Prior to, or during the duck season, hunting areas can be further regulated or closed through a legal notice.
Further regulation or closure can occur for a number of reasons, including to protect rare and threatened species or to avoid disturbance to colonially breeding waterbirds.
Further regulation can involve further restrictions on hunting times, equipment and hunting methods. If a closure is required instead, this can involve a partial closure of a hunting area or full closure.
Further regulated or closed wetlands are monitored throughout the duck season. If the reason for further regulation or closure no longer exists, the legal notice can be revoked.
The following wetlands or parts of wetlands will be closed or hunting methods further regulated from the start of the 2019 season to protect or prevent disturbance to significant numbers of threatened birds.
The 2019 wetland closure government gazette can be found here.
Please see media release here.
| Location | Status | Reason for closure or regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Swamps (part of the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve, near Geelong) | Closed to hunting. However, the remaining wetlands that make up the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve (Reedy Lake, Salt Swamp and Lake Connewarre) remain open to hunting. (Set to reopen to hunting on Tuesday 14 May). | A large number of critically endangered Curlew Sandpiper are present at the wetland. |
| Lake Bolac (adjacent to the township of Lake Bolac) | The northern section of Lake Bolac is closed to duck hunting due to the presence of a significant number of Freckled Duck. Hunting from boats is prohibited. However, hunters are permitted to use non-motorised boats to retrieve downed birds hunted from the shoreline. | A large number of threatened Blue-billed and Freckled Duck are present at the wetland. |
| Lake Linlithgow (near Hamilton) | Now reopened to hunting. Hunting from boats is prohibited on Lake Linlithgow for the remainder of the season. However, hunters are permitted to use non-motorised boats to retrieve downed birds hunted from the shoreline. | A number of threatened Blue-billed Duck are present at the wetland. |
| Lake Lonsdale (near Stawell) | Closed to hunting. | A large number of threatened Freckled Duck are present at the wetland. Nearby alternative wetland: Lake Fyans, Lake Taylor |
| Lake Murphy State Game Reserve (near Kerang) | Closed to hunting. | A large number of threatened Freckled Duck are present at the wetland. Nearby alternative wetland: Lake Elizabeth, Lake Cullen |
| Pine Lake (near Horsham) | Hunting from boats will be prohibited. However, hunters are permitted to use non-motorised boats to retrieve downed birds hunted from the shoreline. | A large number of threatened Blue-billed Duck are present at the wetland. |
| Round Lake (near Lake Boga) | Closed to hunting. | A large number of threatened Blue-billed Duck and Caspian Terns are present at the wetland. Nearby alternative wetland: Lake Elizabeth, Lake Cullen |
| Tower Hill State Game Reserve (13 km north west of the township of Warrnambool) | Partially closed to hunting. The western half of the lake is closed to hunting but the eastern half will remain open. | A significant number of threatened Blue-billed Duck are present at the wetland. |
| Round Lake, part of the Cope Cope State Game Reserve (south of Donald) | Closed to hunting. | A large number of threatened Freckled Duck and threatened Blue-billed Duck are present at the wetland. Nearby alternative wetland: Wooroonook Lakes |
| Lake Elizabeth | Now reopen to hunting. | Freckled Duck have been seen in the area. Make sure you identify your target and if you are not sure, don't shoot. |
Please Note:
Duck hunting at Brickworks and Cowanna Billabongs in Merbein Common near Mildura has been permanently closed to hunting by DEWLP to protect public safety.