About Us

The Game Management Authority (GMA) is an independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of game hunting in Victoria. It delivers programs to improve and promote responsible hunting in Victoria. The GMA is responsible for:

  • issuing Game Licences
  • managing open and closed seasons for game species
  • enforcing game hunting laws and taking action against those who do not hunt legally
  • educating and informing hunters on how to hunt legally in Victoria.

The GMA has an important role in managing natural resources across Victoria addressing:

  • the sustainable harvest of game species
  • the humane treatment of animals that are hunted and used in game hunting
  • minimising any negative impacts on non-game wildlife, including protected and threatened species
  • the conservation of wildlife habitats.

GMA staff are located across Victoria to help oversee game hunting activities. Game Licences and information continue to be available from Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning offices, as well as through this website.

The GMA reports to the Minister for Agriculture.

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Game hunting in Victoria meets community expectations as a sustainable and well-regulated activity based on science and conducted in a responsible manner.

We regulate through education, research and enforcement to achieve responsible and sustainable game hunting in Victoria.

Goal 1: Make evidence-based education a cornerstone of our work.

Key result: Our educational programs are evidence-based and compliance and behaviour has improved because we have applied our understanding of motivations and behaviours.

Goal 2: Monitor game animal abundance and harvest levels and undertake research to ensure hunting remains sustainable.

Key result: Hunting sustainability improves and does not adversely affect populations of native species.

Goal 3: Be respected and recognised as an effective regulator.

Key result: Stakeholders clearly understand our purpose and our role in sustainability and responsibility in game hunting.

Goal 4: Deliver risk-based and intelligence-led compliance programs.

Key result: We are able to measure and improve compliance.

Goal 5: Increase our capability and expertise.

Key result: We have sufficient internal capability and capacity to achieve effective regulation and the provision of reliable advice to government.

Our work is made stronger by the values that guide it.

  • We respect each other – and the commitment of all our stakeholders to their work and their causes. This value is evident in the quality and diversity of our relationships with each other and with our stakeholders.
  • We act with integrity, courage and transparency by focusing tightly on our role as an impartial, predictable regulator on behalf of all Victorians.
  • We value expertise and advice based on sound science and direct experience.
  • We are always open to learning from and engaging with our stakeholders.
  • We aspire to excellence in our behaviour, our work and our outputs.

In addition to its core regulatory role, the GMA performs a range of other functions, including:

  • working with public land managers to improve the management of State Game Reserves and other public land where hunting is permitted
  • monitoring, conducting research and analysing the environmental, social and economic impacts of game hunting and management
  • working closely with partner agencies, such as the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria Police and Parks Victoria
  • making recommendations to relevant Ministers about game hunting and game management, the control of pest animals, declaring public land open and closed to game hunting, open and closed seasons and bag limits.

Responsibilities for game management and hunting in Victoria

The responsibility for hunting and game management is shared across a range of government departments and agencies.  The following table outlines the roles and responsibilities of these organisations in game management in Victoria.

WhoRole

Minister for Agriculture

  • Lead Minister responsible for game hunting policy
  • Jointly responsible with Environment Minister for any season modifications, including further regulation or closure of hunting areas, and other decisions under the Wildlife Act 1975.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change

  • Jointly responsible with Agriculture Minister for some decisions under the Wildlife Act 1975 which relate to game species, including season modifications, further regulation or closure of hunting areas and other decisions under the Act.

Game Management Authority (GMA)

  • Primary regulator of game hunting on public and private land
  • Responsible for operational policy, licensing, education, research and compliance
  • Can provide advice to government on game and pest management, and animal welfare related issues.
  • Not responsible for public land management, game species management, water management, habitat management or game and wildlife policy
  • Not responsible for the illegal use of firearms or firearms licensing
  • Can issue authorisations to conduct research on or manage game species.

Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR)

  • Responsible for statewide game, animal welfare and pest animal policy, including regulatory and legislative advice and development
  • Responsible for instituting any game hunting related decisions under the Wildlife Act 1975, including further regulation or closure of hunting areas and seasonal modifications
  • Responsible for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and animal welfare policy, including regulatory and legislative advice and development
  • Responsible for enforcing Codes of Practice that relate to hunting such as the Welfare of Animals in Hunting
  • Responsible for agriculture and meat industry policy, including regulatory and legislative advice and development.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)

  • Responsible for statewide land, water and wildlife management policy, including regulatory and legislative advice and development
  • Responsible for determining public land classifications and permitted activities
  • Responsible for monitoring and research on the status of wildlife, including game jointly with the GMA
  • Responsible for issuing Authorities to Control Wildlife which can include game
  • Manages public land that is not managed by Parks Victoria (e.g. state forests). This includes managing wildlife and the activities that occur on the land DELWP manages
  • Administers the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Wildlife Regulations 2013 and is responsible for wildlife possession, trade and processing, including taxidermy
  • Administers the Wildlife (State Game Reserve) Regulations 2014.

Parks Victoria

  • Manages parks and most reserves and the activities that occur on them, including hunting.  National Parks and State Game Reserves are two examples. Game hunting can be permitted in certain parks and reserves, during season.

Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS)

  • Responsible for firearms policy, including regulatory and legislative advice and development.

Victoria Police

  • Responsible for the licensing, possession, use and trade in firearms and controlled weapons.
  • Important role in ensuring public safety and public order, including leading protestor management
  • Assists the GMA during enforcement activities.

Victorian Environmental Water Holder

  • Responsible for holding and managing Victoria's environmental water entitlements and making decisions on where environmental water is used to improve and maintain the health of rivers and wetlands, which includes some State Game Reserves and other wetlands used for hunting.

Rural Water Corporations

  • Rural water corporations provide water supply, drainage, and salinity mitigation services for irrigation and domestic and stock purposes.  Some of these corporations (e.g. Goulburn-Murray Water) allow hunting on some of the waters they manage and produce information for hunters.

Catchment Management Authorities

  • CMAs have management powers over regional waterways, floodplains, drainage and environmental water.

RSPCA Victoria

  • Inspectorate has a role in enforcing animal welfare provisions (mostly domestic pets and small number of livestock) under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986
  • Can provide advice on animal welfare.

GMA Buisness plan Pegasus Report Responsibilities for game management and hunting in Victoria

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