areas with your licence. Maps of open areas are available through DEECA.
National parks (selected): Unusually for Australia, some Victorian national parks are open to deer hunting. The Alpine National Park and Avon Wilderness Park permit deer stalking from approximately 15 February to 15 December. Firearms and bows must be unloaded within 100 metres of designated camping or picnic areas. Hound hunting is not permitted in these parks.
State Game Reserves: Duck and game bird hunting during open seasons. The GMA announces which reserves are open each year.
What Can You Hunt in Victoria?
Deer (Open Access, Year-Round in Most Areas)
Victoria has six deer species: Sambar (the prize), fallow, red, hog, chital, and rusa. All require a Deer Licence.
- Sambar deer: Victoria's iconic big game species. Found throughout the Alpine region and Victorian highlands. Large bodied — mature stags can exceed 300kg. The minimum calibre is .270 Win with 130-grain projectile.
- Fallow deer: Found in the western districts, Grampians, and some coastal areas. More accessible than Sambar, with good populations on private farmland. Minimum calibre .243 Win.
- Hog deer: Small, dense-cover specialists found in the South Gippsland coastal plain. Require a specific hog deer tag. Population is carefully managed.
- Red deer, chital, rusa: Present in smaller populations across various regions.
Duck and Game Birds (Open Season)
The 2026 season arrangements have been announced — check the GMA website for dates, bag limits, and open wetlands. Victorian duck seasons on the Murray system are among the most iconic hunting events in Australia.
Pest Species (No Licence Required, State Forest Access)
Foxes, rabbits, hares, and feral pigs can be taken in state forests with a firearms licence. No game licence required for pest species.
Gear for Victorian Hunting
For Sambar Deer (Victoria's Signature Hunt)
Rifle: The .308 Win is the most popular Sambar calibre in Victoria by a significant margin. Versatile, widely available in quality loads, and with the right 150–180 grain projectile it handles mature Sambar effectively. The Howa 1500 .308 is one of the most common rifles in Victorian deer camps. Budget $900–$1,500 for rifle with scope.
Scope: Sambar hunting often involves dense bush with shots under 100 metres, but clearings can require 200+ metre shots. A 2-7x or 3-9x variable with a 40–50mm objective is well-suited. European-style 30mm tube scopes with European reticles are popular with Sambar hunters for their low-light performance at dawn and dusk. Check rifle scopes on Amazon AU
Boots: You will cover significant vertical terrain hunting Sambar in the Victorian Alps. Waterproof, mid-height boots with aggressive tread and solid ankle support are essential. Many experienced Victorian hunters rate leather boots for longevity in the alpine scrub. Check hunting boots on BCF
Pack: A 40–60 litre pack for overnight alpine trips — temperatures in the Victorian Alps can drop below zero year-round. Carry extra layers, emergency bivouac, and enough food for an extended trip if you have to drag out a deer.
Clothing: Merino base layer, fleece mid-layer, waterproof-breathable shell. The Victorian Alps are unpredictable — summer days can be interrupted by severe storms. Never go light on clothing in Sambar country.
For Duck Hunting
Shotgun: 12-gauge is standard. With the lead shot ban in effect for all Victorian game birds in 2026, ensure your shotgun is proofed for steel shot. Most modern shotguns are — check the barrel markings.
Non-toxic shot: Budget $35–$55 per box for quality steel loads. Winchester, Federal, and Rio offer good Australian-available steel loads. Check shotgun shells on BCF
Waders: Chest waders for wetland access. Check waders on BCF
Decoys: A dozen to two dozen black duck and teal decoys is a solid starting spread for Victorian conditions. Check duck decoys on Amazon AU
For Fallow Deer (Western Districts and Grampians)
Rifle: .243 Win or .308 Win. Fallow hunting in Victoria's western districts often involves longer shots across open paddocks and gullies — a .308 Win at 150–200 metres on a fallow buck is a realistic scenario. Check rifles on Amazon AU
Binoculars: Glassing open farmland at first light. A 10x42 full-size binocular is worth the investment for fallow country. Check binoculars on Amazon AU
Full Timeline: Licence to First Victorian Hunt
Week 1–2: Join Field & Game Australia, SSAA Vic, or Victorian Deer Association. Enrol in firearms safety course.
Week 3–4: Complete safety course. Install gun safe. Submit firearms licence application to Victoria Police.
Week 4–10: Licence processing. Set up MyGL account. Study waterfowl identification if planning duck hunting.
Week 10–11: Receive firearms licence. Apply for Game Licence endorsements through MyGL. Complete online education modules.
Week 11–12: Complete WIT if applying for Duck Licence.
Week 12–14: Receive Game Licence. Apply for Permit to Acquire for your firearm.
Week 14–18: 28-day PTA waiting period. Source ammunition, accessories, and hunting clothing.
Week 18+: Collect firearm. Zero rifle at a range. Plan first hunt.
Total: approximately 4–5 months from zero to first legal Victorian hunt.
Common Questions
Can I hunt deer in state forest without booking? Yes — Victorian state forests do not require advance bookings for deer hunting, unlike NSW. Carry your licence and stay within open areas marked on DEECA maps.
Do I need to join a hunting club? Not legally required for a Victorian Game Licence. However, clubs like Field & Game Australia and SSAA Vic provide mentoring programs, range access, and experienced hunting communities that dramatically shorten your learning curve. Highly recommended.
Is Sambar hunting hard? Sambar hunting in the Victorian Alps is demanding — it is considered one of the most challenging big game hunts in Australia by any standard. Start with fallow deer or pig hunting to build your bush skills before attempting remote alpine Sambar trips.
Final Checklist for Victorian Hunters
- ✅ Victorian Firearms Licence (carry always)
- ✅ Victorian Game Licence with correct species endorsements
- ✅ Written landowner permission for private land
- ✅ Correct minimum calibre for species targeted
- ✅ Non-toxic shot if hunting any game birds
- ✅ Offline maps downloaded (Hema, DEECA maps)
- ✅ First aid kit and emergency bivouac for alpine hunts
- ✅ PLB registered with AMSA for remote state forest trips
Victoria rewards patience and preparation. The state has more game variety, more accessible public land, and a more welcoming hunting community than most Australians realise. Get your licences sorted and start with accessible species — the Sambar and the alpine country will still be there when you're ready.
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