Forums.NitroExpress.com

Just for info for whomever finds it useful.

2005 South Australian Duck and Quail Hunting Season

A restricted duck and quail hunting season has been approved for South Australia in 2005.

An open season for a limited number of duck species has been approved from Saturday 12 February 2005 to Sunday 26th June 2005. The bag limit is 10 birds per day with the exception of Wood Duck for which there is no bag limit.

The open season for stubble quail will run between 12 February and 31 July 2005 and a bag limit of 25 quail per day applies
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/sustuse.html#duck

Duck and Quail Hunting in 2005 - General Open Season Information

A restricted duck and quail hunting season has been approved for South Australia in 2005.

Climatic conditions have stabilised in South Australia over the past 12 months. Rainfall has been variable, but close to long-term averages in most parts of the State. This follows a year of average and above average rainfall during 2003. Most waterfowl species have responded favourably to climatic conditions in southern areas during 2004, when rainfall increased wetland habitat and created suitable conditions for breeding. Some species have been absent from southern and coastal areas. Other species remain widespread at water in inland areas and have not been seen in southern and coastal districts.

An open season for a limited number of duck species has been approved from Saturday 12 February 2005 to Sunday 26th June 2005. The bag limit is 10 birds per day with the exception of Wood Duck for which there is no bag limit.

The open season for stubble quail will run between 12th February and 31 July 2005 and a bag limit of 25 quail per day applies.

To shoot duck and quail in South Australia a permit is required. In order to obtain a permit, shooters must have passed a Waterfowl Identification Test and have a firearms permit for a shotgun. More information is available at the fauna permits website.

Individuals hunting on private land are required to have the written permission of the landowner.
Pink-eared Duck
Pink-eared Duck
(Photo: Courtesy, Birds SA)
Duck

The open season for duck throughout the State is from 6.25 am on Saturday 12 February until 5.35 pm on Sunday 26th June, except at Chowilla, Loch Luna, Moorook and Game Reserves, which have specific open days during the hunting season. (see below)

With the exception of Wood Duck, a total bag limit of 10 duck per day applies

For the 2005 hunting season, there is no bag limit on Wood Duck.

Closed Season on the following duck species:

* Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler Anas rhynchotis. The Blue-winged Shoveler has a limited distribution in South Australia and has experienced a series of poor seasons in which breeding opportunities have been extremely restricted. Whilst seasonal conditions have improved, the Blue-winged Shoveler has responded slowly and may require a longer series of favourable seasons for recruitment.

Stubble Quail

The open season for Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis throughout the State is from 6.25 am on Saturday 12 February 2005, until 5.35 pm on 31 July 2005, between the daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.

Total bag limit - 25 stubble quail per day.

Wetlands and Waterfowl Survey Report, October 2004

A ground based assessment of waterfowl abundance and wetland condition was undertaken at 86 wetlands during October 2004. The Wetlands and Waterfowl Survey, October 2004 (850Kb PDF) is now available.
Top of Page

Game Reserves Opening Times - Duck and Quail Season 2005

Chowilla Game Reserve
Moorook Game Reserve
Loch Luna Game Reserve
Saturday 12th February and Sunday 13th February, 6.25 am until 8.35 pm
Saturday 26th February and Sunday 27th February, 6.40 am until 8.15 pm
Saturday 12th March and Sunday 13th March, 6.55 am until 7.55 pm
Saturday 2nd April and Sunday 3rd April, 7.10 am until 7.30 pm
Saturday 7th May and Sunday 8th May, 7.40 am until 6.50 pm
Saturday 28th May and Sunday 29th May, 7.50 am until 6.35 pm
Saturday 25th June and Sunday 26th June, 8.05 am until 6.25 pm
Chestnut Teal
Chestnut Teal
(Photo: Courtesy, Birds SA)

Loch Luna Game Reserve
The open season applies to all creeks and associated backwaters of the Reserve north of the marked navigation channel of Chambers Creek, excluding a 500 metre radius of any house or outbuilding, and within 300 metres of any road or bridge; and for safety reasons, the open season does not apply to all of the area within 500 metres radius of the homestead of Section 706 McIntosh Division Hundred of Cobdogla Irrigation AreaNote: Access to Loch Luna is mainly by boat - all hunters should be aware of dangerous quicksand in a number of areas.

