Duck hunt season slashed: field and game groups accuse government of killing industry

Victoria’s duck hunting season has been slashed from 12 weeks to 20 days, drawing criticism from both hunting groups and animal activists.

The 2021 duck shooting season is going ahead. Picture: Les Peters.

Victoria’s duck hunting season has been slashed from 12 weeks to 20 days, with the Andrews Government also introducing strict new bag limits.

The move has outraged hunting groups and the Nationals, who say the shortened season and two-bird-per-day bag caps will decimate regional communities relying on the industry.

But animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA and Wildlife Victoria have criticised the government for allowing duck shooting to proceed at all.

Field and Game Australia accused the government of hiding the season’s rules behind tennis and coronavirus headlines by releasing it for the first time on a Saturday.

“Rural and regional Victoria will yet again miss out on significant revenue and investment from the duck hunting community” it says.

“Coming off the back of a series of natural disasters and a pandemic, this is not what regional Victoria deserves for its economic recovery, especially during the onset of winter when most people would not travel on holidays.”

The government’s Game Management Authority released details of the curtailed season —

from May 26 to June 14 with an 8am start time — on its website, and declared a ban on Blue-winged Shoveler hunting and restrictions for teal species.
“Changes to the 2021 duck hunting season are in response to the continuing decline in game duck abundance and breeding and reduced habitat across eastern Australia,” its 2021 fact sheet says.

Nationals leader Peter Walsh said the 2021 current data shows duck numbers are at a sustainable level and with above-average rainfall in eastern Australia the hunting community had looked forward to a full 12-week season “as legislated”.

“Instead, the Andrews Labor Government has ignored the science and moved to regulate a recreational activity that generates $356 million for our state out of existence,” he said.

“The Andrews Labor Government will sell out any Victorian to secure radical green votes in the city.”

The government is able to modify the length of duck season, and Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said The Game Management Authority has taken into account many factors, “including environmental conditions, duck populations and habitat availability”.

“I recognise there are strong views in the Victorian community both in favour of, and against recreational game hunting. However, the Government supports safe, responsible and sustainable hunting.”

The RSPCA released a statement saying it was “disappointed” the season would proceed and

Victorian chief executive Dr Liz Walker said “concerns around cruelty including duck wounding rates and declines in waterbird populations” were among reasons it should be scrapped.

“Duck hunting results in a substantial number of ducks being wounded, with some surviving, while others will suffer before eventually dying,” Dr Walker said.

Originally published as Duck hunt season slashed: field and game groups accuse government of killing industry