2022 duck hunting season arrangements

The Game Management Authority has today announced the arrangements for the 2022 duck season including changes to the start times, daily bag limit and hunted species.

The Game Management Authority has today announced the arrangements for the 2022 duck season including changes to the start times, daily bag limit and hunted species.

The 2022 season will start at 8:00 am on Wednesday 16 March 2022 and will close 30 minutes after sunset on Monday 13 June 2022. The bag limit is four birds per day.

Hunting from Wednesday 16 March to Sunday 20 March (inclusive) will start at 8am and finish 30 minutes after sunset on those days.

Blue-winged Shoveler and Hardhead may not be hunted across Victoria as both species were recently listed as threatened due to declining populations.

The arrangements for the 2022 duck season are based on analysis and modelling of habitat and waterbird abundance surveys conducted across eastern Australia, and other data relating to game duck abundance, habitat distribution and climate.

The full-length season was recommended based on harvest modelling by two experts in waterfowl ecology and population dynamics, Professors Klaassen and Kingsford. They advised that reducing the bag limit is a more effective way to reduce the overall harvest of game ducks rather than reducing season length.

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 or hunting may be further regulated to protect concentrations of rare or threatened species.

Details of the 2022 duck season, including any wetland closures, will be regularly updated at gma.vic.gov.au

2022 Victoria duck hunting season arrangements