Tasmania punches well above its weight as a hunting destination. The island state has dedicated game seasons for deer, duck, wallaby, quail, and pheasant —
How to Start Hunting in Tasmania: Licences, Permits and Gear Guide 2026
Tasmania punches well above its weight as a hunting destination. The island state has dedicated game seasons for deer, duck, wallaby, quail, and pheasant — species-specific licences, serious open season management, and some of the most productive hunting country in Australia packed into a relatively compact area. It also has unique opportunities found nowhere else on the mainland, including wallaby hunting and some of the best fallow deer stalking in the country.
This guide covers everything you need to legally hunt in Tasmania in 2026 — firearms licence, game licence, what seasons are open, regulations specific to the island, and gear tailored to Tasmanian conditions.
The Tasmanian System: Game Licences by Species
Tasmania operates a species-specific game licence system administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas). Unlike Queensland or WA where a firearms licence covers most hunting, Tasmania requires a specific game licence to take any declared game species — deer, duck, wallaby, pheasant, or quail.
Feral pest species — rabbits, hares, foxes, feral pigs, feral goats, and feral cats — can be taken on private land and crown land year-round without a game licence, provided you hold a current firearms licence and have landowner permission where applicable.
Step 1: Get Your Tasmanian Firearms Licence
Firearms licensing in Tasmania is administered by Tasmania Police.
Genuine reason: Standard requirement across all Australian states. Recreational hunting and pest control are accepted genuine reasons. Membership of an approved hunting or shooting organisation (SSAA Tasmania, Sporting Shooters Association, Field & Game Australia Tasmania) satisfies this requirement.
Safety course: Required before a licence is issued. Tasmania Police-approved providers run courses in Hobart, Launceston, and regional centres.
Secure storage: Approved safe required, secured to a structural element.
Licence categories:
- Category A: Rimfire rifles, air rifles, shotguns
- Category B: Centrefire rifles
- Category C: Semi-automatic restricted — not standard for recreational hunting
Interstate visitors: A significant feature of Tasmania's system — current firearms licences issued from any other Australian state or territory are accepted for the purpose of applying for Tasmanian game licences. You do not need to transfer your interstate licence to a Tasmanian licence to hunt in Tasmania if you are visiting. This makes Tasmania very accessible for mainland hunters.
Cost: Approximately $100–$160 for a licence.
Processing time: 4–8 weeks.
Step 2: Apply for Your Tasmanian Game Licence
Once you hold a current firearms licence (from any state), you can apply for Tasmanian game licences through Service Tasmania online or at a Service Tasmania outlet.
Each game species requires its own licence:
Deer Licence
Tasmania has fallow deer as its primary deer species, with smaller populations of red deer and the introduced hog deer on Flinders Island. Fallow deer populations in the midlands and east coast of Tasmania are substantial — some of the most productive fallow hunting in Australia occurs on Tasmanian private farmland and some crown land.
Requirements: Valid firearms licence. No WIT or accreditation course required for deer.
Season: Tasmania has a declared deer open season, typically running from late February to late June, with the exact dates announced annually. Check NRE Tas for current season arrangements.
Minimum calibre: .270 Winchester with 130-grain projectile for all Tasmanian deer species. A .308 Win or .30-06 exceeds this requirement comfortably.
Public land deer hunting: Parts of state forest and crown land in Tasmania are open to deer hunting with a current licence. Maps are available from NRE Tas and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy.
Duck Licence
Tasmania has an annual duck open season across wetlands, rivers, and private dams. The 2026 season arrangements are announced by NRE Tas before the season opens — check for dates, bag limits, and approved hunting areas.
Requirements: Valid firearms licence plus a passed Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) completed through NRE Tas. The WIT is done online.
Bag limits: Checked annually — typically in the range of 5–10 birds per day depending on species and population surveys.
Important note: Tasmania has a regulation preventing the use of thermal imaging or detection devices for taking wildlife during the period one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. This applies to all game species including deer. Night hunting of game species is not permitted.
Wallaby Licence
This is Tasmania's unique offering — recreational wallaby hunting does not exist on the Australian mainland, but Tasmania's pademelon (rufous wallaby) and Bennett's wallaby populations are large enough to support a licensed recreational hunt. Wallaby meat is excellent table fare, and the hunting style is accessible for new hunters.
2026 season: The 2026 wallaby season closes on 22 February 2026 — check NRE Tas for updated arrangements.
Where to hunt wallaby: Private farmland with landowner permission. Many Tasmanian farmers actively welcome wallaby hunters as crop protection. Wallabies cause substantial agricultural damage across the midlands and north.
Firearms: A .22 LR is legal for wallaby and suitable for short-range shots. A .22 Mag or .17 HMR improves range. Shotguns are also used. Most wallaby hunting involves spotlighting crop edges at night.
Night hunting wallaby: Unlike game species such as deer and duck, wallaby hunting may be conducted at night where landowner permission exists and all requirements are met. Check your licence conditions carefully.
Quail and Pheasant
Brown quail and pheasant (introduced) are available during declared open seasons on private land. Check NRE Tas for current season arrangements. A basic shotgun setup works well for both.
Tasmanian Take Returns
If you hold a Tasmanian game licence and take any game during the season, you are required to submit a Take Return to NRE Tas after the season closes. This is a declaration of what species you took, how many, and where. Non-compliance with Take Returns can affect your ability to obtain future licences — NRE Tas checks previous returns before issuing new licences.
Set a calendar reminder at the end of each season to submit your return. Even if you took nothing, you may still be required to submit a nil return depending on your licence conditions.
Where Can You Hunt in Tasmania?
Private land: The majority of productive Tasmanian hunting occurs on private farmland. The midlands — between Hobart and Launceston — is prime fallow deer and wallaby country, with a patchwork of farms many of whose owners welcome licensed hunters.
