Victoria Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh

Walsh Announces Full Duck Season For 2012

Victor P Taffa

Victorian hunters can look forward to a bumper season next year after the Victorian Coalition Government today announced a full duck and quail season.

Visiting Big Reedy Lagoon State Game Reserve near Yarrawonga today, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh said game bird populations were breeding in great numbers following the drought.

“Game bird populations have increased to levels not seen since 1984.” Mr. Walsh said.

“The land and our waterways and wetlands have made a rapid recovery following the breaking of the drought which has provided highly productive habitats with an abundance of food.”

The duck season for 2012 will open on Saturday 17 March and close on Monday 11 June, 2012 while the stubble quail season for 2012 will run from Saturday 7 April to Saturday 30 June, 2012.

The duck season will open at 7:10 am in the eastern zone, 7:20 am in the central zone and 7:30 am in the western zone, with hunting to cease half an hour after sunset on opening day.

Mr. Walsh said duck numbers and the condition of wetlands across Victoria would be monitored in the lead-up to the 2012 duck season.

“Locations accessible to duck hunters and those to be excluded will be determined following the normal assessment of concentrations of breeding waterbirds and threatened species before the season opens.” Mr. Walsh said.

Mr. Walsh said the government had moved to announce the season early to give country businesses and regional communities more certainty.

“The duck hunting season will generate a great deal of economic activity, particularly for those northern Victorian communities affected by last summer’s floods.” Mr. Walsh said.

Responsibility for game management has been transferred from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

“DPI has dedicated game officers and a number of other authorised officers available for compliance duties. Parks Victoria and Victoria Police also assist with enforcing the duck season.” Mr. Walsh said.