Wetland closures
Closed or further regulated hunting areas
Occasionally, wetlands or parts of wetlands, may be closed to duck hunting or hunting may be further regulated (e.g. hunting from boats prohibited) to protect concentrations of rare or threatened species or breeding waterbird colonies from disturbance or being mistakenly shot.
Further regulation can involve additional restrictions on hunting times, equipment and hunting methods. If a closure is required, this can involve a partial closure of a hunting area or full closure.
Wetlands are monitored throughout the duck season. If the reason for further regulation or closure no longer exists, the wetland may be reopened to hunting.
The wetlands listed below will be closed or partially closed to duck hunting for the 2025 duck season. Check this page regularly for updates to this list. Some wetlands may be added and others removed during the course of the season.
Hunting is not permitted in wildlife sanctuaries, including Reedy Lakes (Kerang), Kow Swamp (Gunbower) and Richardson River (Buloke Shire).
Wetlands closed or partially closed to hunting will be reflected in Victoria’s online hunting maps. Download the More to Explore app or visit MapshareVic.
2025 duck season wetland closures to take effect from Wednesday, 19 March 2025
2025 Wetland closure gazette notice
2025 Wetlands reopen gazette notice (Hospital Swamp and Dowd Morass)
| Wetland name | Nearby town | Threatened species present / reason for closure | Regulation / Restriction |
|---|---|---|---|
Anderson Inlet | Inverloch | Orange-bellied Parrot | Full closure |
Lake Cope Cope State Game Reserve | Cope Cope | Freckled Duck | Partial closure, only Browns Lake (also known as Lake Cope Cope) is closed to duck hunting. Other wetlands that make up the State Game Reserve (e.g. Lake Nurrrumbeet) are open to duck hunting. |
Great Spectacle Lake Complex State Game Reserve | Dingwall | Blue-Winged Shoveler Blue-billed Duck | Full closure of all five lakes including Great Spectacle Lake, Little Spectacle Lake, Round Lake, Tobacco Lake, and Little Lake Meran |
Koorangie State Game Reserve | Kerang | Blue-Winged Shoveler | Partial closure, only Lake Bael Bael and Little Lake Bael Bael are closed to duck hunting. see map* |
Lake Bolac | Lake Bolac | Blue-billed Duck Freckled Duck | Full closure |
Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve | Barwon Heads | Orange-bellied Parrot Blue-Winged Shoveler | Partial closure, Lake Connewarre is closed to duck hunting. Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamp are open to hunting. |
Lake Cullen State Game Reserve | Kerang | Blue-Winged Shoveler | Full closure |
Lake Elingamite Lake Reserve | Camperdown | Blue-Winged Shoveler Musk Duck Blue-billed Duck | Full closure |
Lake Lonsdale | Stawell | Freckled Duck Blue-Winged Shoveler | Full closure |
Lake Muirhead | Willaura | Brolga | Full closure |
Lake Stewart (private wetland) | Burramboot | Brolga | Full closure |
Lake Struan State Game Reserve | Lismore | Blue-billed Duck | Full closure |
Lake Tooliorook Lake Reserve | Lismore | Blue-Winged Shoveler Blue-billed Duck | Full closure |
Tower Hill State Game Reserve | Warrnambool | Blue-Winged Shoveler Blue-billed Duck | Full closure |
Tutchewop State Game Reserve and Lake Tutchewop | Mystic Park | Curlew Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | Full closure |
Lake Weering Lake Reserve | Cressy | Brolga | Full closure |
Lake Wongan State Game Reserve | Streatham | Blue-winged Shoveler Brolga | Full closure |
* Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve partial closure map
If you have observed significant numbers of threatened waterbird species or breeding waterbird colonies at a wetland open to duck hunting, you can submit a report here: http://www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/our-wildlife/duck-season-2025.
Avian influenza area closures
H7 avian influenza (bird flu) was confirmed at four poultry properties in northern Victoria near Euroa in February 2025.
From Monday 28 April, restrictions will only apply within a new 5 km control area around the four affected properties in Euroa. Townships still impacted by restrictions include Euroa and parts of Longwood.
Recreational game bird hunting remains banned in the new control area near Euroa, to help prevent the spread of avian influenza. An avian influenza game bird hunting permit can be obtained from Agriculture Victoria and is required if you want to:
- move game bird carcasses or parts from outside areas to the control area
- move equipment associated with game bird hunting from the control area to outside areas, if the equipment has come into contact with poultry or birds.
Permits are issued for 4 weeks and can be reapplied for after they expire.
Exemptions are in place that allow vehicles transporting game bird carcasses or hunting equipment to travel along the Hume Freeway. You do not need a permit so long as you don’t leave the Hume Freeway and don’t stop in the control area.
For more information about the avian influenza control zone and to apply for a permit visit Agriculture Victoria
Page last updated: 01 May 2025