What Game Management Authority does

The Game Management Authority (GMA) is an independent statutory authority of the Victorian Government in Australia, established in 2014 under the Game Management Authority Act 2014 to regulate recreational game hunting across Victoria. GMA serves licensed hunters pursuing deer, duck, quail, and introduced game birds on approximately four million hectares of public land, and reports to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation. The authority's mandate spans licensing, education, enforcement, and research to ensure responsible and sustainable hunting, and it collaborates with Parks Victoria, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Victoria Police, the Victorian Fisheries Authority, and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.

GMA's core technology platform is the MyGL (My Game Licence) online licensing system, which handles license applications, renewals, mandatory education modules, the Waterfowl Identification Test, and Hog Deer tag orders. The authority also operates the More To Explore mobile application and the MapShareVic web-based interactive mapping system, which provide digital hunting maps showing public land available for hunting and the species that can be hunted in specific areas, with offline functionality. Education is delivered through a suite of online modules covering deer hunting, hound hunting, bowhunting, firearms safety, and basic survival skills, supplemented by in-person Deer 101, Gamebird 101, and Victorian Hunter Education courses delivered through partnerships with SSAA Victoria and the Australian Deer Association. Research programs monitor deer, duck, and quail populations, including a recent study that fitted tracking devices to over 150 Victorian game ducks.

The authority's revenue model is structured around government appropriations rather than independent income generation. License fees—which range from free junior and Game Bird Farm licenses to A$476.60 for a long-term combined license—are collected by GMA but remitted to Victorian Government consolidated revenue. An external 2019 economic study estimated hunters contributed A$356 million in economic activity to the State, while GMA's own operational scope includes 862 patrols conducted and 305 illegal hunting reports received across fiscal year 2025–26, against a headcount of 18 employees. Distribution is delivered digitally via the MyGL self-serve platform and a customer contact centre (136 186), with field access provided through Victoria's public lands.

Name

Game Management Authority

Legal name

Game Management Authority

Website

https://gma.vic.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Game Management Authority is a Victorian Government statutory authority that regulates recreational game hunting in Victoria through licensing, education, enforcement, and research, serving over 50,000 licensed deer hunters plus duck, quail, and game bird hunters on roughly four million hectares of public land.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife and Game Hunting Regulation

NAICS

Hunting and Trapping (114210), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare Regulation & Enforcement (HLAMAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Inspection, Monitoring & Maintenance Programs (Audits, Compliance, Recertification) (HSAMAGAN)

Keywords

• Game hunting regulation
• Wildlife management
• Hunter licensing services
• Conservation enforcement
• Hunter education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Game License Fees: The GMA generates revenue through game license fees charged to hunters. Fees vary by license type (deer stalking, deer with hounds, duck, quail, introduced game birds), duration (short-term 1 year, long-term 3 years), and eligibility for concessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Game Management Authority regulates game hunting in Victoria through licensing, education, research, and enforcement. It issues game licences for deer, duck, quail, and introduced game birds, delivers mandatory hunter education modules and the Waterfowl Identification Test, conducts enforcement patrols, manages seasonal hunting arrangements, and publishes hunting maps via the More To Explore app and MapShareVic. The GMA operates the MyGL online portal as its primary customer-facing platform for licence applications, renewals, and tag ordering.

Product overview

The Game Management Authority provides a regulatory platform for game hunting in Victoria through its licensing system (MyGL), online education modules, and testing programs. The core offering includes the My Game Licence portal for licence applications and renewals, mandatory Waterfowl Identification Tests, and online education modules covering deer hunting, duck hunting, quail hunting, and firearms safety. The authority also provides hunting maps through the More To Explore mobile application and web-based MapShareVic mapping system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MyGL (My Game Licence): The online licensing system that allows hunters to apply for Game Licences, update personal information, take game hunting tests, and order Hog Deer tags.
• More To Explore
• RESPECT - Hunt Responsibly

