Genuine reason common questions

The whole ‘genuine reason’ thing can be confusing. To help you wrap your head around it here is some information about how genuine reason works specifically with the Australian Hunters Club.

In order to apply for a firearm licence in NSW you must have a “Genuine Reason”. For many hunters, the easiest way to get a Genuine Reason is to have an R-Licence which not only meets the “Recreational Hunting / Vermin Control” genuine reason category but also allows the hunter to hunt in NSW state forest. 

In order to get an R-Licence a hunter must first be a member of an approved AHO (Australian Hunting Organisation) like The Australian Hunters Club. This is where we come in. 

The NSW genuine reason we offer via the club is through the R-Licence. Once you have joined our club you are then able to sit the test for the R-Licence, submiting to NSW DPI your membership certificate as evidence of your membership. This allows you to sit the test. 

Once you’ve completed the test you are issued your R-licence which you can then use as your genuine reason for owning a firearm in your firearm licence application or renewal. This is how it all works. 

Specifically, when your are appying for your firearm licence or renewal you select the “To shoot on rural land” option as your genuine reason. 

So the genuine reason in your firearm licence renewal/application is not with the club per se, it’s with the R-Licence that you can get because you are a member of the club.

As long as you maintain an active R-Licence your genuine reason also remains active.

Australian Hunters Club Approved Hunting Organisation (NSW) #13815

Step 1: R-Licence intent club registration

Prior to submitting a firearm licence application or renewal you must first have an active R-Licence. In order to get an R-Licence you must be a member of the Australian Hunters Club.

When seeking to use your membership with the Australian Hunters Club as the reference for your R-Licence application, eligible members must first complete the genuine reason‘ application form on the Australian Hunters Club website. (Note you will need to be logged in to do this). Completion of this form registers your intent to use the club as your reference for your R-Licence application.

Note this page is only available for premium and platinum members. For monthly premium and platinum members this page is unlocked after 92 days, for annual members it’s available immediately after registration.

Step 3: Getting your R-Licence

Once you have completed the form on the club’s website you can no go to the DPI website and begin the process to get your R-Licence. This involves study material and then a test online.

You can learn more about the R-Licence and apply here

During the R-Licence application process when you are asked for infomation pertaining to AHO (Australian Hunting Organsation) or club which is your reference, you can cite The Australian Hunters Club (Approved Hunting Organisation #13815)

Step 4: Evidence of genuine reason for firearm application/renewal.

After completing the form above your R-Licence course completion certificate or physical R-Licence card in conjunction with your Australian Hunters Club membership certificate pdf become valid evidence for your genuine reason for owning a firearm.

You can now start your NSW firearm licence application here.

When you come to the section titled “Genuine Reason” it’s important that you select the following options (see screenshot below):

  • Select “To shoot on rural land” as the reason you require a Firearm Licence.
  • Select “Holder of a valid NSW Game Hunting Licence Issued by Department of Primary Industries” from the next dropdown box that will appear.
  • Select the firearm categories you wish to apply for.
  • Add your NSW Game hunting licence number (visible on your R-Licence card) that was issued to you after completion of the R-Licence Course.
  • Set your R-Licence Expiry date (visible on your R-Licence card)
  • Attach a picture of both the front and back of your R-Licence card.

In the event you are required to cite the name of the hunting organisation/club (AHO) for your “To shoot on rural land” genuine reason please cite ‘The Australian Hunters Club”. If the form requires the clubs Approved Hunting Organisation number use: 13815. Similarly if the form requires proof of your membership with the Australian Hunters Club you can attach your membership certificate (which was emailed to you as a pdf attachment the same day you signed up for membership). If you have lost your certificate you can download a copy from your account page, under the Subscriptions tab. Within your active subscription find the section titled ‘related orders’ and click on the “invoice” button associated with your latest order (this will either be monthly or annually depending on your subscription). Once clicked the download will automatically start for your certificate.

