Magpie geese and waterfowl season dates
Hunting season closed
The waterfowl hunting season ended on 4 January 2026 and will reopen on 5 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 the first Saturday in September every year. This year the season will run from 5 September 2026 to 3 January 2027.
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 5 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 3 January 2027)
- Harrison Dam Conservation Reserve (closes 7:30pm on 3 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.
Give feedback about this page.
Share this page:
URL copied!