Products and services

• My Game Licence (MyGL) Online Licensing Portal Online licensing portal enabling Victorian hunters to apply for Game Licences, update personal information, complete game hunting tests, and order Hog Deer tags. Available 24/7 via self-service.
• Online Hunter Education Modules Suite of web-based educational modules covering deer hunting basics, hound hunting, bowhunting, basic survival skills, and introduction to firearms for hunter training and certification. Includes the Victorian Hunter Education Course delivered in partnership with the Australian Deer Association.
• Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) Online identification test that duck hunters must pass before obtaining a duck hunting endorsement, ensuring hunters can distinguish game species from non-game protected waterfowl.
• Game Licence System (Deer, Duck, Quail, Introduced Game Birds) Statutory licensing system issuing Game Licences to Victorian hunters across categories including deer stalking, deer with hounds, duck, quail, and introduced game birds. Licences are available in short-term (1-year) and long-term (3-year) durations, with concession rates and free junior options.
• Gamebird Licensing Conditions Program Mandatory online education program required for all new and renewing gamebird (duck) licence applicants in Victoria, covering gamebird identification, ethics, and regulations.
• More To Explore Mobile Application and MapShareVic Hunting Maps Mobile application and web-based interactive mapping system showing public land available for hunting in Victoria, with species-specific hunting layers and offline map download capability.
• Authorisations and Permits for Special Hunting Activities Written authorisations issued under section 28A of the Wildlife Act 1975 authorising individuals to hunt, take, destroy, buy, sell, breed, process, display, or experiment on game species for permitted purposes.
• Hound Hunting Test and Hound Registration Mandatory test and registration program for hunters using hounds during deer hunting, including hound registration administered in partnership with ADA and the Victorian Hound Hunters.

Quantifiable outcome

• $356 million economic contribution to Victoria from hunters in 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Parks VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParks Victoria collaborates with GMA on game management and hunting on public lands including State Parks and National Parks. Joint operations and patrols are conducted to ensure compliance with hunting laws.
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEECA works with GMA on environmental research, wildlife management, Crown land administration, and wild dog/dingo control programs. DEECA manages the More To Explore app and MapShareVic mapping systems.
• Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDJSIR collaborates with GMA on economic aspects of hunting and regional development initiatives.
• Victorian Fisheries AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Victorian Fisheries Authority works with GMA on shared natural resource management and recreational outdoor activities.
• Victoria PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictoria Police works with GMA on enforcement of hunting laws, firearms licensing, and joint patrols. Police are authorized to undertake enforcement actions relating to illegal hunting.
• SSAA Victoria (Shooting Sports Association)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSSAA partners with GMA to deliver Deer 101 courses covering theory on hunting laws, best practices, and practical firearms training. Also delivers Gamebird 101 courses for duck hunting education.
• Australian Deer AssociationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Australian Deer Association collaborates with GMA to deliver the Victorian Hunter Education Course - a comprehensive residential weekend program covering deer hunting regulations and safety practices.
• Traditional Owner GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraditional Owners acting under Natural Resources Agreements are exempt from Game Licence requirements and can hunt on their recognised Traditional Owner Settlement Area. GMA has developed a Traditional Owner Game Management Strategy.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW): Australian Federal Government department responsible for environment and wildlife policy that interacts with state hunting regulators. Comparable as a larger, broader incumbent whose policies shape the regulatory environment in which GMA operates.
• Parks Victoria: Victorian Government body managing parks and public land on which game hunting occurs, and a formal GMA partner. Comparable as an established state agency whose remit overlaps with GMA's enforcement and access-permission functions, but at much broader scale.

Others

• Australian Deer Association: Industry association that partners with GMA to deliver the Victorian Hunter Education Course. Adjacent ecosystem participant representing deer hunters — comparable because of its formal education-delivery partnership with GMA, but not a regulator.
• Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia (SSAA): National peak body for recreational shooters and hunters that delivers hunter education courses on GMA's behalf in Victoria. Adjacent ecosystem partner — comparable as a stakeholder in hunter training but not a regulator.

Direct peers

• NSW Department of Primary Industries (Game Licensing Unit): Regulates game hunting licences (deer, game birds) in New South Wales under similar statutory authority. Directly comparable as an Australian state-level game management regulator with hunter education, licensing and compliance functions.
• Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA): Statutory authority within the Victorian Government responsible for recreational fishing regulation — a sibling regulator in Victoria with parallel structure, licensing systems and educational remit, making it a natural functional peer.
• Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA): South Australian government agency administering game hunting permits, deer control and feral animal management on public land. Comparable as a state-level hunting and game management regulator.
• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Western Australia): Western Australia's lead agency for hunting licence administration, fauna management and conservation estate compliance — an Australian state-level peer that issues hunting licences and conducts enforcement similar to GMA.
• Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas): Tasmania's lead regulator for game (deer) hunting licences, wildlife management and public-land access — directly comparable as an Australian state-level authority with similar licensing, research and compliance mandates.
• Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation: Regulates recreational and pest-game hunting in Queensland, including licence issuance and protected-area hunting access. Comparable state-level regulator operating under similar Australian wildlife legislation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GameManagementAuthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/game-management-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Game Management Authority