Duck hunting green light draws ire and praise

But Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos announced on Monday, January 29 that recreational duck and quail hunting will continue in Victoria in 2024 with changes recommended to ensure it remains safe, sustainable and responsible.

The 2024 season will go ahead between Wednesday, April 10 and Wednesday, June 5 with a bag limit of six birds per shooter per day.

The blue-winged shoveler and hardhead cannot be hunted in Victoria this year.

The government said its position had not changed and that it will accept seven of the committee’s eight recommendations in full or in principle.

“While the committee did not reach consensus in its report, the views of more than 10,000 Victorians and organisations were heard in the biggest response to a Parliamentary inquiry ever in Victoria,” a government statement said.

State Member for Northern Victoria and Animal Justice Party representative Georgie Purcell described the day of the announcement as “hugely disappointing” and that she had done her best to speak for her constituents and on behalf of native ducks.

She said the government’s decision was “gutless”.

“Frankly, I am gutted,” Ms Purcell said.

“Despite the overwhelming community sentiment, the science and the government’s own inquiry recommendation, the government has permitted the ongoing massacre of native ducks.

“A captain’s call has been made that flies in the face of support for a ban from many Labor MPs including the chair of the inquiry, and even ministers.

“It’s unforgivable. Next week in parliament I will speak again for ducks.”

Ms Purcell’s Facebook page published a Photoshopped image of Premier Jacinta Allan draped with dead birds with blood spattered onto her clothing.

A statement from Regional Victorians Opposed To Duck Shooting said the Premier needed to “come clean” about alleged deals made with unions and the gun lobby and described shooting as “uncontrollable, grossly cruel, environmentally destructive and unpopular”.

“We are not sure who this government is representing,” the statement said.

Nationals deputy leader and Victoria’s Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy said the decision was a win for hunters.

“Common sense has prevailed ... for thousands of duck harvesters throughout Victoria,” Ms Kealy said.

“A biased and stacked inquiry which recommended the end of duck harvesting was a sham and the Liberals and Nationals strongly support the practice continuing.

“Labor, the Greens and the Animal Justice Party members involved in the inquiry ... based their judgments on ideology alone, ignoring science.

“Trained and licensed harvesters have a positive effect on conserving and restoring wetland habitats.”

A minority report from the inquiry recommended bird harvesting continue in Victoria in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.

“As we have said all along, duck harvesting is sustainable and safe and has huge economic benefits,” Ms Kealy said.

“It is not only a source of food but is also an activity passed through generations which helps with land conservation.”

Sporting Shooters Association Australia (SSAA) Victoria hunting development manager David Laird said the decision had been met with approval from the state’s leading shooting body but said there was concern over the report’s remaining seven recommendations.

“We are reassured that the government has listened to the evidence and committed to a path forward for native bird hunting that provides certainty and addresses community concerns,” Mr Laird said.

“Many of (the) recommendations will be challenging for hunters, but the only one that we cannot live with is a ban on hunting.”

SSAA Victoria released a statement saying most of the MPs on that committee recommended that hunting continue.

Mr Laird said that despite some submissions being “hyped rhetoric”, the inquiry heard genuine concerns about sustainability and animal welfare.

“Those concerns are being addressed through key initiatives such as the adaptive harvest model and the waterfowl wounding reduction action plan.”

Mr Laird also called on the RSPCA to work with hunters to improve hunting, saying the society’s position on duck hunting had drifted further to align itself with the animal rights movement.

“The elected government now has had its say, and the RSPCA needs to respect that,” he said.

“It is really on us as hunters now to show the government and the community that their trust is well placed and hunting and hunters will continue to live our tradition with respect for the wildlife, the wild places and the community.”

Field & Game Australia welcomed the announcement and released a statement describing the decision as a “major milestone”.

“We are grateful to the Victorian Labor Party for its decisive leadership action in rejecting the parliamentary select committee’s previous recommendation,” the statement said.

“This move not only honours Australia’s deep-seated hunting tradition but also recognizes the essential role of hunting in our ecosystem.”

State Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell also welcomed the announcement and said hunters played an important role in the conservation and sustainability of wetlands.

“Duck hunting in Victoria is a legitimate outdoor recreational activity that has been enjoyed by generations of hunters,” Ms Tyrrell said.

“Not only is duck hunting a legitimate hobby, the economic benefits to local economies from hunters visiting regional hunting areas is significant.

“While I suspect Labor’s decision not to ban hunting is to pacify their friends in the trade union movement, I welcome the announcement nonetheless.”

Shooting conditions

The Gaming Management Authority has released the eight conditions under which licensed shooters can hunt ducks in Victoria in 2024

Hunting will commence at 8am and end 30 minutes after sunset between April 10 and June 5, inclusive.

The six game duck species permitted to be hunted during the 2024 season are: Pacific black duck, mountain duck, chestnut teal, grey teal, pink-eared duck and wood duck.

The blue-winged shoveler and hardhead are listed a threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and cannot be hunted during the 2024 season.

Hunters are required to make all reasonable efforts to immediately retrieve all downed game ducks and to salvage at least the breast meat from all harvested ducks.

All other hunting arrangements remain unchanged.

Lead shot is not permitted.

The GMA also reminded all hunters to review available education material to ensure accurate identification of waterfowl, humane dispatch methods and responsible hunting techniques.

Further information can be found at: https://www.gma.vic.gov.au/hunting/duck/duck-season-arrangements