During the season, authorised officers from the Game Management Authority and partner agencies, including Victoria Police, will patrol wetlands, creeks, rivers and lakes on private and public land across Victoria.
From the season opening on Wednesday, March 19 to the end of that week on Sunday, March 23, more than 150 officers conducted 259 wetland and waterway patrols.
A total of 1373 game and firearm licences and 1235 hunters’ bags were inspected.
Of the hunters’ bags checked, no hunters had over-bagged.
Over the first five days of the 2025 duck season, a number of breaches to game hunting and public safety laws were detected.
As a result of the patrols, three banning notices, five official warnings and 23 infringement notices were issued and seven briefs or investigations will be conducted.
The GMA uses a range of sanctions to deter illegal hunting, such as official warnings, infringement notices and licence suspensions and cancellations.
Some offences may also be prosecuted in court.
Of the offences detected there were three breaches to public safety laws, including hindering or obstructing hunting.
One additional person received an infringement for obstructing an authorised officer.
Further hunting-related offences included the use or possession of toxic shot, failure to leave a wing attached and having an invalid or no game licence.
The GMA also issued three banning notices to non-hunters and suspended nine game licences.
Any sanctions imposed as a consequence of court proceedings are at the discretion of the courts.
To report illegal hunting or illegal protester activity, head to tinyurl.com/3ks7mwmx or call 136 186.
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