Push to cancel Victoria’s duck shooting season

Wildlife advocates want the state government to abandon this year’s duck shooting season to protect native birds.

Critics want the state’s duck shooting season to be called off.

Wildlife campaigners say this year’s Victorian duck shooting season should be abandoned altogether because game-duck numbers are down 58 per cent in latest surveys.

The groups claim their support to stop the shooting is growing and now indigenous communities are supporting their cause to protect the native birds.

Final submissions have been made to the Game Management Authority which is expected to make recommendations to state environment and agriculture ministers within weeks.

Last year’s shooting season ran for just 20 days, down from 38 days the year before and 64 in 2019. The 2021 bag limit was five bird per day per shooter.

There are growing calls to protect native birds. Picture: Alison Wynd

Lobby group, Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting, said in its submission that previous governments had cancelled duck shooting in 2003, 2007 and 2008 in “less dire circumstances’’.

The Game Management Authority’s briefing paper said the annual Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey reported that 48 per cent of surveyed wetlands held no waterbirds and that game duck abundance fell by 58 per cent compared to last year.

A GMA spokeswoman said the authority was now considering five submissions from animal welfare and hunting organisations.

Shooters have conducted their own counts in the past and say they promote sustainable duck hunting.

An announcement on this year’s season is expected in early February.