2022 duck season compliance update
22/03/2022
With the 2022 duck season opening last Wednesday, Authorised Officers from the GMA and partner agencies, including Victoria Police, are patrolling wetlands, creeks, rivers and lakes across Victoria.
With the 2022 duck season opening last Wednesday, Authorised Officers from the GMA and partner agencies, including Victoria Police, are patrolling wetlands, creeks, rivers and lakes across Victoria.
The GMA and partner agencies are using drones, off-road vehicles, boats and body worn cameras to monitor behaviour on the wetlands this duck season.
From 16 March – 20 March 2022, Authorised Officers patrolled more than 120 different wetlands, visiting many wetlands multiple times.
Authorised Officers checked more than 970 Game and Firearm Licences and inspected more than 800 hunter bags.
Of the hunter bags checked by Authorised Officers between 16 March – 20 March, no hunters had over bagged.
Over the first five days of the 2022 duck season, a number of offences were detected by Authorised Officers in the field, all of which are being actively pursued.
Summary of 2022 duck season compliance statistics from 16 March – 20 March 2022
| Activity | Number |
|---|---|
| Game licences checked | 974 |
| Hunter bags checked | 802 |
| Hunters who had over bagged | 0 |
| Protestors observed/ engaged with | 316 |
| Banning Notices issued | 3 |
| Infringement Notices to be issued | 14 |
| Briefs or investigations to be conducted | 16 |
| Different wetlands attended | 121 – many wetlands were attended multiple times. |
The GMA uses a range of sanctions to deter illegal hunting, such as official warnings, infringement notices, prosecutions and licence suspensions and cancellations. Any sanctions imposed as a consequence of court proceedings are at the discretion of the courts.
For more information on sanctions to deter illegal hunting and enforce the law, visit Enforcement Actions.
People are urged to report illegal hunting and breaches of public safety laws, to the GMA through its website at gma.vic.gov.au, the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186 or by contacting Victoria Police.