Bag limits slashed for 2021/22 waterfowl hunting season, as NT govt reveals key dates and conditions

The number of magpie geese hunters will be permitted to take home this waterfowl hunting season has been slashed, as the NT government reveals the key dates and conditions for the upcoming season.

The bag limits to hunt magpie geese have changed. Photo: iStock

THE number of magpie geese hunters will be permitted to take home this waterfowl hunting season has been slashed.

Environment Minister Eva Lawler has this morning announced hunters will be able to take home three magpie geese a day during the upcoming hunting season, down from a daily bag limit of seven last year.

The number of ducks per person per day remains at 10.

The 15-week recreational waterfowl hunting season will run from September 22, 2021 to January 10, 2022.

The bag limit was dropped after survey results this year gave an estimated population of 980,000 magpie geese, which shows a 31 per cent drop from the previous year.

Ms Lawler said multiple factors may have contributed to the animals’ population decline, including successive poor wet seasons in 2018/19 and 2019/20 resulting in poor 2019 and 2020 breeding seasons, and the cumulative impacts on the dry season food resource causing lower survivorship.

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“Our natural environment is part of our great Territory lifestyle and we need to maintain it for future generations, so our children and grandchildren can have the opportunities we have today,” she said.

“This is why we are taking steps to ensure the conservation and sustainability of our waterfowl population – basing our decisions on science and listening to the experts.”

Under the latest conditions, hunters will be required to have a waterfowl hunting permit and must not use lead shot.

Those in possession of a valid Parks and Wildlife waterfowl permit will be allowed to hunt in the following areas:

• Parks and Wildlife hunting reserves – Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve and Howard Springs Hunting Reserve from 22 September until 23 December and Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve and Harrison Dam Conservation Reserve from 22 September until 10 January);
• Private property – if you have the express approval of the landholder and can meet the setback conditions under the Firearms Act from 16 August until 10 January 2022.

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