Moorook Game Reserve
The open season applies to all the Reserve, other than the strip of land 100 metres wide on the western boundary of Sections 474, 475 and 476 Hundred of Moorook, County of Albert, adjacent to the Kingston-Loxton Highway.

Lake Robe Game Reserve
Bucks Lake Game Reserve
Tolderol Game Reserve
Currency Creek Game Reserve
Mud Islands Game Reserve
From 6.25 am on Saturday 12th February until 5.35 pm on Sunday 26th June 2005.

Poocher Swamp Game Reserve
CLOSED due to low water levels
Hardhead
Hardhead
(Photo: Courtesy, Birds SA)

Bool Lagoon Game Reserve
A decision on Bool Lagoon Game Reserve will not be made until early February following further inspections for the presence of the threatened Freckled Duck which will be undertaken and its value as a refuge during the summer and autumn months will be clearer. The Reserve is one of the most important wetland areas remaining in the southeast, and is a significant breeding area for colonial waterbirds. It is also a critical refuge area for waterfowl, particularly when smaller wetlands dry back late in summer.

The Director, Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) may close a Reserve by posting a notice to that effect at any commonly used entrance to that Reserve, where it is in the interests of conservation to do so.

Hunting on Unalienated Crown Lands

Hunting on unalienated Crown land is approved during 2005, with the exception of the following locations:

* Pieces 9 & 10 Deposited Plan 49150 Hundred of Cadell (Cadell Evaporation Basin)
* Lot 103 Deposited Plan 46453, Chaffey Irrigation Area (Cooltong Evaporation Basin)
* Allotment 2 Deposited Plan 34467 Hundred of Waikerie (Hart Lagoon)
* Pieces 5 & 6 Deposited Plan 48756 Cobdogla Division, Cobdogla Irrigation Area (Cobdogla Evaporation Basin)
* Section 388 Hundred of Holder (Riverfront Reserve) adjacent to Maize Island Lagoon Conservation Park
* Sections 23, 172, 247, 295, 296 Hundred of Gordon (Thieles Flat)
* Section 1781, 1784 Allotments 3, 4, 5 in Deposited Plan 23536, Berri Irrigation Area (Berri Evaporation Basin)
* Allotment 99, Deposited Plan 26809 Hundred of Ettrick
* The waters of the River Murray within 150 metres either side of any lock or weir structure.
* Allotments 1 to 4 in Deposited Plan 23394 Hundreds of Hindmarsh and Riddoch (Lake Leake)
* Section 725 Hundred of Caroline (Eight Mile Creek)
* Section 710 Hundred of Baker
* Pieces 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 Deposited Plan 60311 Hundred of Santo (Morella Basin)
* Section 583 Hundred of Waterhouse (Lake Eliza) and environs
* Section 582 Hundred of Waterhouse (Lake St Clair) and environs
* Section 80 Hundred of Lake George (Lake St Clair) and environs
* Sections 679, 680, 681, 686, 687, 688, 693, 694, 695, 697 Hundred of Port Gawler (Port Gawler)
* Sections 2349, Allotment 60 in Deposited Plan 27952 and Allotment 72 in Deposited Plan 28222, Hundred of Wallaroo (Wallaroo Mines)
* Allotments 10 and 11, Deposited 52109 Hundred of Goolwa (Goolwa)
* Sections 2082, 2083, 2084, 2086 Hundred of Kondoparinga (Bullock Hill)
* Section 537, Hundred of Nangkita (Cox Scrub)
* Allotment 500 in Deposited Plan 27081 Hundred of Koolywurtie (Porter's Scrub)
* Allotment 1 in Deposited Plan 30408 Hundred of Carribie (Gleeson's Landing)
* Allotment 2 in Deposited Plan 29815 Hundred of Carribie (Gleeson's Landing)
* Allotments 10, 13, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27 in Deposited Plan 31429 Hundreds of Clinton and Cunningham (Wills Creek)
* Allotment 10 in Deposited Plan 37980 Hundred of Lake Wangary
* Allotment 2 in Deposited Plan 34847 (Finniss Springs)
* Block 422 in Deposited Plan 832300 Hundred of Kopperamanna (Tirari Desert)

Top of Page

General Hunting Information

Hunting Near Barrages
No hunting or fishing is permitted within 150 metres either side of any barrage structure (River Murray Waters Act 1971).

