Duck hunting inquiry: Swamped by hunters

Outdoor recreation groups have joined forces with unions to swamp the parliamentary inquiry into duck hunting with submissions.

Hunters submissions to Victoria’s duck hunting inquiry show their passion for a generational pastime, and frustration at Andrews Government cutbacks to their season.

Victoria’s Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements has already been swamped with 150 submissions, with many of the larger advocacy groups yet to lodge.

At this stage it appears the pushback against the anti-duck hunting lobby and the recent formation of Victoria’s first Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group has led to huge wave of submissions being lodged by hunters.

Australian Cypriot Sport Shooting Association president Huseyin Alpozgen, representing 400 hunters, said “the annual bird hunting season is more than just feeding my family organic free range food.”

“It’s about sustainability, camaraderie, visiting new places and planning a break with like-minded individuals who take pride in their activity which is under constant threat,” he said.

Many hunters outlined their frustration and disappointment with the Andrews Government’s decision to cut duck season, which began last week, to just 35 days, despite its own Game Management Authority’s interim harvest model recommending a full 90-day season.

Others aired their frustration at Premier Daniel Andrews’ criticism of hunters, after he said “rules were not followed in terms of bag limits” last season, despite the GMA finding just one hunter exceeded the limit.

Construction worker Pedro Petropoulos said: “I am extremely disheartened, upset, let down by these decisions made. Soon we won’t be able to go 4-wheel-driving, we won’t be able to go camping, we won’t be able to use our rivers, what’s next?”

Other hunters such as Peter Hall said: “I believe it is my right as a law-abiding citizen to take game from the field for my personal consumption. I pay many forms of taxes and government levies that should guarantee this freedom.”

Arthur Pap said: “I hunt to eat as I was taught by my father and his father before him, now I have a son and daughter that I’m teaching with my father to do the same. (But) we are already losing to many other traditions in this day and age to political correctness which tries to appease minority groups.”

Individuals opposed to duck and quail hunting, such as Irene Hay lodged submissions stating “native bird hunting is barbarous and has no place in the 21st century”.

Olivia Doyle said: “Hunting promotes a gun culture which is not needed in our society. Let’s promote other activities that get people involved in nature and the environment, but that do not involve cruelty to animals.”

Others such as Sally Perkins said: “Humanity shall look down on all of you that are not vegan and shall nod their heads in disbelief.”

Field and Game Australia chairman Danny Ryan said hunters simply wanted duck and quail hunting to continue, with season length and bag limits based on sound science, not politics.

Submissions to the committee close on Monday, with the Parliamentary Select Committee running the inquiry then holding public hearings and tabling its final report by August 31.