2020 duck hunting season arrangements
26/02/2020
The Victorian Government has today announced arrangements for the 2020 duck hunting season including changes to the season length, opening weekend start times and the daily bag limit.
The Victorian Government has today announced arrangements for the 2020 duck hunting season including changes to the season length, opening weekend start times and the daily bag limit.
The restricted season is a necessary response to the prolonged dry conditions that have led to low duck numbers and reduced habitat.
The Game Management Authority provided its advice on the 2020 duck hunting season to the Government prior to the height of the summer bushfires in Victoria.
The Authority has subsequently advised the Government that the bushfires have had a minimal direct impact on current duck populations and habitat.
The 2020 season will start at 8am on 2 May and will last five weeks, closing 30 minutes after sunset on Monday 8 June.
Hunters will be restricted to three game ducks per day throughout the season, with the hunting of Blue-winged Shoveler prohibited for the entire season.
During the opening weekend, hunting can start at 8am on both days and must cease by 30 minutes after sunset.
For the rest of the season, hunting can start half an hour before sunrise and must stop half an hour after sunset.
The arrangements for the 2020 duck season are based on analysis of habitat and waterbird surveys conducted across eastern Australia and other data relating to game duck abundance, habitat distribution and climate.
The GMA and partner agencies, including Victoria Police, will be patrolling both public lands and private properties to ensure compliance with hunting, animal welfare and public safety laws.
As in previous years, the GMA will continue to monitor conditions in the lead up to and during the season. Where warranted, wetlands may be closed to hunting to protect concentrations of rare threatened species.
Details of the 2020 duck season, including any wetland closures, will be regularly updated on the GMA website www.gma.vic.gov.au
2020 Victoria duck hunting season arrangements | |
Season Length | Season opens – 8am Saturday 2 May 2020 Season closes – 30 mins after sunset, Monday 8 June 2020 |
Start times on opening weekend | 8am on both days |
Hunting times for the rest of the season | Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset |
Bag limit | Three game ducks per day for the entire season |
Game duck species permitted to be taken in 2020 | Seven of the eight species of game duck can be hunted during 2020. The game duck species that can be hunted are Pacific Black Duck, Mountain Duck, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Wood Duck and Hardhead. |
Game duck species prohibited from hunting in 2020 | Blue-winged Shoveler |
Hunters MUST | Immediately retrieve all downed game ducks and salvage at least the breast meat of harvested ducks. |
Contact: Nick Foster
Phone: 0417 293 365
Email: nick.foster@gma.vic.gov.au