Thirty-two wetlands have been closed to hunters ahead of duck season opening on Wednesday.
Duck hunters are being urged to avoid heavy fines by being certain of their obligations this duck season, which opens on Wednesday, April 10.
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Just days before the opening, the Victorian Government has closed or partially closed 32 wetlands to hunting for the 2024 duck season.
In a statement issued by the Game Management Authority on Sunday, April 7, it said the closures were to prevent losses or disturbance to significant numbers of threatened species and breeding waterbirds.
The number of wetlands closed to hunting in 2024 is partly due to an increase in the presence of threatened species currently present at Victorian wetlands, the GMA said.
The increase in the presence of threatened species is due to favourable environmental conditions, including extensive flooding in late 2022, resulting in increased waterbird habitat and breeding activity. As wetlands dry, birds are concentrating on remaining wetlands.
Wetlands have been closed to duck hunting to protect significant concentrations of threatened species including the blue-billed duck, blue-winged shoveler, freckled duck, curlew sandpiper and brolga.
Other wetlands have also been closed to prevent disturbance to colonies of breeding waterbirds, and three wetlands (Kow Swamp, Reedy Lakes and Richardson River) are routinely closed each year to reinforce their status as wildlife sanctuaries where game hunting is prohibited.
Signage will be installed to alert hunters to the closures and wetlands will be monitored throughout the season. If the reason for closure no longer exists, the wetland may be reopened to hunting.
The GMA said closing wetlands or regulating hunting methods at wetlands ensures that threatened species are protected and duck hunting remains sustainable.
It said other wetlands may be closed or further regulated if significant concentrations of threatened species are found.
The GMA said hunters are responsible for understanding their legal, ethical and safety obligations when hunting, including knowing where it is legal to hunt.
GMA game officers, police and authorised officers from DEECA, DJSIR and Parks Victoria will be patrolling wetlands across Victoria.
Coalition Against Duck Shooting campaign director Laurie Levy said volunteer members of the public will be on wetlands again to rescue wounded waterbirds during the duck season.
Rescuers will be on wetlands in north-west Victoria and near Donald for the opening.
“The rescue of wounded birds and recovery of illegally shot protected and threatened species will again be left to volunteer members of the public,” he said.
Mr Levy has called for Victoria Police to investigate an alleged secret deal between the shooters and the Victorian Government, to hold a 2024 duck shooting season before the results of the parliamentary inquiry into game bird hunting were announced.
“We also believe that IBAC must investigate the public threats made by two heavyweight union bosses who said they would down tools and go out on strike if the government banned duck shooting,” he said.
Cairn Curran Reservoir is one of the 13 storages under Goulburn-Murray Water management which will be open for the 2024 duck hunting season.
Goulburn-Murray Water has issued a critical reminder for hunters to familiarise themselves with lawful hunting areas across its lakes, dams and reservoirs.
“Hunting is permitted at several of our lakes, dams, and reservoirs, but there are still areas at these storages where hunting is prohibited,” G-MW’s Craig Kellow said.
Mr Kellow also said hunters needed to seek landholder consent to hunt on private property and to be well prepared.
“(Hunters) will also need to get landholder consent to pass through private property that adjoins G-MW land, waterways, and storages.”
Mr Kellow said maps were available on the G-MW website to delineate between permitted and not permitted waters.
“And we encourage people to get in touch with us if they need something clarified,” he said.
“We ask everyone to be considerate of other members of the public and the environment, and to make safety their priority.”
Regulations require hunters to make all reasonable efforts to immediately retrieve all downed game ducks and to salvage at least the breast meat from all harvested ducks.
Other arrangements:
All other hunting arrangements remain unchanged.
Only non-toxic shot can be used to hunt ducks anywhere in Victoria. Lead shot is not permitted.
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