2006 Duck hunting season round-up: South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria
by Jennifer Martens
Every year thousands of duck hunters wait with baited breath to find out if a duck season has been declared in their state. Meteorological (climate) indicators and outlooks, stream flow, water storage levels, environmental water allocations, areas where drought has been declared and hunter bag surveys are all considered when determining whether to declare a hunting season. This year, hunters will be pleased to hear that conditions have been favourable enough for seasons to be declared in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
With seasons confirmed,
your hunting dog in great shape, your shotgun in excellent working order
and your camouflage gear packed and ready to go, the only thing left to
do before you head to your favourite wetland area is to arm yourself with
the appropriate information. You wouldn’t go hunting without the right
firearm and it would be just as foolish to go without knowing species
restrictions, bag limits and general hunting rules. The following will
help make this year’s waterfowl hunting enjoyable and, hopefully, successful.
South Australia
In 2006, South Australia has declared a hunting season for Australian wood duck (maned duck), Pacific black duck, grey teal, chestnut teal, Australian shelduck (mountain duck), pink-eared duck and hardhead.
Duck season dates:
The open season for ducks is from 6.30am on Saturday, February 18 until 5.35pm on Sunday, June 25, except at Chowilla, Loch Luna, Moorook and Game Reserves, which have specific open days during the hunting season. Phone 08 8124 4803 for specific details.
Bag limits:
The bag limit for duck this year is 12 ducks per day, except for wood duck. There is no limit on the number of wood ducks you can take.
Restricted species:
During the 2006 season, you are not permitted to hunt the Australasian (blue-winged) shoveller (Anas rhynchotis).
Closed game reserves:
Poocher Swamp Game Reserve, Bucks Lake Game Reserve and Bool Lagoon Game Reserve are will be closed for the 2006 season.
Crown Land:
Hunting on unalienated Crown Land is approved in some locations during 2006. For a listing, please phone 08 8124 4803.
Lead shot:
Lead shot must no longer be used for duck hunting in SA, and you may not have it in your possession while hunting.
General information:
You will need a hunting permit endorsed for the hunting of protected game. You must carry the hunting permit with you at all times and produce it on the demand of a warden.
Duck may only be taken with a smoothbore firearm that has a bore not exceeding 1.9cm (12-gauge) firing shot no larger than BB (4.1mm in diameter).
Shooting is not permitted on any reserve other than a game reserve.
Pre-feeding of hunting grounds for the purpose of enticing ducks into the area is prohibited.
Shooting or taking any protected bird, mammal or reptile other than the species listed is prohibited.
You will need written permission to hunt from all landowners for all land, including Crown Land. This includes the backwaters of the River Murray where it floods private land, and the lakes of the south-east.
Duck shooting is prohibited from a boat that is moving or under way.
Decoys can legally be used anywhere. Often they are put out the evening before to secure a position. This is done under the old ‘gentleman’s agreement’ and can cause conflict when selfish hunters decide not to honour the unwritten law and move in on the position.
Hunters are permitted to bring retrieving dogs into all parks classified as game reserves on days that they are open to hunting duck. While actually hunting they are allowed off the lead, when not hunting they must be tied up at camp.
Hunters must have passed the Waterfowl Identification Test to go duck shooting. Phone the DEH on 8124 4803 for details.
Individuals hunting
on private land are required to have the written permission of the landowner.
This permission must have been given within the preceding six months.
Tasmania
Two important initiatives will be put into place this year in Tasmania. The first is the elimination of lead shot for the harvest of waterfowl over wetlands. The second is the implantation of a new game licensing system, part of which will see hunters given three methods of purchasing a license and the mailing of renewal notices.
The species which may be hunted this year include black duck, grey teal, chestnut teal, mountain duck and wood duck.
Duck season dates:
The season will open March 11 and run until June 12, 2006. On King Island the season will close on June 4, 2006 because there is a clash with the pheasant season this year.
Bag limits:
Bag limit will be 10 ducks per day. You may only have four mountain ducks.
Restricted species:
Species not to be hunted include blue-winged shovellers, hardhead (or white-eyed) duck, musk duck, freckled duck, pink-eared duck, blued-billed duck and plumed tree duck.
Lead shot:
Only lead-alternative shot is permissible for taking waterfowl over wetlands.
General information:
Decoys, including feathered decoys, are permitted but the use of any bait, live birds, tape recorders or other electronic devices is prohibited.
The use of boats propelled with an engine is prohibited.
The use of aircrafts to arouse ducks is prohibited.
Shooting ducks between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise is prohibited.
Ducks may only be taken with shotguns not exceeding 12-gauge.
The head of a duck must not be removed until the hunter has arrived at his normal place of residence, shack or camp.
Hunters must produce
their Waterfowl Identification Test Certificate to obtain a license. Hunters
born before 1935 are exempt from this test.
Victoria
The 2006 Victorian duck hunting season will run for 12 weeks. Despite claims by numerous anti-duck-hunting groups who claim bird numbers are low, a scientific analysis of environmental conditions supports holding a duck season in 2006. The report shows that game duck numbers have increased from last year and, while parts of eastern Australia remain dry, areas around northern Victoria and southern New South Wales have improved and there has been good breeding. As with previous years, conditions continue to be monitored in the lead up to the 2006 season and wetlands may be closed to hunting to provide refuge for game ducks and other wildlife.Victorian SSAA President Bob Cooper expressed his satisfaction in the timely manner the season was announced by Minister for the Environment John Thwaites. He also said he was very pleased with the consultative process between the shooting organisation and the government.
Season dates:
The 2006 season begins on Saturday, March 18 and goes until to June 12, 2006.
Bag limit:
The daily bag limit will be seven birds per hunter. This is two birds more than permitted last year but it is still below the maximum allowed by regulations. The blue-winged shoveller has been on the protected list for the past few seasons but this year hunters will be happy to know they can take a maximum of one blue-winged shoveller. However, unlike last year, no additional wood duck can be taken over the opening weekend.
Restricted species:
Freckled duck, blue-billed duck, musk duck and plumed whistling- duck must not be shot.
Lead shot:
Lead shot must not be used for duck hunting anywhere in Victoria, although there are some limited exemptions depending on the type or gauge of shotgun used for hunting.
General information:
Hunters must positively identify birds before they shoot. Departmental officers, Parks Victoria Rangers and Victoria Police will be in the field to monitor compliance with the regulations during the season.
Only hunters holding current game licences are permitted to enter the field.
On waterways, such as streams, rivers, creeks and channels, you are permitted to hunt duck from a boat under power up to a speed of five knots. On open waters, such as lakes or swamps, you are not permitted to hunt duck from a motor boat, if the motor is running, whether in gear or not.
You must leave a fully feathered wing on all harvested
ducks until immediately prior to cooking or you are at your normal place
of residence.
Research and conservation
- South Australia: 08 8124 4803
- Tasmania: 03 6397 6591 or www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au
- Victoria: 136 186 or www.dse.vic.gov.au
Much of this information
was provided by the Department for Environment and Heritage Fauna Permit
Unit (South Australia), Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment
(Tasmania) and Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria).
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