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 BulokeBlue-billed ducks, Freckled ducks and Blue-winged ShovlerClosed
Tower HillBlue-billed ducks and
Blue-winged Shovler
Closed
Lake GoldsmithBlue-winged ShovelerClosed
Lake NatimukBlue-winged Shoveler and
Freckled duck
Closed
Bryan SwampBrolgaClosed
The Green SwampBrolgaClosed
Lake MurphyMagpie GooseClosed
Gaynor SwampGreat EgretClosed
Reedy LakeGrey-headed flying foxesPartially closed
Lake Muirhead  .BrolgaClosed
Andersons InletOrange-bellied ParrotClosed
Lake ElingamiteBlue-winged Shoveler, Magpie Goose and Musk Duck.Closed
Lake ConnewarreOrange-bellied parrotsClosed
Lake BookarHardhead Closed
Lake ElizabethBlue-winged ShovelerClosed
Kow SwampClosed 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 RiverClosed 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 nameRare or threatened speciesRiskYear wetland closed and/or further regulatedi since 2009
Andersons InletOrange-bellied ParrotDisturbance during flocking2023
Bartlett’s Swamp 
  • Freckled Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)2014
Big Reedy Lagoon 
  • Great Egret
Disturbance
Mistakenly shot (misidentification)
2017
Booroopki Swamp 
  • Freckled Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks) 
Box Flat Swamp 
  • Freckled Duck
  • Blue-billed Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)
2013
Browns Lake
  • Blue-billed Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification)2018
Bradys Swamp 
  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck
Disturbance
Mistakenly shot (misidentification)
 
Bryan Swamp 
  • Brolga
  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck

Disturbance during flocking

Disturbance
Mistakenly shot (misidentification)
                           2022, 2023
Buffalo Dam (Lake Buffalo) 
  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck

Disturbance

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)
 
Deep Lake (Derrinallum) 
  • Brolga
Disturbance during flocking 
Doctors Swamp (Murchison Swamp) 
  • Great Egret
Disturbance 
Dowd Morass
  • Colonial breeding waterbirds’
Disturbance2022
First Marsh (Koorangie SGR) 
  • Great Egret
Disturbance 
Freshwater Swamp SGR 
  • Freckled Duck
  • Latham’s Snipe
  • Musk Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)
Disturbance
Mistakenly shot (misidentification)
 
Gaynor SwampGreat EgretDisturbance during flocking2023
Green Lake 
  • Brolga
  • Great Egret
Disturbance during flocking
Disturbance
 
Green Swamp 
  • Brolga
Disturbance during flocking2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Harnath Swamp 
  • Musk Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification) 
Heywoods Lake 
  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Disturbance

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2016

Hird Swamp 
  • Australasian Bittern
  • Freckled Duck
Disturbance
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)
2014, 2018
Hollands Landing Lagoon 
  • Curlew Sandpiper
Disturbance 

Hospital Swamps (part of Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve) 

  • Freckled Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2014, 2019

Johnsons Swamp 

  • Australasian Bittern
  • Freckled Duck

Disturbance

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2016

Koorangie State Reserve 

  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Freckled Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2017, 2018

Krause Swamp 

  • Brolga

Disturbance during flocking

2015

Lake Bolac 

  • Musk Duck
  • Blue-billed Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2018, 2019, 2020

Lake BookarHardheadDisturbance2023

Lake Buloke

  • Freckled Duck
  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Blue-winged Shovler

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2023

Lake Buninjon 

  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck

Disturbance

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

 

Lake Colac 

  • Freckled Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2014

Lake Cooper 

  • Freckled Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2017

Lake Colongulac 

  • Freckled Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

 
Lake ConnewarreOrange-bellied parrotsDisturbance2022

Lake Corringle 

  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck

Disturbance

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

 

Lake Curlip 

  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

 

Lake Elingamite

  • Musk Duck
  • Blue-winged Shoveler
  • Magpie Goose
Mistakenly shot (misidentification)2023

Lake Elizabeth 

  • Musk Duck
  • Freckled Duck
  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Blue-winged Shoveler

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 

  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck

Disturbance

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

 

Lake Leaghur 

  • Great Egret

Disturbance

 

Lake Linlithgow 

  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Freckled Duck
  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2017, 2018, 2019

Lake Lonsdale 

  • Musk Duck
  • Freckled Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2018, 2019, 2020

Lake Goldsmith
  • Blue-winged Shoveler
Disturbance to threatened species2023

Lake Martin 

  • Curlew Sandpiper

Disturbance prior to migration

2018

Lake Muirhead 

  • Brolga
  • Blue-billed Duck

Disturbance during flocking

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2017, 2018, 2022, 2023

Lake Murdeduke 

  • Curlew Sandpiper

Disturbance prior to migration

 

Lake Murphy

  • Freckled Duck
  • Magpie Goose

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2019, 2023

Lake Natimuk

  • Freckled Duck
  • Blue-winged Shoveler

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2014, 2017, 2023

Lake Round 

  • Freckled Duck
  • Latham’s Snipe

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

Disturbance

 

Lake Struan 

  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

 

Lake Toolondo 

  • Freckled Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

2016

Lake Wat Wat 

  • Great Egret

Disturbance

 

Lake Wongan 

  • Brolga

Disturbance during flocking

 

Little Lake Meran 

  • Brolga

Disturbance during flocking

 

Lough Calvert 

  • Brolga

Disturbance during flocking

 

McGlashins Swamp 

  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Freckled Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

 

Pine Lake 

  • Freckled Duck
  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2019

Reedy Lake (part of Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve) 

  • Great Egret
  • Australasian Bittern
  • Curlew Sandpiper
  • Grey-headed flying foxes

Disturbance

Disturbance

Disturbance prior to migration

2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023

Reedy Swamp 

  • Great Egret

Disturbance

 

Richardson’s Lagoon  

  • Great Egret
  • Musk Duck

Disturbance

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

 

Round Lake (Lake Boga) 

  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2014, 2015, 2016, 2019

Second Marsh (Koorangie SGR) 

  • Musk Duck
  • Freckled Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification)
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)
 

Toolondo Reservoir 

  • Freckled Duck
  • Musk Duck
Mistakenly shot (misidentification, flies in mixed flocks)Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2016 (East Lake)

Tower Hill State Game Reserve

  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023

Walker’s Lake 

  • Blue-billed Duck
  • Musk Duck

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)

Mistakenly shot (misidentification)