Approved Shot
Lead shot must no longer be used for duck hunting in South Australia. Nor may you have it in your possession while hunting. Several wetlands in South Australia are known to have high densities of spent lead shot in the surface mud of the areas favoured for hunting. This lead is ingested by some types of waterbirds and can cause varying degrees of lead poisoning.

Hunting with Steel Shot
Hunters should take care with the guns they use, as not all guns are suitable for steel shot. You should check with the firearm manufacturer or distributor before using steel shot.

Hunting with bismuth
Bismuth may be used in any shotgun that can use commercial lead shot.

Safety for Shooters
Please respect the rights of other hunters. It is generally accepted that the first hunter to a position has precedence and no hunter should approach closer than 50m without the other hunter's permission. Avoid accidents - please don't shoot low.
Important Information

* Duck shooting is prohibited from half an hour after sunset to one quarter of an hour before sunrise the next day during the open season.
* You will need a hunting permit endorsed for the hunting of protected game. You are required to carry the hunting permit with you at all times and produce it on the demand of a warden.
* Observe the bag limit.
* It is unlawful to use pump action and self-loading shotguns for the purpose of hunting.
* Duck and quail may only be taken with a smooth bore firearm that has a bore not exceeding 1.9cm (12 gauge) firing shot no larger than BB (4.1mm in diameter).
* Shooting is not permitted on any Reserve other than a Game Reserve
* Lead shot must not be used in the taking of ducks throughout this State. Non-toxic shot such as steel or bismuth is to be used.
* Pre-feeding of hunting grounds for the purpose of enticing ducks into the area is prohibited.
* Any person entering a Game Reserve must not have lead shot in his/her possession.
* Shooting or taking any protected bird, mammal or reptile other than the species listed is prohibited.
* You will need written permission to hunt from all landowners for all land, including Crown Land. This includes the backwaters of the River Murray where it floods private land, and the lakes of the Southeast. The Minister for Environment and Heritage has not approved hunting on some unalienated Crown Lands.
* Hunting without a current hunting permit and/or failing to obtain the written permission of the landowner prior to hunting on any land may incur a penalty of up to $1,000.
* The penalties for the illegal taking of, or possession of protected fauna range from $2,500 and six months imprisonment, up to $10,000 and two years imprisonment, depending on the type of animal involved. Therefore, please identify your species before shooting and do not exceed bag limits
* A penalty of up to $1,250 applies for being in possession of lead shot or shot containing lead whilst within any Game Reserve, or for possession of lead shot whilst hunting waterfowl anywhere in the State.
* Duck shooting is prohibited from a boat that is moving or under way.

Hunters must have passed the Waterfowl Identification Test to go duck shooting. Contact DEH, phone (61 8) 8124 4803 for details.

Further Information
Hunters can obtain additional information from the offices below:

Fauna Permit Unit
Department for Environment and Heritage
1 Richmond Road
Keswick, SA 5035
Phone (61 8) 8124 4927

Department for Environment and Heritage
9 Mackay Street
Port Augusta 5700
Phone (61 8) 8648 5300

Department for Environment and Heritage
75 Liverpool Street
Port Lincoln 5606
Phone (61 8) 8688 3111

Department for Environment and Heritage
Penola Road
Naracoorte 5271
Phone (61 8) 8762 3412
Office hours only, Monday to Friday

Lake Robe Game Reserve
Department for Environment and Heritage
Robe Street
Robe 5276
Phone (61 8) 8768 2543

Tolderol, Currency Creek and Mud Islands Game Reserves
Department for Environment and Heritage
Princes Highway
Meningie 5264
Phone (61 8) 8575 1200

Chowilla, Moorook and Loch Luna Game Reserves
Department for Environment and Heritage
28 Vaughan Terrace
Berri 5343
Phone (61 8) 8595 2111

Department for Environment and Heritage
SGIC building, 11 Helen Street
Mount Gambier, 5290
Phone (61 8) 8735 1111

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/duck_hunting.html

(Members from other states or countries. Please feel free to post your own seasons.)

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"