Simmering season: Offences committed by anti-duck hunting activists soar

Anti duck hunting activists offences soared from just two last season on Victorian waterways to 30 during the 2024 harvest.

Anti duck hunting activists invaded wetlands and waterways in record numbers during the 2024 season, with many breaching public safety laws.

Offences committed by activists surpassed those of duck hunters for the first during the 2024 season, in the wake of the Allan Government’s January decision to back the annual harvest.

Last year the Game Management Authority issued anti-hunting activists with just two banning notices – but that number jumped to 22 over the 2024 season.

The GMA reported 23 people were suspected of breaching public safety laws by entering or remaining in a specified hunting area or hindering or harassing hunters, of whom 22 were issued with banning notices.

Victoria Police were forced to act against seven activists, who are being investigated for hindering or obstructing an authorised officer, bringing total offences by protesters to 30.

The GMA more than doubled its wetland and waterway patrols, from 216 in 2023, to 511 this season, checking more than 1550 game licences and inspecting more than 1200 hunter bags, with none breaching their daily bag limits.

However 26 hunting related offences were detected, with the main offences being an invalid game licence, possession of toxic shot or failing to leave a wing attached.

GMA chief executive Graeme Ford said: “While some people breached game hunting and public safety laws, most of the people our authorised officers spoke with were complying with the law”.

However in commenting on the surge in the number of breaches by activists of public safety laws Mr Ford said: “While those who oppose duck hunting had a right to protest, they must do so safely and legally”.

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Victoria said the compliance data showed a high level of compliance among the duck hunting community.

“With more than twice the number of patrols as last year, the number of infringements by hunters detected did not increase statistically,” the SSAA Vic division stated.

“Through the changes announced by the Victorian Government in January, the hunting community has committed to continuous improvement.

“There is a sad irony that the people who campaign to end hunting on the premise that hunters do not follow the law have demonstrated so compellingly this year that they can talk the talk, but they cannot walk the walk.”