Heywood Lake set to open for duck hunting

Heywood Lake south-west of Boundary Bend is set to open for the 2016 duck hunting season on Sunday 24 April.

The lake was previously closed to hunting after surveys by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Game Management Authority detected the presence of a significant number of threatened Blue-billed Ducks.

Further regular monitoring of the lake revealed the threatened Blue-billed Duck numbers have declined significantly and the area is now appropriate to be used for duck hunting.

Part of Lake Toolondo Reservoir south west of Horsham and Johnson Swamp and Lake Elizabeth State Game Reserves near Kerang are still closed to hunting to protect rare and threatened species.

Kow Swamp near Gunbower and Reedy Lakes near Kerang will remain closed to reinforce their sanctuary status. All closed wetlands will continue to be monitored by government officials throughout the season and may be opened to hunting if circumstances change and the threatened birds decline significantly or move to other locations.

Hunters are reminded that the daily bag limit is four birds for the remainder of the duck season. Also, the Blue-winged Shoveler must not be hunted in 2016.

The 2016 Victorian Hunting Guide containing current duck hunting regulations and the Duck WISE DVD which assists hunters in maintaining their waterbird identification skills are both available at www.gma.vic.gov.au

The GMA website also contains a wealth of other information to assist hunters in complying with the law.

Authorised officers and Victoria Police will continue to be active throughout the state to ensure hunters act in a safe and lawful manner.

Media contact: Nick Foster 0417 293 365