FAVOURABLE environmental and breeding conditions and more active hunters likely resulted in an increase in the number of ducks harvested last year, according to the game management regulator.
Game Management Authority on Tuesday released the estimates of duck harvest report.
An estimated 391,900 game ducks were harvested in 2024, which was 22 per cent above the long-term average of 320,000.
Of the 21,383 licensed duck hunters, 60 per cent actively hunted last year. On average, active duck hunters harvested an estimated 30.3 ducks during the season over an average of 8.9 days.
The three most commonly harvested species were the Pacific Black Duck (39 per cent of the total harvest), Grey Teal (25 per cent) and Australian Wood Duck (24 per cent).
The most popular hunting areas, with the highest numbers of ducks harvested, were around the towns of Sale, Kerang, Boort, Horsham, and Shepparton.
GMA director of strategy and research Simon Toop said the research was based on information gathered from randomly selected licenced game bird hunters who voluntarily participated in the surveys.
“Favourable environmental and breeding conditions and more active hunters likely resulted in an increase in the number of ducks and quail harvested,” Mr Toop said.
“The information hunters provide helps build a stronger understanding of gamebird harvest trends and hunting activity in Victoria and I’d like to thank all hunters who participated in the surveys.”
Throughout last year, 3458 licenced game bird hunters were surveyed to collect information about their hunting activity, including how many game birds were harvested, where hunting occurred, hunting methods used, and the species of game birds harvested.
The report is produced annually by GMA in collaboration with an independent telephone survey company and the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research.
Read the full report onnline at gma.vic.gov.au/research/duck-research.
The Victorian Government was expected to reveal details of this year’s duck hunting arrangements before the end of the month.
