Victoria:

2012 Duck Hunting Season
Environmental Conditions

Eastern Australia has emerged from long-term drought with two years of good to above average rainfall and a number of major flooding events. Waterbird habitat has increased dramatically throughout eastern Australia. It is expected that major wetlands will hold water for several years even if there was limited rainfall.

This inundation of wetlands following long, dry periods results in abundant food availability for waterbirds. In response to these improved conditions, game ducks have breed prolifically across eastern Australia and the population has fully recovered following the prolonged period of drought and is at the highest numbers recorded since 1984.
The 2012 duck hunting season

The 2012 duck hunting season opens on Saturday March 17 and closes on Monday 11 June, 2012.
Bag Limit

A hunter may take a maximum of ten (10) game ducks per day which includes a maximum of two (2) Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler.
Opening times (opening morning)

On opening morning (17 March 2012), Victoria will be divided into three zones (see map), each with different opening times.
The season will open at:

7:10 am in the eastern zone
7:20 am in the central zone
7:30 am in the western zone

Hunting ceases half an hour after sunset on the opening day.

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/game-hunting/game/australian-water-fowl/2012-duck-hunting-season

Opening times (rest of the season)

For the remainder of the season, duck hunting is permitted from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (see the 2012 Victorian Hunting Guide for calculations).
Where do I hunt ducks?

The 2012 duck hunting season will be permitted throughout the state in state forests, unoccupied Crown Land and State Game Reserves. Hunting is also permitted on leased Crown Land, licensed Crown Land, or private land with permission of the leaseholder, licensee or land owner/manager respectively.

There are only three parks, Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, Cape Conran Coastal Park and Lake Albacutya Park, where duck hunting is allowed in designated areas.

Following continued monitoring and assessment of Victorian wetlands and waterfowl numbers, further restrictions, including the exclusion of certain wetlands, may be implemented to protect large numbers of breeding or threatened species.

Hunters should contact their local DPI Office for more details before hunting.
Make sure you have your Game Licence

Ducks in waterAll hunters, including juniors (12-17 years), must hold a valid Game Licence endorsed to hunt duck. Persons less than 12 years old are not permitted to use a firearm to hunt or take game.
When hunting duck, you must:
carry your current Game Licence endorsed for duck
carry your Firearms Licence for any firearm in your possession.
To obtain a Game Licence endorsed for duck, a hunter must first pass a Waterfowl Identification Test.

No shooting of non-game species

Non-game species are occasionally shot when mistakenly identified, or when flying among game birds. To avoid shooting non-game species hunters must:
identify the target as a game species
make sure the bird is within shotgun range
single out a bird and do not fire into flocks (this may injure other birds including non-game species).
Unless you are trying to dispatch a downed bird, do not to fire at birds on the water, as ricocheting shot could injure non-game birds or other hunters. If it is necessary to dispatch injured birds on the water, you should first make sure your line of fire is clear.
Hunters should also be alert for Freckled Duck (appearance similar to Black Duck) as there is a total ban on the take of this species.

Breach of conditions

There are heavy penalties if you breach the law, which may include losing your Game and Firearms Licences and/or your firearm. Make sure you obey the laws that are set in place to protect you and the game that you hunt.

Important regulations to rememeber

Non-toxic shot

The use of lead shot for duck hunting is prohibited throughout Victoria. This includes duck hunting on all wetlands, waterways and dry lands on public and private land (there are some exemptions).

Hunters must use non-toxic shot for duck hunting in Victoria. Enforcement Officers actively test hunters’ shotgun ammunition during the season.

Hunting from a boat

On waterways (such as rivers, creeks, streams and channels), you are allowed to hunt duck from a boat under power, up to a speed of five knots. On open waters (such as lakes or swamps), you are not permitted to hunt duck from a motor boat, if the motor is running, whether in gear or not.

Retaining a fully feathered wing

To ensure enforcement officers can quickly and accurately identify all waterfowl in your possession, you must leave a fully feathered wing on any harvested duck until immediately prior to cooking or the duck has been taken to your ordinary place of residence.

The 2012 Victorian Hunting Guide

For more detailed information about game hunting, refer to the 2012 Victorian Hunting Guide. The Hunting Guide will be mailed to all licensed game hunters for 2012 and will also be available at the DPI website: www.dpi.vic.gov.au

Where do I get more information?

DPI website (www.dpi.vic.gov.au)
DPI Customer Service Centre
Ph: 13 61 86
email: customer.service@dpi.vic.gov.au
Game Victoria, DPI
Ph: (03) 9658 4639
Parks Victoria (ph: 13 19 63, website: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
Field & Game Australia
Ph: (03) 5799 0960
Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia
Ph: (03) 8892 2777

Stubble Quail
Photo: Stubble Quail

The Stubble Quail is the only native quail species that can be legally hunted in Victoria. They have dark brown colouration with pale buff markings. The centre of each feather has a cream stripe, giving the feathers a streaked appearance. The adult Stubble Quail is 18 to 18.5cm in length, with the female slightly larger than the male.

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/game-hunting/game/stubble-quail

Game Hunting
in Victoria

Victoria offers a diverse range of hunting opportunities. Whether it is deer hunting in the alpine regions of Victoria, duck hunting over decoys at your favourite wetland or Stubble Quail hunting with your gundog, opportunities to see and hunt game in Victoria are world class.

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/game-hunting