Wetland closures

Check this page regularly for updates on wetland closures or the further regulation of hunting at wetlands during the 2026 duck season. Some wetlands may be added and others removed during the course of the season.

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.

Anyone can report sightings of threatened species and breeding waterbirds to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) by completing a form on the Wildlife Victoria web page Duck season 2026.

These reports are then verified by staff from DEECA or the Game Management Authority and, where there are risks to significant concentrations of threatened species or breeding waterbirds, the wetland may be recommended for closure or further hunting regulation during the duck season. The Minister for Environment and the Minister for Outdoor Recreation are jointly responsible for enacting any wetland closures or further regulation via gazettal of a notice under the Wildlife Act 1975.

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.

Wetlands closed to hunting

The wetlands listed below will be closed or partially closed to duck hunting for the 2026 duck season or until reopened. Hunting from a boat will be prohibited at one wetland.

Check this page regularly for updates to this list. Some wetlands may be added and others removed during the course of the season.

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.

Table: 2026 duck season wetland closures as of Friday, 8 May 2026

See the Government Gazette notice.

Wetland name	Nearby town	Threatened species present / reason for closure	Regulation / Restriction
Green Lake, including Fresh Lake	Corop	Brolga	Entire wetland closed
Lake Lonsdale	Stawell	Freckled Duck Blue-winged Shoveler Blue-billed Duck	Entire wetland closed
Bradys Swamp State Game Reserve	Dunkeld	Brolga	Entire wetland closed
Lake Wongan State Game Reserve	Streatham	Brolga Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Entire wetland closed
Lake Elingamite	Camperdown	Blue-winged Shoveler	Entire wetland closed
Great Spectacle Lake	Kerang	Blue-winged Shoveler	Only the Great Spectacle Lake is closed (i.e. the other wetlands in the State Game Reserve remain open)
Tower Hill State Game Reserve	Warrnambool	Blue-Winged Shoveler Blue-billed Duck	Entire wetland closed
Lake Gnarpurt	Lismore	Blue-billed Duck	Hunting from boats prohibited. Hunting by wading permitted
Nooramunga Marine & Coastal Park	Port Welshpool	Orange-bellied Parrot	Entire reserve closed
Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve (excluding Hospital Swamp and Reedy Lake)	Geelong	Orange-bellied Parrot	State Game Reserve is closed except Hospital Swamp and Reedy Lake which remain open to hunting. See map below.
Anderson Inlet	Venus Bay	Orange-bellied Parrot	Entire reserve closed
Sanctuaries
Kow Swamp	Gunbower	N/A – closed to reaffirm wildlife sanctuary status	Entire reserve closed
Reedy Lakes	Kerang	N/A – closed to reaffirm wildlife sanctuary status	Entire reserve closed
Richardson River	Buloke Shire	N/A – closed to reaffirm wildlife sanctuary status	Entire reserve closed

Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve partial closure

The whole of Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve, with the exception of Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamp, located in the City of Greater Geelong, north of Barwon Heads.

The eastern portion of the Lake Connewarre Wildlife Reserve, as shown by the hatching on the map below, located to the east of the line consisting of a straight line between 38° 12' 12" S, 144° 27' 8" E and 38° 13' 53" S, 144° 25' 26" E and a straight line between 38° 13' 53" S, 144° 25' 26" E and 38° 13' 54" S, 144° 25' 19" E, and a straight line between 38° 13' 54" S, 144° 25' 19" E and 38° 13' 52" S, 144° 25' 4" E, and a straight line between 38° 13' 52" S, 144° 25' 4" E and 38° 13' 46" S, 144° 24' 56" E, and a straight line between 38° 13' 46" S, 144° 24' 56" E and 38° 13' 51" S, 144° 24' 53" E, and a straight line between 38° 13' 51" S, 144° 24' 53" E and 38° 14' 9" S, 144° 25' 23 " E, and a straight line between 38° 14' 9" S, 144° 25' 23 " E and 38° 14' 17" S, 144° 25' 22" E, and a straight line between 38° 14' 17" S, 144° 25' 22" E and 38° 14' 26" S, 144° 25' 41" E, and a straight line between 38° 14' 26" S, 144° 25' 41" E and 38° 16' 43" S, 144° 25' 15" E.

Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve partial closure