Enforcement statistics
The GMA uses a range of sanctions to deter illegal behaviour within our remit of legislation, such as official warnings, infringement notices, prosecutions and licence suspensions and cancellations.
Any sanctions imposed as a result of court proceedings are at the discretion of the courts, not the GMA.
Other agencies such as Victoria Police, are also authorised to undertake enforcement actions relating to illegal hunting or hunting-related activities.
GMA enforcement actions are undertaken in accordance with our Compliance Strategy 2020 - 2025 with annual priorities set out in our Compliance (Education and Enforcement) Plan 2023 – 2024.
2024-25 third-quarter update (1 July 2024 to 31 March 2025)
From 1 July 2024 to 31 March 2025, the GMA received 158 illegal hunting reports from members of the community. The top four themes of these reports related to spotlighting (22%) and firearm matters (15%), with hunting in prohibited freehold areas and general deer enquiries being equally reported at 11% respectively.
Our Game Officers conduct proactive patrols based on intelligence, speaking with hunters, landowners, community groups and public land users.
Our Game Managers are also Authorised Officers and travel around the state to conduct education and engagement activities, in accordance with our Education Strategy 2020 – 2025.
For this period, 516 (Enforcement, Surveillance and Education) patrols have been conducted.
Financial year update (1 July 2024 to 31 March 2025)
Activity | 1 July 2024 - 30 September 2024 |
|---|---|
| GMA led operations | 14 |
Multi-agency operations Inclusive of partner agency-led operations with GMA support | 7 |
| Information reports generated | 370 |
| Investigations opened | 85 |
Investigations concluded Includes investigations opened prior to 1 July 2023 | 83 |
| Warrants executed | 1 |
Investigations opened by theme 1 July 2024 – 31 March 2025All investigations opened by the GMA involve game hunting related offences.
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Illegal hunting reports by theme 1 July 2024 – 31 March 2025Some reported themes are outside of the GMA’s remit.
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Annual enforcement overview
| Activity | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of information reports generated | 222 | 454 | 801 | 1081 | 770 | 662 |
| Official (written) warnings issued | 50 | 24 | 3 | 30 | 13 | 7 |
| Warnings (non-infringeable offences) | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Infringement notices issued as part of the GMA conducted enforcement operations | 27 | 97 | 118 | 117 | 37 | 46 |
| Banning notices issued | 6 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 22 |
| Court proceedings concluded | 20 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Page last updated: 14 Apr 2025