Animal welfare organisation fires first shot in duck hunting row

The annual firing match over duck hunting in Tasmania has sparked again with the season due to open in March.

THE RSPCA has been labelled an “extreme political activist group” by a Tasmanian senate candidate as the annual row over duck hunting fires up again.

Tasmania’s recreational duck hunting season starts in the first week of March.

Duck hunting has been banned in three Australian states and South Australia and Victoria have implemented shortened seasons and reduced takes

CEO of the Tasmanian animal welfare organisation Jan Davis said it was time the Tasmanian Government followed suit and stopped native ducks being blasted out of the skies in the name of sport.

“For the next three months, Tasmania’s world-renowned wetlands — usually peaceful havens and homes for our unique wildlife — will be transformed into killing fields,” Ms Davis said.

“The targets include five species of ducks, three of which mate for life. Non-target as well as targeted birds will be wounded and die a painful and lingering death,” Ms Davis said.

Moulting Lagoon has become Swan Lake with protesters donning tutus to oppose the duck hunting season. The Animals Tasmania protesters took to an improvised stage on the lagoon for an impromptu performance of the Tchaikovsky classic, renaming it Duck Lake in 2016.

“As part of this legalised “sport”, hunters are permitted to shoot up to ten ducks each day.”

She said there was very little public information on how many ducks are killed each year.

“In 2020, only 1109 licences were issued – that represents only two per cent of all Tasmanians. No data at all is available for the 2021 season,” she said.

“That is simply not good enough.

“The government must publicly release all relevant information for the past two seasons.

The RSPCA does not believe there is a social licence in Tasmania for duck hunting to continue.

“The RSPCA calls on the government to announce that this year will be the last time native duck species face decimation by hunters in Tasmania,” Ms Davis said.

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Senate candidate Ray Williams said the “bullying, aggressive and emotional” campaign against duck hunters was disproportionate and inappropriate.

“Extreme political activist groups, and it seems now you can add the RSPCA to that list, continue to peddle deliberate lies and misinformation against the tradition and cultural values of duck hunting and associated science-based wildlife conservation,” Mr Williams said.

“Those involved in duck hunting contribute millions of dollars and volunteer hours into conservation efforts and inject significant tourism dollars into rural and remote communities.

“Duck hunters are also members of organisations which co-ordinate hundreds of conservation programs to rebuild and protect wetland areas and waterways around Tasmania.

“Without hunting, wildlife conservation and duck wetland habitat would suffer.”

“We are seeing supermarkets run low on meat and place security tags on their meat products, if they run out of meat tomorrow, these activists may then realise the benefits of hunting.”