The Game Animal Council Act 2013 provides for herds of special interest (HOSI) to be designated by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing.

Anyone can propose a HOSI. Proposers are expected to have a vested interest in, and knowledge of, the herd and the geographical area being proposed.

This page has information on:

The HOSI process

Phase one: proposal development

The Game Animal Council (GAC) supports HOSI proposers during the proposal development phase by providing information on the HOSI process, technical advice, and by liaising with the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Phase one largely follows this process:

  1. A HOSI concept application is made to the GAC.
  2. The GAC evaluates whether the concept is likely to meet the first two requirements for HOSI – that the herd:
    1. Is of special interest to hunters.
    2. Can be managed for hunting purposes.
  3. If the GAC supports the concept, then the GAC and proposer work together to develop a full HOSI proposal.
  4. The GAC evaluates the full HOSI proposal to determine if it addresses all the requirements of a HOSI designation.
  5. If the GAC endorses the proposal, a supporting letter is sent to the Minister alongside the proposal, for consideration.

Phase two: statutory consultation and herd management plan development

  1. The Minister receives advice from key parties listed in the Game Animal Council Act 2013 on whether animals are of special interest to hunters and can be managed for hunting purposes.
  2. If the Minister decides to progress the HOSI proposal, a draft herd management plan is prepared. The GAC works with DOC and other stakeholders, providing policy, planning, hunting and game animal management expertise in the development of the herd management plan.
  3. Once the herd management plan has been drafted it is then publicly consulted on. DOC analyses submissions and considers feedback. The GAC supports this process by providing advice and recommendations.
  4. This phase may also include consideration of how implementation should be funded.

Phase three: HOSI designation

  1. The Minister will decide whether to designate a HOSI and approve the herd management plan. This also includes the delegation of management to the GAC. A designation is formalised through a notice published in the Gazette.
  2. Where management is delegated to the GAC, DOC maintains a monitor role as the administrating agency for the Game Animal Council Act 2013. Where management is retained by the Minister, DOC supports implementation on the Minister’s behalf, while the GAC continues to provide input as a game animal management expert and as the organisation bound by the herd management plan.
  3. The herd management plan must be formally reviewed at intervals of no more than five years.

Operational implementation

Following designation, the HOSI is operationalised, with implementation plans and reporting being undertaken in annual cycles.

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GAC HOSI Policy

For a HOSI to be designated, the Minister needs to be satisfied that the game animal herd is of special interest to hunters and can be managed for hunting purposes in a way that is consistent with the wider conservation framework.

The Game Animal Council Act 2013 refers to the wider conservation framework as the ‘overriding considerations’.

To enable consistency and provide transparency, the GAC has developed a HOSI Policy that outlines how we undertake our role in the HOSI process.

The GAC HOSI Policy is applied by us when preparing advice to the Minister on the designation and management of HOSI. This includes assessing HOSI proposals, considering whether a proposed herd can be practically managed for hunting purposes, assessing the likely costs of management, and making recommendations on how those costs could be recovered.

The GAC HOSI Policy is available here (PDF File). Please note, as the HOSI process and individual HOSI delegations are made, this policy will undergo review and updating. The policy is applicable as at March 2025.

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External assessment of our approach

In 2025, the GAC engaged an external contractor to assess our approach to managing the proposal development phase (phase one) of the HOSI process.

As this was the first time that this part of the HOSI process had been implemented, the GAC wanted to understand where improvements could be made to ensure a robust, efficient and consistent approach for future HOSI proposals.

Read the report here (PDF File). Some of the high-level findings include:

  • The general approach to HOSI proposal development taken by the GAC is rigorous, complex, well thought out and designed to provide proposals with the best chance of success.
  • The complexity is necessary, considering the legislative requirements for designating a HOSI, the absence of a statutory process during the HOSI proposal development phase, and the unique role of the GAC in advising the Minister and supporting proposers in developing HOSI proposals.
  • The GAC’s approach strongly emphasises quality due diligence, which is likely to provide a high level of confidence that the GAC’s endorsement of a HOSI proposal is justified.
  • The investment of GAC resources is likely required to ensure that HOSI proposals have the best chance of success.

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Learn more about HOSI

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Page last updated 13 July 2026