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2014 duck and quail open seasons Duck and quail hunting seasons have been approved for South Australia in 2014. Following an assessment of rainfall data, wetland condition and waterfowl abundance, and also considering whether hunting activities could impact on the conservation and sustainability of waterfowl populations, the South Australian Government has declared duck and quail hunting seasons for 2014. The information used in this analysis was derived from the Bureau of Meteorology, the annual DEWNR wetland and waterfowl survey, CSIRO ’Pastures from Space’ landscape modelling, PIRSA agronomic data and the Eastern Australian Aerial Waterbird survey. Seasonal conditions in 2013 have been average to good at a local South Australian scale however at a broader eastern Australian scale conditions are very poor. Results from the Eastern Aerial Waterbird Survey (University of New South Wales) indicate that wetland habitat has reduced considerably compared to recent years in most areas of eastern Australia. Due to localised rainfall wetlands remain extensive in south eastern South Australia and parts of southern Victoria. Waterfowl abundance and breeding activity across large areas of eastern Australia has decreased markedly compared with the last two seasons. Abundance of waterfowl recorded in South Australia however, is at the highest levels since 2004. This can be explained by many of the highly nomadic bird species leaving less favorable conditions elsewhere and aggregating at the suitable wetlands in South Australia. For quail, it is very difficult to calculate abundance, but all landscape models (Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, PIRSA) indicate habitat conditions, cover and food resources in South Australia remain at or slightly below average. Ducks An open season for a limited number of duck species has been approved from Saturday 15 February to Sunday 29 June 2014. Hunters may only take 10 ducks in total, per hunter per day with a maximum of two Mountain Duck per hunter per day. Duck may only be taken in the period between 15 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset on any given day of the open season. To shoot duck in South Australia a duck hunting permit is required. In order to obtain a permit, hunters must have passed a Waterfowl Identification Test and have a firearms permit for a shotgun. Find out more about duck hunting in South Australia Stubble Quail An open season for Stubble Quail across the state will commence on Saturday 15 February and conclude on Sunday 27 July 2014. Hunters may only take a total of 20 quail per hunter per day. Quail may only be taken in the period between sunrise and sunset on any given day of the open season. Find out more about quail hunting in South Australia A person must not be on any private land for the purposes of taking duck or quail, unless the owner of that land has given the person permission in writing, not more than six months beforehand. http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managin...ail-open-season |