RECREATIONAL duck and quail hunting will continue in Victoria with some changes to ensure it remains safe, sustainable and responsible.
The State Government last week announced its response to Parliament’s Inquiry into Victoria’s recreational native bird hunting arrangements – confirming its position has not changed, and recreational duck and quail hunting will continue with common-sense changes.
The government will accept seven of the committee’s eight recommendations in full or in principle.
While the committee did not reach consensus in its report, the views of more than 10,000 Victorians and organisations were heard in the biggest response to a Parliamentary inquiry ever in Victoria.
Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said duck hunting was a legitimate activity that supported regional communities and economies.
“Our position has not changed and we’re supporting recreational duck and quail hunting to continue in a safe, sustainable and responsible way with minimal harm to our environment,” he said.
“We thank everyone who contributed to the Inquiry – the process was about listening to different perspectives, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Changes to make hunting even more responsible from 2025 are as follows:
Improving hunters’ knowledge and skill by making education and training for hunters mandatory
Stricter compliance levels, including further penalties for hunters breaking the rules
Banning the use of lead shot for quail hunting
Implementing the Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan, to reduce the risk of wounding, and
Greater recognition of traditional owners’ knowledge of hunting and land management.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said the decision to back away from a duck and quail hunting ban was a win for hunters and their families.
“Any ban on duck and quail hunting introduced in Victoria would have been based on emotion and political ideology, not sound science,” she said.
“During the inquiry, the committee heard in evidence that the greatest threat to duck populations is habitat decline, not hunting.
“If hunters continue to revive and care for our wetlands as they have done, then our waterfowl will have habitat to breed and flourish into the future.”
Ms Cleeland said hunters across the electorate had contacted her during the inquiry, while she also spoke at a duck hunting forum last year.
“I received hundreds of emails during the inquiry into duck hunting and it was clear the commitment that these hunters have to upholding sustainable and ethical principles,” she said.
“Many of my constituents also took exception at the lack of understanding and falsehoods that were peddled.”
While she was pleased hunters could continue their practice, Ms Cleeland was wary of the government’s direction into the future.
Field and Game Australia also welcomed the government’s announcement and was grateful for its ‘decisive leadership action in rejecting the parliamentary select committee’s previous recommendation to prohibit hunting’.
Hunting start times will be delayed to 8am for the entire season.
With a daily bag limit of six ducks per day, the Blue-winged Shoveler and Hardhead cannot be hunted for the 2024 season due to their threatened status.
Determinations will be made as part of normal seasonal arrangements about sites where duck hunting will be prohibited.
