2025 duck season compliance update

With the 2025 duck season opening on Wednesday, 19 March, 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 2025 duck season opening on Wednesday, 19 March, 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 19– 23 March 2025, more than 150 Authorised Officers conducted 259 wetland and waterway patrols.

Authorised Officers checked 1,373 Game and Firearm Licences and inspected 1,235 hunters’ bags.

Of the hunters’ bags checked by Authorised Officers, no hunters had over-bagged.

Over the first five days of the 2025 duck season, a number of breaches to game hunting and public safety laws were detected.

Summary of preliminary 2025 duck season compliance data from 19 – 23 March 2025

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 at Report Illegal hunting and illegal protester activity or by calling 136 186.