Volunteer Non-Commercial Kangaroo Shooting - Everything You Need to Know

By Michael Gibson | 7 May 2019

The NSW Government announced changes in June 2018 to non-commercial kangaroo management, including initiatives to allow volunteer shooters to support landholders in drought. The changes were effective from Wednesday 8 August 2018.

NSW DPI have released this information pack to help you understand your rights and responsibilities.

What is changing?

Physical tags – no longer required.

More than two shooters may operate under a landholder licence at any time.

Shooters no longer need to be listed on the landholder’s licence at the time of application and only need to be listed on landholder licence returns after culling operations.

Carcasses may be removed for personal use (but not sold, swapped or traded).

Why change how kangaroos are managed?

Large populations of kangaroos across NSW are causing damage to properties, eating what little pasture is left on the ground and accessing limited water resources. With much of the State now in drought, these changes improve non-commercial management of overabundant kangaroo populations to the benefit of landholders and regional communities.

Communities are also experiencing road safety risks and seeing animal welfare issues for the kangaroos which are running short of food and water.

The NSW Government continues to pursue commercial harvesting as the most humane and efficient method for managing kangaroo populations.

Personal use of kangaroo carcasses

While kangaroo carcasses may now be removed for personal use, it is strictly prohibited for non-commercial shooters to sell, trade or swap any part of a harvested kangaroo.

2018 non-commercial kangaroo changes

National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes

Landholders and shooters culling kangaroos non-commercial must comply with the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes.

Volunteer Non-Commercial Kangaroo Shooters Best Practice Guide

The comprehensive Volunteer Non-Commercial Kangaroo Shooters Best Practice Guide (PDF, 524.71 KB) has been developed to further educate shooters about provisions in the national code as well as other important information on shooting safety, food hygiene and disease identification.

All shooters are encouraged to read and abide by the Volunteer Shooters Guide to ensure humane and ethical non-commercial harvesting of kangaroos.

More information