KERANG anti-duck hunting campaigner Kate Bossence says the opening of the 2025 duck hunting season was marrred by wildlife rescuers finding dead and wounded birds at a wetland in western Victoria.
She said a majority of these birds included Australia’s smallest game bird the Pink Eared Duck.
“This dainty and beautiful little bird is always used as target practice by duck shooters as there is barely any meat on it plus this species remains at the wetlands they were born on,” she said.
“Sadly threatened and protected species were also discovered including the Freckled Duck, one of 10 rarest waterbirds in Australia.”
Ms Bossence said one wetland in particular had more than 5000 game birds.
“When l went out, this wetland had been reduced to unburied duck remains consisting of heads and wings, illegally chopped firewood by duck shooters and unburied human waste with toilet paper simply discarded and left unburied,” she said.
“I never heard a single duck call and only counted 10 ducks at most.
“There were some 400 camps at this wetland on the eve of the season. By Saturday, there were around eight left with most packing up as duck shooters have already completely decimated duck species plus failing to identify what constitutes as game and protected.
“The latter is an issue that time and time again fails abysmally as duck shooters are expected to do a mandatory course in identifying what is and isn’t game species. “This test is an utter farce as time and time again duck shooters fail to identify species and more often than not purposefully wound and kill protected species.
“I have witnessed this all too often coming across protected species that look nothing at all like ducks.”
Ms Bossence said the “callousness and cruelty of this vile past time defies any common-sense”.
“Many regional Victorians, including myself, are completely fed up hearing shotguns spitting out lethal loads of steel pellets, the sleepless nights and destruction and danger to those who live by waterways where duck shooters go looking for birds to say nothing of the depression, PTSD, anxiety and anguish this vile activity causes to those with a deep love and appreciation of the wetlands, birdlike and flora.
“By Premier Jacinta Allen allowing those who hunt this paints a very poor picture of regional towns such as Kerang and Boort that pride themselves on ‘Gannawarra the gateway to nature-based tourism’.”
Ms Bossence said Kerang had become known as Victoria’s Kakadu.
“The sunrises and sunsets are very similar to Kakadu and seeing the rich and varied birdlife outside duck shooting season is a vision of splendour,” she sai.
“That Victorians are effectively banned for three months from visiting these wetlands by duck shooting is a senseless and cruel act by a gutless Premier.
“Should recreational duck shooting ever be banned, thousands of jobs could be created by wetlands and nature-based tourism.
“Birdwatching is now in the top three of most popular past times in Australia. It would be marvellous for Kerang and surrounds if these magnificent RAMSAR-listed wetlands were given more recognition as greatly valued wetland sites instead of being used and abused by duck shooters as their own personal real estate during duck shooting season.”
Game Management Authority compliance and intelligence director Zac Powell said GMA and other agencies were patrolling wetlands to ensure all hunting and public safety laws are followed.
“These laws are in place to provide a safe environment for all land users,” he said.
Asked if any illegal activity had occurred, either by hunters or protestors, so far into the season, Mr Powell said compliance data will be available at the end of the season.
People are urged to report illegal hunting and illegal protester activity to the GMA at gma.vic.gov.au or call 136 186.
Hunting and conservation organisers Field and Game Australia said it welcomed the government’s commitment to the duck season under the Adaptive Harvest Model and its recognition of sustainable hunting as responsible resource management.
“The sustained move towards a science-based season setting process must continue,” FGA said in a statement.
“Yet, we are deeply angered by what we can only see as the influence of non-elected government bureaucrats who have undermined science-based the process and the decisions with ideological interference, imposing unnecessary and unjust wetland closures.
“These closures are a direct assault on sustainable hunting, with evidence-driven outcomes cast aside by anti-hunting ideologues within certain government departments.
“Several other wetlands are also closed for questionable reasons, FGA have already pushed the view that lakes like Tutchewop (closed due to migratory birds) must be reopened as soon as those birds leave (usually late March to early April) and within days, not weeks.
“Field and Game Australia stands resolute in supporting our members, GMA field staff, and authorized officers throughout the season.
“Together, we will ensure Victoria’s wetlands thrive and the rights of hunters who steward them are upheld.
“Beyond this, the season outlook is good, there are birds, and huntable water.
“FGA members and the broader hunting community must continue to do the right things and remain engaged and compliant.”
