The Victorian government has announced an extended duck hunting season for 2025, allowing hunters more time and a larger daily bag limit.
The season will run from March 19 to June 9, lasting 83 days, up from 56 days in 2024.
Hunters will now be permitted to take up to nine ducks per day, an increase from six, and seven species of ducks will be allowed. However, the blue-winged shoveler has been excluded from the list, and lead shot will be banned for quail hunting.
Steve Dimopoulos, Victoria’s Minister for Outdoor Recreation, defended the decision, stating, “Duck hunting is a legitimate activity that can be done sustainably and responsibly.”
He emphasised the introduction of a wounding reduction action plan to enhance animal welfare and ensure sustainable recreational hunting practices.
Despite this, the decision has sparked backlash. Georgie Purcell, MP for the Animal Justice Party, criticised the extended season as “the most reckless season” in over a decade, condemning 400,000 native waterbirds to “ruthless” slaughter. She accused Premier Daniel Andrews of caving to the gun lobby.
The move follows a significant decline in waterbird populations, with numbers dropping nearly 50% due to drought, according to the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey.
The Victorian government had previously ignored a 2023 parliamentary inquiry’s recommendation for a ban on duck hunting, opting instead to shorten the season in 2024 and introduce new measures like hunter education and wounding reduction strategies.
Wildlife Victoria has called for the abolishment of duck hunting in the state, citing the public’s overwhelming desire for a ban.
Source: Guardian.