State forest: Tasmania's state forests are open to hunting for licensed hunters. Deer hunting in state forest is productive in the east coast ranges and central highlands. Download the relevant maps from NRE Tas.
Crown land: Accessible for pest species (rabbits, foxes, hares) without additional permits. Specific crown land areas are also open for declared game species with a valid licence.
National parks: Hunting is not permitted in Tasmanian national parks, which cover significant portions of the island's wilderness areas. The World Heritage wilderness areas in the south-west are strictly off-limits.
Flinders Island: Tasmanian game licences cover hunting on Flinders Island, which has its own game species including hog deer — a small, dense-cover deer rarely found in huntable populations elsewhere in Australia. Access requires flying or taking the ferry to the island.
Feral Pest Control in Tasmania
Tasmania has a more limited range of established feral pests than mainland states, but what it does have provides good hunting:
Rabbits: Present across agricultural areas, particularly the midlands and east coast. Good small game hunting for new hunters developing skills.
Hares: Tasmania has a larger hare population relative to rabbits than most mainland states. Hares require more stalking effort — they're larger, faster, and less predictable than rabbits.
Foxes: Fox numbers in Tasmania are officially disputed, with NRE Tas running active eradication programs. If you encounter what appears to be a fox in Tasmania, report it to NRE Tas rather than shooting it — the state has biosecurity concerns about fox establishment.
Feral pigs: Small but established populations in several coastal and agricultural areas. Numbers are much lower than mainland states.
Feral cats: Legal to take on private land as pest animals.
No game licence required for rabbits, hares, or feral pests on private land — just a firearms licence and landowner permission.
Tasmanian Gear Considerations
Tasmania's hunting conditions are distinct from the mainland. The island has a cool-temperate climate — even in summer, conditions can change rapidly. The Western Wilderness is genuinely remote and challenging. The midlands are more accessible but still require appropriate preparation.
For Deer Hunting (Fallow — Tasmania's Premier Hunt)
Rifle: A .270 Win or .308 Win meets the minimum calibre requirement and handles Tasmanian fallow deer at realistic distances. The Ruger American .308 is a popular entry-level choice among Tasmanian hunters — reliable, accurate, and affordable. Budget $700–$1,200.
Scope: A 3-9x40 or 4-12x40 variable scope. Tasmanian deer hunting often involves glassing open farmland edges and forest clearings at ranges from 50–250 metres — a mid-range variable scope covers this well. Check rifle scopes on Amazon AU
Waterproof clothing: Non-negotiable in Tasmania. The island's weather is notoriously changeable — a clear morning can become a horizontal rain event by afternoon. A quality waterproof-breathable outer layer (Gore-Tex or equivalent) over a merino mid-layer is the Tasmanian hunter's standard setup. Check waterproof hunting jackets on BCF
Boots: Waterproof ankle-to-mid height boots with good traction for wet paddocks and bush. Vibram soles handle Tasmania's varied terrain well. Check hunting boots on BCF
Binoculars: Essential for glassing Tasmanian farmland at dawn and dusk when deer are most active. A 10x42 is a good all-round choice. Check binoculars on Amazon AU
Pack: A 25–35 litre daypack for day hunts. If you're hunting state forest overnight, 50+ litres with rain cover.
For Wallaby Hunting (Tasmania's Unique Hunt)
Spotlight: Night wallaby hunting on crop edges requires a quality spotlight. A rechargeable LED unit that throws a good beam over crop paddocks is standard. Check spotlights on Amazon AU
Rifle or shotgun: A .22 LR or .17 HMR handles wallaby at night shooting ranges (typically under 100 metres). A 12-gauge shotgun with light loads is also used by some hunters.
Vehicle: Most wallaby hunting involves a slow vehicle drive around crop paddock edges. A 4WD or ute with a roof-mounted spotlight or hand-held spotlight set is the standard approach.
For Duck Hunting
Shotgun: A 12-gauge semi-auto or over/under. Check lead shot requirements for Tasmanian wetlands — non-toxic shot may be required at specific locations.
Waders: For marsh and wetland hunting. Check waders on BCF
Decoys and calls: A basic spread of a dozen decoys significantly improves results on Tasmanian ducks. Check duck decoys on Amazon AU
Full Timeline: Licence to First Tasmanian Hunt
Week 1–2: Join SSAA Tasmania or Field & Game Australia Tasmania. Book firearms safety course.
Week 3–4: Complete safety course. Install safe. Submit firearms licence to Tasmania Police.
Week 4–10: Processing period. Research hunting areas. For duck hunting, study waterfowl identification materials.
Week 10–11: Receive licence. Apply for game licences through Service Tasmania.
Week 11–15: Apply for PTA, 28-day wait, collect firearm.
Week 15+: Ready to hunt. Arrange landowner permissions and start planning your first trip.
Note for interstate visitors: If you already hold a firearms licence from another state, you can skip directly to applying for Tasmanian game licences through Service Tasmania. This makes Tasmania one of the easiest interstate hunting destinations to access quickly.
Final Checklist for Tasmanian Hunters
- ✅ Current firearms licence (any Australian state accepted)
- ✅ Relevant species game licence from Service Tasmania
- ✅ Written landowner permission for private land
- ✅ Carry Take Returns — submit at end of season
- ✅ Waterproof outer layer and merino base layers
- ✅ Emergency contact plan — mobile coverage is patchy in state forests
- ✅ PLB for remote wilderness areas
Tasmania is genuinely one of Australia's best-kept hunting secrets. The fallow deer populations in the midlands are excellent, the wallaby hunting is an experience unique to the island, and the duck seasons on the river systems are seriously good. For mainland hunters, Tasmania is worth the ferry or flight.
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