2007 bird hunting seasons

Due to drought conditions throughout much of south-eastern Australia there will be no duck hunting in South Australia during 2007. A restricted quail-hunting season has also been declared.

Duck
The 2007 duck hunting season has been declared closed for all species.
For the 12-month period from November 2005 to October 2006 most of eastern South Australia has experienced rainfall deficiencies. Cumulative rainfall shortages in many areas have led to an acute loss of wetland area that is most noticeable in the eastern districts of the upper and lower south-east. The mid-north, upper north and the central northern Eyre Peninsula, similarly, have suffered serious rainfall deficiencies.
The Murray-Darling Basin contains large areas that are drought affected and rainfall deficient. Watershed areas on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range are among those suffering the greatest deficiencies. Breeding records for 2006 are scant and no significant breeding events were identified during the Aerial Survey of Wetland Birds in Eastern Australia (October 2006).
The results of the 2006 ground-based waterfowl survey showed that average waterfowl densities decreased from 5.8 ducks/ha in October 2005 to 4.9 ducks/ha during October 2006. The largest change in density was seen in the south-east district (6.02 ducks/ha in October 2005 - 1.70 ducks/ha October 2006). Species that prefer the arid zone have migrated away from their compromised habitat towards permanent watercourses such as the River Murray and coastal refuge wetlands.

Stubble quail
A restricted open season for stubble quail will run between April 7 and July 29 2007. A bag limit of 10 quail per day applies.
To shoot quail in South Australia a permit is required. More information is available at the Fauna Permits website at http://www.parks.sa.gov.au/fauna_permits/index.htm
Individuals hunting on private land are required to have the written permission of the landowner.
The open season for stubble quail throughout the State is from 6.30am on Saturday April 7, 2007, until 5.35pm on Sunday July 29, 2007, between the daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.

Important information for quail hunting

1. You will need a hunting permit endorsed for the hunting of protected game. You are required to carry the hunting permit with you at all times and produce it on the demand of a warden.
2. Observe the bag limit.
3. It is unlawful to use pump-action and self-loading shotguns for the purpose of hunting.
4. Quail 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).
5. Shooting or taking any protected bird, mammal or reptile other than the species listed is prohibited.
6. 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. The Minister for Environment and Heritage has not approved hunting on some unalienated Crown Lands.
7. Hunting without a current hunting permit and/or failing to obtain the written permission of the landowner prior to hunting on any land may incur a penalty of up to $1000.
8. The penalties for the illegal taking of or possession of protected fauna range from $2500 and six months imprisonment, up to $10,000 and two years imprisonment, depending on the type of animal involved. Therefore, please identify your species before shooting and do not exceed bag limits.