By Corey Everitt
The State Government’s new restrictions on this year’s duck hunting season has split our local politicians and opened up a debate about the future of duck hunting in areas like East Gippsland.
The State Government declared in February that this year’s duck hunting season would run a month shorter than last year, from 26 April to 30 May.
While announcing an inquiry would be initiated to investigate the legitimacy of recreational bird hunting and discuss its social and environmental impacts.
There are only designated areas for hunters to hunt ducks in Victoria, many of which are in Gippsland.
This year, hunters are restricted to bagging four birds a day.
Outdoor Recreation Minister Sonya Kilkenny said the issue of duck hunting was becoming “increasingly contested”.
Over recent years, the issue of duck hunting has seen people call for harsher restrictions to be put in place. Some have called for a complete ban.
Last year’s duck season caused controversy as two species of bird, the blue-winged shoveler and hardhead ducks, were prohibited from hunting, yet a blue-winged shoveler was killed on the first day of the season.
Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath slammed the State Government’s new restrictions.
“The Andrews Government is shutting down recreational hunting by stealth,” she said.
“Duck season in Victoria is a highly regulated activity that injects millions into our local economy.
“Our recreation hunters are the true conservationists and the Andrews Government painting them any other way is shameful.”
Some Labor MPs have publicly called for an end to duck hunting, including Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas.
Victoria is among Tasmania and South Australia as the last states to allow duck hunting.
The State Government’s inquiry into duck hunting will hand down a final report on 31 August.
