Shooters demand release of bird survey as duck season cut
Results of a helicopter survey of Victoria’s water birds have not been released, prompting hunters to ask why, especially given the duck season has been dramatically cut on two fronts.
HUNTERS are demanding to know the results of a yet-to-be published $200,000 helicopter survey of Victoria’s water birds, after the Victorian Government slashed this year’s duck season from 90 days to 20 and daily bag limit from 10 to just two birds.
Field and Game Australia chief executive Dean O’Hara said shooters were “outraged” at the cutbacks, which made it unviable for most hunters to travel two to three hours to bag just two ducks.
“I think the majority of people won’t go, which is exactly what the government wants,” Mr O’Hara said.
Just what advice the Victorian Game Management Authority gave the Government on this season is unknown, but its decisions are usually based on the University of NSW Eastern Waterbird Survey, plus what up until recently has limited statewide monitoring.
However last November the GMA conducted its first aerial survey, conducted by helicopter, with experienced Arthur Rylah Institute wildlife biologists recording the presence and number of game ducks on wetlands, sewerage ponds and farm dams.
But that survey has not been released, prompting hunters to ask why.
“We’re calling for the ARI survey to be released and the Government to intervene and check what the GMA has done,” Mr O’Hara said.
The GMA confirmed the helicopter survey has not been released.
The 2021 season will start on Wednesday May 26 and will last 20 days, closing 30 minutes after sunset on Monday June 14.
Hunters will be restricted to a daily bag limit of two birds and will be prohibited from shooting blue-winged shovelers across Victoria, and both the grey teal and chestnut teal north of the Princes Highway.
In a statement released on the weekend the GMA said the 2021 arrangements were based on analysis of habitat and waterbird surveys conducted across eastern Australia and other data relating to game duck abundance, habitat distribution and climate.
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