Wetland closures – 2023 duck 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 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 More to Explore app will be updated with wetland closures.
Area | Rare or threatened species | Regulation / restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Buloke | Blue-billed ducks, Freckled ducks and Blue-winged Shovler | Closed |
| Tower Hill | Blue-billed ducks and Blue-winged Shovler | Closed |
| Lake Goldsmith | Blue-winged Shoveler | Closed |
| Lake Natimuk | Blue-winged Shoveler and Freckled duck | Closed |
| Bryan Swamp | Brolga | Closed |
| The Green Swamp | Brolga | Closed |
| Lake Murphy | Magpie Goose | Closed |
| Gaynor Swamp | Great Egret | Closed |
| Reedy Lake | Grey-headed flying foxes | Partially closed |
| Lake Muirhead . | Brolga | Closed |
| Andersons Inlet | Orange-bellied Parrot | Closed |
| Lake Elingamite | Blue-winged Shoveler, Magpie Goose and Musk Duck. | Closed |
| Lake Connewarre | Orange-bellied parrots | Closed |
| Lake Bookar | Hardhead | Closed |
| Lake Elizabeth | Blue-winged Shoveler | Closed |
| Kow Swamp | Closed to reinforce their status as wildlife sanctuaries where game hunting is prohibited. | Closed |
| Reedy Lakes (Reedy, Middle and Third Lake) | Closed to reinforce their status as wildlife sanctuaries where game hunting is prohibited. | Closed |
| Richardson River | Closed to reinforce their status as wildlife sanctuaries where game hunting is prohibited. | Closed |
Wetland closures 2023 - Gazette
Anderson Inlet closure 2023 - Gazette
Lake Elingamite closure 2023 - Gazette
Lake Buloke closure 2023 - Gazette
Lake Connewarre 2023 - Gazette
Lake Bookar 2023 - Gazette
Lake Elizabeth 2023 - Gazette
Wetlands watch list
Wetlands previously closed to hunting or where rare and threatened species have been regularly sighted
To help hunters plan their duck hunting trips, the table below contains information about wetlands where rare and threatened species have been regularly sighted, the potential risk to the species from duck hunting and, if applicable, the year in which the wetland was closed or further regulated since 2009.
Hunters are encouraged to have a ‘plan b’ in place as wetlands can be closed at short notice during the duck season and an alternate hunting location is required. And don’t forget, if you’re NOT SURE, DON’T SHOOT.
| Wetland name | Rare or threatened species | Risk | Year wetland closed and/or further regulatedi since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andersons Inlet | Orange-bellied Parrot | Disturbance during flocking | 2023 |
| Bartlett’s Swamp |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2014 |
| Big Reedy Lagoon |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2017 |
| Booroopki Swamp |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | |
| Box Flat Swamp |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2013 |
| Browns Lake |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2018 |
| Bradys Swamp |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
| Bryan Swamp |
| Disturbance during flocking DisturbanceMistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2022, 2023 |
| Buffalo Dam (Lake Buffalo) |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
| Deep Lake (Derrinallum) |
| Disturbance during flocking | |
| Doctors Swamp (Murchison Swamp) |
| Disturbance | |
Dowd Morass |
| Disturbance | 2022 |
| First Marsh (Koorangie SGR) |
| Disturbance | |
| Freshwater Swamp SGR |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
| Gaynor Swamp | Great Egret | Disturbance during flocking | 2023 |
| Green Lake |
| Disturbance during flocking Disturbance | |
| Green Swamp |
| Disturbance during flocking | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Harnath Swamp |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
| Heywoods Lake |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) DisturbanceMistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2016 |
| Hird Swamp |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2014, 2018 |
| Hollands Landing Lagoon |
| Disturbance | |
Hospital Swamps (part of Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve) |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2014, 2019 |
Johnsons Swamp |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2016 |
Koorangie State Reserve |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2017, 2018 |
Krause Swamp |
| Disturbance during flocking | 2015 |
Lake Bolac |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Lake Bookar | Hardhead | Disturbance | 2023 |
Lake Buloke |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2023 |
Lake Buninjon |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
Lake Colac |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2014 |
Lake Cooper |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2017 |
Lake Colongulac |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | |
| Lake Connewarre | Orange-bellied parrots | Disturbance | 2022 |
Lake Corringle |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
Lake Curlip |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
Lake Elingamite |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2023 |
Lake Elizabeth |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2016, 2019, 2023 |
Lake Fyans |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
Lake Leaghur |
| Disturbance | |
Lake Linlithgow |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2017, 2018, 2019 |
Lake Lonsdale |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Lake Goldsmith |
| Disturbance to threatened species | 2023 |
Lake Martin |
| Disturbance prior to migration | 2018 |
Lake Muirhead |
| Disturbance during flocking Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 |
Lake Murdeduke |
| Disturbance prior to migration | |
Lake Murphy |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2019, 2023 |
Lake Natimuk |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2014, 2017, 2023 |
Lake Round |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) Disturbance | |
Lake Struan |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
Lake Toolondo |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | 2016 |
Lake Wat Wat |
| Disturbance | |
Lake Wongan |
| Disturbance during flocking | |
Little Lake Meran |
| Disturbance during flocking | |
Lough Calvert |
| Disturbance during flocking | |
McGlashins Swamp |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | |
Pine Lake |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2019 |
Reedy Lake (part of Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve) |
| Disturbance Disturbance Disturbance prior to migration | 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 |
Reedy Swamp |
| Disturbance | |
Richardson’s Lagoon |
| Disturbance Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | |
Round Lake (Lake Boga) |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 |
Second Marsh (Koorangie SGR) |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) | |
Toolondo Reservoir |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2016 (East Lake) |
Tower Hill State Game Reserve |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 |
Walker’s Lake |
| Mistakenly shot (misidentification) Mistakenly shot (misidentification) |