2024 duck season compliance update
18/04/2024
With the 2024 duck season opening last Wednesday, Authorised Officers from the GMA and partner agencies, including Victoria Police, are patrolling wetlands, creeks, rivers and lakes on private and public land across Victoria.
With the 2024 duck season opening last Wednesday, Authorised Officers from the GMA and partner agencies, including Victoria Police, are patrolling wetlands, creeks, rivers and lakes on private and public land across Victoria.
From 10 April – 14 April 2024, more than 130 Authorised Officers conducted 226 wetland and waterway patrols.
Authorised Officers checked 1,079 Game and Firearm Licences and inspected 792 hunters’ bags.
Of the hunters’ bags checked by Authorised Officers, no hunters had over bagged.
Over the first five days of the 2024 duck season, a number of breaches to game hunting and public safety laws were detected.
Summary of preliminary 2024 duck season compliance data from 10 April – 14 April 2024
| Activity | Number |
|---|---|
Game and firearms licences checked | 1,079 |
Hunter bags checked | 792 |
Hunters who had over-bagged | 0 |
Banning Notices issued | 14 |
Infringement Notices to be issued | 10 |
Briefs or investigations to be conducted | 6 |
Official warning | 2 |
Total number of wetland and waterway patrols | 226 |
The GMA uses a range of sanctions to deter illegal hunting, such as official warnings, infringement notices and licence suspensions and cancellations. Some offences may also be prosecuted in court. Any sanctions imposed as a consequence of court proceedings are at the discretion of the courts.
For more information on sanctions to deter illegal hunting and enforce the law, visit Enforcement Actions.
People are urged to report illegal hunting and illegal protester activity online or by calling 136 186.