What Is AMPGAM303?
AMPGAM303 is a nationally recognised unit of competency with the formal title “Use Firearms to Safely and Humanely Harvest Wild Game.” It belongs to the AMP (Australian Meat Processing) training package, reflecting its primary purpose: ensuring that people who harvest wild game animals do so safely, legally, and humanely.
The certification covers kangaroos, wallabies, wild boar, wild goats, deer, possums, rabbits, hares, and wild game birds.
Since 2018, AMPGAM303 has been the mandatory base qualification for anyone holding a Commercial Kangaroo Harvester card in NSW. It is also the industry standard for professional deer harvesting operations.
How AMPGAM303 Differs from AHCPMG304
These two certifications are closely related but serve different purposes.
| Aspect | AHCPMG304 | AMPGAM303 |
|---|---|---|
| Training package | AHC (Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation) | AMP (Australian Meat Processing) |
| Primary purpose | Pest destruction on agricultural land | Game harvesting for commercial purposes |
| Mandatory for | NSW National Parks pest control (de facto for all professional pest controllers) | Commercial kangaroo harvesters (since 2018) |
| Species focus | All pest species (pigs, foxes, dogs, deer, rabbits, cats, birds) | Game animals (kangaroos, wallabies, deer, goats, pigs, rabbits, game birds) |
| Additional content | Pest management planning, monitoring programmes | Commercial harvest logistics, carcass handling, tagging systems |
| Practical assessment | 5-shot groups in kill zone at 50m (rimfire) and 100m (centrefire) | Same practical standard |
The firearms safety, marksmanship, shot placement, and animal welfare standards are identical across both certifications. The difference is context. AHCPMG304 is about removing pest animals that are causing damage. AMPGAM303 is about harvesting game animals for the commercial meat and skin trade.
A professional pest controller who works across both contexts holds both certifications.
What AMPGAM303 Covers
The certification covers 10 modules. Many overlap with AHCPMG304, but with additional emphasis on harvest-specific requirements.
Firearm safety and legislation
The same National Firearms Safety Code (16 principles) and 20-point practical firearms handling checklist apply. Candidates must demonstrate safe handling under observation before progressing to live shooting.
The legislation module covers the same NSW firearms laws plus additional coverage of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002, the National Code of Practice for Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies, and commercial harvesting licensing requirements.
Kangaroo harvesting requirements
This is where AMPGAM303 goes beyond AHCPMG304. The National Code of Practice for Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes (2020) sets strict requirements:
- Rifles must be fitted with telescopic sights and sighted in before operations
- Animals must not be shot from a moving vehicle
- The target must be standing (injured animals excepted) and clearly visible
- Self-loading (semi-automatic) rifles must not be used
- Only soft-point or hollow-point projectiles may be used
- Sub-sonic ammunition must not be used
- Minimum calibre: .204 Ruger or .222 Remington
- Brain shot is the only acceptable method for commercial kangaroo harvest
The brain shot requirement is significant. It demands a higher level of marksmanship than a chest shot, because the brain kill zone is roughly half the size of the heart kill zone. Professional kangaroo shooters operating under this standard routinely achieve humane single-shot kills at 80 to 100 metres.
Species-specific shot placement
The same kill zone anatomy covered in AHCPMG304 applies: brain kill zone (100mm x 95mm side-on in a medium deer-sized animal), heart/chest kill zone (200mm x 180mm x 150mm), and species-specific placement for pigs, goats, deer, kangaroos, and rabbits.
For kangaroos and wallabies specifically, the temporal shot placement (from the side, midway between eye and ear base) is preferred because it presents the largest target.
Dependent young welfare
The same welfare obligations apply. Female kangaroos and wallabies may have dependent pouch young or young-at-foot that are not immediately visible. Operators must check every harvested female and humanely euthanise any dependent young found.
Unfurred pouch young with closed eyes: cervical dislocation or decapitation (considered unconscious, not yet sentient). Furred young with open eyes: concussive blow to the head (considered sentient, capable of experiencing pain). When uncertain about the stage of development, the operator must apply the benefit of the doubt and treat the young as sentient.
Spotlighting techniques
AMPGAM303 includes specific training on spotlighting for night operations. Red filters on spotlights reduce disturbance and make animals more likely to remain in place. Frequency of visits should be managed because animals adjust to disturbance. Optimal conditions are dark nights with minimal wind.
Practical shooting assessment
The same standard as AHCPMG304: five-shot groups inside the kill zone at 50 metres (rimfire) and 100 metres (centrefire), fired from a supported sitting position. Re-accreditation is required every five years.
Why AMPGAM303 Matters
For farmers hiring pest controllers
AMPGAM303 tells you the operator has been specifically trained in the humane handling of larger game species. For properties dealing with feral deer or involved in kangaroo management programmes, it confirms the operator meets the national standard for these species.
When combined with AHCPMG304, you know the operator is qualified across both pest destruction and game harvesting contexts.
For the commercial kangaroo industry
Australia’s kangaroo harvest is one of the largest commercial wildlife harvests in the world, with products exported to more than 55 countries. Annual harvest sustainability rates are set at 15% of the population for grey kangaroos and wallaroos and 20% for red kangaroos. Since 2001, actual harvest levels have averaged less than 65% of the quota.
The mandatory AMPGAM303 requirement ensures every commercial harvester meets a consistent national standard for humane dispatch. This underpins the welfare credentials of the industry and its export markets.
For deer management in NSW
Feral deer are no longer classified as game animals in NSW. Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, all six established species (fallow, red, sambar, rusa, chital, and hog deer) are priority pest animals. While AMPGAM303 is not required to shoot deer on private land, it provides the formal competency framework for professional deer management, particularly for operators working across multiple properties or under government contracts.
The Full Qualification Stack
A professional pest controller operating across both pest management and game harvesting contexts will typically hold some combination of these credentials:
| Credential | Purpose |
|---|---|
| AHCPMG304 | Humane destruction of pest animals |
| AMPGAM303 | Humane harvesting of wild game |
| VPAC genuine reason | Commercial pest control firearms licence endorsement |
| VPIT | 1080, PAPP, and Pindone baiting programmes |
| Suppressors permit | Noise reduction for livestock safety |
| $20M public liability | Commercial insurance coverage |
| First aid certification | Emergency preparedness |
When evaluating pest controllers, ask which of these they hold. The more of the stack they have completed, the more comprehensively qualified they are.
Feral Up’s Certifications
Feral Up operators hold both AHCPMG304 and AMPGAM303, along with VPIT, current NSW Firearms Licences, and $20M public liability insurance. Our full credentials are listed on our Licensing and Credentials page.
Looking for a qualified pest controller? Contact us for a free property assessment. We will assess your pest situation and provide a clear quote. Or call us directly on 0493 417 929.