Note, each state has different requirements and processes when it comes to presenting evidence so be sure to read these requirements carefully. If your membership certificate is insufficient evidence for genuine reason please contact us

If your genuine reason for having a firearms licence changes and you want to swap it over to the “Recreational Hunting / Vermin Control” category, via the R-Licence, you must inform the Firearms Registry, by email to firearms@police.nsw.gov.au within 14 days by attaching your R-Licence and club membership certificate as proof of membership. If you are required to cite the clubs AHO number it is 13815.

See NSW Firearm Registry website for more information – https://portal.police.nsw.gov.au/s/article/Firearms-Licensing-Frequently-Asked-Questions#npc3

The Australia Hunters Club membership only offers genuine reason for category A, B firearms. This includes rifles and shotguns, it does not include handguns.

When it comes to hunting clubs offering genuine reason there are two mains types, with two different requirements:

  1. Attendance based club genuine reason – Some clubs offer genuine reason to its members that requires a certain number club meeting or event attendances each year in order for the genuine reason to remain valid. This is the type I believe you are referring to. If you fail to meet this requirement, you no longer have a valid genuine reason.

  2. R-Licence based genuine reason – The other type of genuine reason (which is what The Australian Hunters Club offers) is genuine reason via a valid NSW R-License (or Restricted Licence). An R-License is a special license (separate from a firearms license) issued by NSW DPI which allows any hunter in Australia to hunt NSW state forest. If you don’t have an R-License you are restricted to hunting on private land in NSW. In order to get an R-Licence you first need to be a member of an approved club, like the Australian Hunters Club. The good news is that not only does an R-Licence allow you to hunt in state forest, it provides you with hunting public liability insurance when doing so, and can also be used as your genuine reason when filing a firearm license application or renewal.


The advantage of going with the R-Licence via The Australia Hunters Club is that you don’t have any other club requirements. You don’t need to attend any meetings or events, you just need to keep your R License active.

  1. Members who have an active R-Licence acquired through membership with The Australian Hunters Club are covered with public liability insurance by NSW DPI Hunting when they hunt under standard recreational licence conditions in NSW.
  2. The insurance covers bodily injury and/or property damage to third parties up to the value of $25 million.
  3. The insurance policy does not cover commercial hunting or hunting for reward (guided hunting). However, if a commercial or guide licence holder is hunting recreationally, without compensation, their activities are insured. It’s important for these licence holders to keep records that distinguish between their paid and private hunting activity for insurance purposes.
  4. This insurance coverage does not extend outside of NSW.
  5. Members can learn more about insurance available to R-Licence holders via the NSW DPI Hunting website.

This is general information only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the cover, refer to the specific policy wordings and/or Product Disclosure Statements available from Honan on request. Honan Insurance Group (ABN 67 005 372 396, AFSL 246749) arranges the insurance and is not the insurer. The insurer is Everest Re Group Limited.

Every standard General and Restricted game hunting NSW licence has a public liability insurance component.

You are covered for liabilities up to $25 million when you are hunting in NSW under the standard conditions of your licence.

An excess fee of $1,000 is payable with each claim on the insurance attached to your licence.

Yes. The public liability insurance cover has been extended to cover licence holders when hunting any species listed in the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 on private land Australia wide.

On public land, yes – the insurance attached to standard NSW R-Licences covers hunting using firearms, blackpowder firearms, bows and dogs.

On private land, yes – when hunting any species listed in the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002, except native game birds as they must not be targeted with a bow.

Yes. Hunting ducks on private land is covered by the liability insurance as your NSW game hunting licence is a prerequisite for participation in the Native Game Bird Management Program.

We are hoping in the future to offer this service, however at the moment this is  not possible.

Join the adventure. Join our club

Play Video

© Australia Hunters Club 2025

Approved Hunting Organisation (NSW) 13815

Proudly supporting Hunting Trips Australia