5 September 2026
The 2026 waterfowl hunting season will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and close Sunday 3 January 2027.Hunters make use of the Territory's four conservation reserves, designated crown land with a permit, or a private property with written permission from the landholder. Finocchiaro CLP Government will continue to back hunters and law-abiding firearm owners as we restore our unique Territory lifestyle.
Territory hunters, clad in camo and armed with packed lunches, will take to the roads this weekend as the 2026 waterfowl hunting season begins.
From Saturday, 5 September 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027, recreational hunters will be able to make the most of the Territory's hunting reserves.
Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Marie-Clare Boothby, said the season was an essential part of the Territory lifestyle.
"I love this time of year, as we see families and friends make the most of the great outdoors, and celebrate our unique Territory lifestyle," Minister Boothby said.
"Hunting is more than just something to do though: it attracts locals and visitors - particularly to our regions - and it encapsulates the freedom and fresh air which I think really defines the Territory.
"As a CLP team, we are proud to back our hunters - not with lip service, but by reducing red-tape, investing in our reserves, and by taking a Territory-first approach when it comes to national reforms."
The season comes as the Finocchiaro CLP Government builds on its track record of delivering for hunters, including:
Purchasing the 30,000ha Silkwood property, to include a dedicated hunting reserve.Expanding the Harrison Dam Hunting Reserve for waterfowl and pig hunting.Setting bag limits and season dates until January 2030.Establishing the Hunting in the NT Grant Program to support practical land management on conservation reserves.Removing the mandatory wait for law-abiding gun owners to purchase same-category firearms.
Deputy Chief Minister and keen hunter, Gerard Maley, said, "We promised to back Territory hunters and responsible gun owners by reducing red-tape and investing in our reserves. I look forward to seeing friends and families getting out and enjoying the very best of our Territory lifestyle this waterfowl season."
The latest aerial survey conducted by the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment shows that the Government's work to manage magpie geese is working, with an estimated 1.69 million birds across the Top End, up 27% from 2025, with nesting activity increasing by a remarkable 71%.
Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Joshua Burgoyne, said, "We've locked in season dates and daily bag limits through to January 2030, to give Territory hunters the certainty they need to plan ahead. We must also ensure our wildlife is managed sustainably into the future - that's why we're conducting surveys to improve how we manage harvest levels, and I encourage hunters to have their say."
