Daniel Andrews vows to crack down on dodgy duck hunters

Daniel Andrews has warned duck hunters there will be consequences for breaking the rules as animal rescuers claim shooters are “blatantly” flouting the law.

A number of breaches to game hunting and public safety laws are being investigated as duck hunting season gets under way. Picture: Con Boekel

Premier Daniel Andrews has put dodgy duck shooters on notice, pledging to take further action if authorised officers were detecting widespread bad behaviour.

Since the 2022 season launched last Wednesday, authorised officers have patrolled more than 120 different wetlands, according to new data from the Game Management Authority.

In four days almost 1000 game licences were checked by officials, while 802 bags were also looked through.

No hunter was deemed to have collected more than four birds, but animal rescuers claim duck shooters are “blatantly” flouting the law by killing and dumping more animals than permitted.

Daniel Andrews is pledging to take further action if authorised officers detect widespread bad behaviour among duck hunters. Picture: David Crosling

One activist told the Herald Sun he stumbled across a pit of 23 slaughtered native birds which had been illegally dumped at Kerang on Saturday.

Under the current duck shooting season, shooters are only allowed to hunt four birds per day.

Several Blue-winged Shovelers and Hardheads — which are both threatened species — have also been shot by hunters. An investigation into at least one rogue shooter has commenced.

“It worries me that these people own guns and can just slaughter native water birds for nothing but fun, and the only reason it comes to light is because rescuers are out there,” one rescuer said.

Mr Andrews on Tuesday morning said it was his understanding that the “vast majority” of shooters followed the rules.

“Certain activity is lawful and certain activity isn’t. You put everything at risk if people behave badly,” he said.

“If we saw enough of that, we would of course act on it.”

Shooters are only allowed to hunt four birds a day. Picture: Peter Ristevski

A GMA spokesperson said a number of breaches to game hunting and public safety laws were detected and are being actively pursued.

So far, 14 fines have been issued while three people are banned from attending wetlands. Another 16 investigations are set to be launched. But the GMA is yet to confirm if they are shooters or activists.

The Herald Sun is aware of several activists who have been arrested by police for rescuing wounded ducks.

Mr Andrews caused controversy last week by comparing duck shooting to playing golf or going to the footy.