Magpie geese and waterfowl season dates
Hunting season closed
The waterfowl hunting season ended on 4 January 2026 and will reopen on 6 September 2026.
In the Northern Territory (NT), you can only hunt for magpie geese and waterfowl during the hunting season.
The official hunting season will open every year from 6 September to 4 January.
You must have a hunting permit.
For more information, read the hunting rules.
Interstate and international visitors must also buy a parks pass to visit most NT parks and reserves.
Hunting season dates
See below for the information relevant to you.
Hunting reserves
Hunting will open from 6 September 2026 on the following reserves:
- Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve (closes 7:30pm on 23 December 2026)
- Howard Springs Hunting Reserve (closes 7:30pm on 23 December 2026)
- Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve (closes 7:30pm on 4 January 2027)
- Harrison Dam Conservation Reserve (closes 7:30pm on 4 January 2027).
Private land
Hunting on private land will open from 15 August 2026 and closes at 7.30pm on 4 January 2027.
You must have permission from the landholder.
Hunting hours
You can only shoot during certain hours:
- August (private land only) - 6:30am to 7pm
- September - 6am to 7pm
- October - 6am to 7pm
- November - 5:50am to 7:15pm
- December - 5:50am to 7:30pm
- January - 5:50am to 7:30pm.
What you can hunt
| Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|
| Anseranas semipalmata | Magpie goose |
| Anas superciliosa | Pacific black duck |
| Anas gracilis | Grey teal |
| Aythya australis | Hardhead duck, also known as white-eyed duck |
| Chenonetta jubata | Maned duck, also known as wood duck |
| Dendrocygna arcuata | Wandering whistling duck, also known as water whistle duck |
| Dendrocygna eytoni | Plumed whistling duck, also known as grass whistle duck |
| Malacorhynchus membranaceus | Pink-eared duck |
Daily bag limit
The daily bag limit per hunter is:
- 7 magpie geese
- 10 waterfowl.
If you are away from your place of residence for 3 or more days, like camping, the maximum is 21 magpie geese and 30 other waterfowl.
Waterfowl permit return
You can submit a permit return to the Parks and Wildlife Commission to record the birds you have taken.
Submit a return online through Territory Services.
Contact
To contact Parks and Wildlife permits office:
- call 08 8999 4795 (Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm)
- email pwpermits@nt.gov.au.
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