Hunters must ensure they know the changes this duck hunting season

The Game Management Authority (GMA) is reminding all hunters to act responsibly and follow the new changes during the upcoming 2018 duck hunting season.

Friday, 9 March, 2018

The Game Management Authority (GMA) is reminding all hunters to act responsibly and follow the new changes during the upcoming 2018 duck hunting season.

GMA Chief Executive Officer Greg Hyams said all hunters who hold a Victorian game licence have received a letter in the mail from the GMA, outlining the 2018 season arrangements and details of the new regulation changes.

"By now, all hunters have received a detailed letter outlining the arrangements for this year's duck hunting season, so there is no excuse for hunters to be unfamiliar with the new regulation changes," Mr Hyams said.

"Under new regulations, hunters must stop shooting once a bird is downed and make all reasonable efforts to immediately recover it. They are also required to at least salvage the breast meat from a duck to ensure that harvested game is not wasted. This is already standard practice for the majority of responsible hunters."

"There is no excuse for any hunter to be unfamiliar with these changes and hunters who fail to comply with these new rules will risk receiving significant fines, forfeiture of equipment and loss of Game and Firearms Licences."

"If anyone is unsure, I urge them to visit the GMA website www.gma.vic.gov.au  Here they will find full details of what is required regarding the recovery of game birds and salvaging game bird meat."

Hunting will commence at 9.00am on Saturday and 8.00am on Sunday across the whole state as part of a trial of opening the season during daylight hours. Hunting can occur until half an hour after sunset on both days. For the rest of the season, hunting times will revert to the standard period of half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

The bag limit will remain at the standard 10 birds per person per day however hunting of the Blue-winged Shoveler will be prohibited from hunting due to persistent low numbers of the species.

Hunters and the general public are urged to report any illegal hunting to the GMA through its website www.gma.vic.gov.au or the Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or Victoria Police.

The GMA and partner compliance agencies, including Victoria Police, DELWP, DEDJTR, Victorian Fisheries Authority and Parks Victoria, will be out in force in 2018 to ensure compliance with hunting and public safety laws.

Details of the 2018 duck season, including fact sheets in various languages and information about any wetland closures throughout the season, are available on the GMA website.

Media contact: Nick Foster: 03 8392 6254, 0417 293 365