RSPCA wants the state government to follow other states in ending the annual duck hunting season

A date has been set for the start of Tasmania’s duck hunting season despite authorities continuing to survey waterbird numbers to determine hunting season arrangements.

Picture: Les Peters

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A DATE has been set for the start of Tasmania’s duck hunting season despite authorities continuing to survey waterbird numbers to determine hunting season arrangements.

RSPCA chief executive Jan Davis has called on the state government to follow the lead of Victoria whereby the 2021 duck hunting season is set to be cut short amid animal welfare concerns and declining waterbird numbers.

Tasmania’s 2021 duck hunting season has a March 6 provisional start date, yet authorities say surveying works are still underway.

Last year a draft minute to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment prepared by the government’s Principal Wildlife Management Officer strongly recommended the government act to cut back on the open season.

DPIPWE is currently undertaking annual statewide surveys of water birds, including ducks available for harvesting,” a departmental spokeswoman said.

Annual state-wide waterbird surveys are conducted in February.

“This information will be used to inform decisions around the arrangements to be put in place for the 2021 wild duck season.”

The 2021 Victorian duck hunting season will now run for just 20 days, with hunters limited to killing two birds each day.

Ms Davis said there were multiple, evidence-based reasons why recreational duck hunting should be banned in Tasmania, including duck wounding rates and declines in waterbird populations.

“Sadly, the Tasmanian season is set to run for 13 weeks, with hunters permitted to shoot up to 10 birds each day,” she said.

“This results in much higher death and injury rates in Tasmania. Traditionally around 60,000 ducks have been shot each season in Victoria and in Tasmania the death rate is around 50,000 ducks.”

Ms Davis said this year’s duck hunting season should be Tasmania’s last, saying it had already been banned in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia.

Greens Environment Rosalie Woodruff spokeswoman said it was past time the state government listened to scientists, conservationists, animal welfare advocates “and the overwhelming majority of Tasmanians who want to end the barbaric practice of duck shooting”.

“Minister Guy Barnett went ahead with the Tasmanian duck shooting season last year, against the advice of his own departmental experts,” she said.

“Duck shooting is animal cruelty, and has no justification in a climate and biodiversity emergency.”