NO DUCK HUNTING IN SA AGAIN IN 2003

Hunting Season for Duck and Quail Closed in 2003:

In South Australia, the hunting season for duck and quail will be closed in 2003. Extensive rainfall deficiencies across large parts of Australia in 2002 have decreased the availability of feeding and breeding habitats for duck and quail. Coastal areas in the South East of South Australia will provide significant drought refuge for duck and quail. These areas will become increasingly important to the conservation of waterfowl populations if environmental conditions continue to deteriorate nationally and therefore must be protected. Hunting pressures imposed upon waterfowl congregating in remaining refuge areas are likely to be in conflict with the conservation of these species.

For further information please contact the Department of Environment and Heritage on phone (61 8) 8124 4972 4972.

See Media release.

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/sustuse.html#hunting

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MEDIA RELEASE
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Tuesday 17 December 2002

CLOSED DUCK AND QUAIL HUNTING SEASON FOR 2003

The Department for Environment and Heritage has today announced that the duck and quail seasons will be closed in South Australia this season due to the severity of the current drought conditions across southern Australia.

Extensive rainfall deficiencies across large parts of Australia following poor autumn and winter rains have decreased the feeding and breeding habitats for most duck species. The
drought is intensifying in eastern states and there is a high probability that this may continue. South Australia’s wetland refuges may become increasingly important for the conservation of southern Australian waterfowl populations if the drought continues, and will be protected accordingly.
The last time an entire duck season remained closed was during the summer of 1983 under similar drought conditions.
DEH will reassess waterfowl habitat and populations as the season progresses and reconsider a late hunting season if conditions improve dramatically and breeding is not
disrupted further by such action.

Greg Leaman, Director Natural and Cultural Heritage DEH, said the arrangements for the duck season had been discussed with the Conservation Council, Nature Conservation Society, South Australian Ornithological Association, Wetlands and Wildlife, SA Field and Game Association, Hellenic Shooting Sports Association and the Sporting Shooters Association. He commended the groups for their interest in waterfowl conservation and
their co-operative approach to the regulation and management of duck hunting.

More information: Glen Shimmin, Biodiversity Conservation Programs Department for Environment and Heritage Ph: 8124 4848

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/data/press/duck_season_closed.pdf

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Some info on Duck Hunting in SA

Duck Hunting

Duck hunting in South Australia is regulated under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and hunting seasons are set on the basis of climatic conditions and biological criteria relating to duck populations.

Each year around November the seasonal conditions and predictions for rainfall in the coming year are examined together with information on duck populations across eastern Australia to determine if it is appropriate to have a hunting season the following year and to set the dates if conditions are considered favourable.

Information on wetlands and waterbird numbers are obtained from aerial surveys conducted by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service across eastern Australia each year along a number of transects or bands which provides a population index for each band and for the region. Records of breeding activity are also obtained for all the waterbird species. Further information on conditions in South Australia regions are obtained from ground observations.

The duck hunting season normally runs from around mid-February to mid-June.

Hunters are required to have passed a Waterbird Identification Test to obtain their endorsed Hunting Permit and it is mandatory to use non-toxic shot, such as steel or bismuth, when hunting duck in South Australia. This requirement was introduced first at Bool Lagoon Game Reserve in 1987 then for all Game Reserves in 1992 and State-wide in 1994. This requirement was introduced due to concerns over the affect of lead shot deposited in wetlands during hunting. Ingested lead shot has caused high mortalities in various waterbird species on a world wide basis.

In South Australia there are currently around 2,300 licensed duck hunters.

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/fauna_permits/information_hunting.html#duck