Green light: 2024 duck and quail seasons to go ahead

After months of debate and an Upper House inquiry, hunters have been given the right to harvest duck and quail this season.

Duck hunters have gained a full 2024 season, with a six bird daily bag limit. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has made a captain’s call on allowing the 2024 duck hunting season to go ahead, after a three-hour cabinet meeting today.

Ms Allan stayed clear of making the announcement, leaving it to Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos to front the media this afternoon.

“Duck hunting is a legitimate activity – but more than that, it supports regional communities and economies,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“Our position has not changed and we’re supporting recreational duck and quail hunting to continue in a safe, sustainable and responsible way with minimal harm to our environment.”

The Game Management Authority reported record duck numbers across Victoria on the back of an Arthur Rylah Institute survey that found game bird numbers had surged from 2.9 million in November 2022 to 7.12 million last November.

The Minister said hunting start times would be delayed to 8.00am for the entire 2024 season, with a daily bag limit of six ducks.

The decision follows an Upper House inquiry into native bird hunting, which turned into a farce after only four of the nine MPs sitting on the Select Committee backed a ban on the annual duck and quail harvest.

In making its decision to continue the annual hunt today the government stated it would still adopt some of the committee’s recommendations, including:

IMPROVING hunters’ knowledge and skill by making education and training for hunters mandatory.

STRICTER compliance levels, including further penalties for hunters breaking the rules

BANNING the use of lead shot for quail hunting.

IMPLEMENTING the Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan, to reduce the risk of wounding.

GREATER recognition of traditional owners’ knowledge of hunting and land management.

Sporting Shooters Association Australia (Victoria) spokesman Barry Howlett said hunters were “grateful the government has listened to the evidence and laid out a clear path forward for duck hunters”.

But Geelong Duck Rescue leader Natalie Kopas said “volunteers across Victoria are sickened and deeply disappointed at the news that Jacinta Allan’s Victorian state government refuses to protect native birds from bloodsports.

“But the fight is not over,” Ms Kopas said.

“Our volunteers are as determined as ever. We will return to the wetlands during the duck shooting season to save as many native animals’ lives as we can.”