Bow and crossbow hunting

The state government is moving to ban the use of bows and crossbows to hunt animals in South Australia. This ban has not yet come into effect.

The ban intends to comprehensively prohibit the use of bows and crossbows to hunt animals.

This would be proclaimed, pursuant to section 66 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, by the Governor of South Australia.

There is not a confirmed proclamation date, but it is expected that the ban would come into effect later in 2024.

This webpage will be updated once a date has been determined. The department will also advise stakeholders and Basic Hunting Permit holders of this date.

People who use a bow or crossbow to hunt animals in SA, regardless of the species or the setting, would be affected.

This would include:

• holders of a valid Basic Hunting Permit, which is required to lawfully hunt in most circumstances
  
  
• Aboriginal hunting, undertaken with a bow or crossbow, within the context of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act)
  
  
• landholders, family members, or an agent of a landholder intending to destroy an animal of a species not protected by the NPW Act that is causing damage to crops, stock or other property on the land
  
  
• the destruction of an animal of a species not protected by the NPW Act that is endangering human life
  
  
• bow fishing.

The ban would not affect:

• lawful hunting using devices other than bows or crossbows (e.g. guns, spears)
  
  
• the recreational use of bows and crossbows that doesn’t involve hunting (e.g. target archery)
  
  
• spear fishing (using a hand fish spear or spear gun). Please visit the PIRSA website to learn more about relevant rules, requirements and restrictions for spear fishing
  
  
• Aboriginal hunting, when not using a bow or crossbow, within the context of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (e.g. when using a gun or other firearm)
  
  
• duck and quail hunting – bows and crossbows are already prohibited from being used to take protected species under a Duck Open Season Hunting Permit or a Quail Open Season Hunting Permit. Hunting of duck and quail during Open Season with firearms permitted for this activity will not be affected
  
  
• ownership of bows and crossbows – they could still be used for recreational purposes that don’t involve hunting
  
  
• ownership of hunting-specific bow and crossbow equipment, such as broadhead arrows or bolts – they can still be used in other jurisdictions that permit hunting with bows or crossbows, or for recreational purposes that don’t involve hunting in South Australia.

The ban would be enforced by staff from the Department for Environment and Water and SA Police as authorised under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Penalties up to $1,000 would apply.

As bows and crossbows can be used for other recreational purposes in South Australia, and to hunt in other jurisdictions where they are permitted, there is no plan to offer a buy back.

Yes. In South Australia, a person must not hunt or have possession of any firearm or device, including bows or crossbows, for the purpose of hunting, unless that person holds a hunting permit issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service or is exempted from holding a hunting permit.

There are also existing limitations on use and possession of crossbows under legislation enforced by the SA Police.

The state government’s commitment to ban bow and crossbow hunting in South Australia has not changed.

It was originally proposed to implement the ban by amending the National Parks and Wildlife (Hunting) Regulations 2011 to prohibit the use of bows or crossbows to hunt animals subject to a Basic Hunting Permit.

Instead, a revised approach intends to comprehensively ban the use of bows and crossbows to hunt animals.

The ban would come into effect through a proclamation made, pursuant to section 66 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, by the Governor of South Australia.

The ban would make it illegal for any person to use a bow or crossbow to hunt any animal in South Australia, without exception. This includes scenarios where a Basic Hunting Permit is not required.

The department invited stakeholders to provide feedback on the approach to implementing the ban in early 2023. This included understanding perspectives of the timing of the ban and how the ban should be communicated. This has been used to inform how the department will educate stakeholders about the ban’s implementation.

South Australians wanting to share their views on the ban and intended implementation approach can do so by contacting wildlife@sa.gov.au.