THE LABOR government has indicated it will support the duck hunting industry despite calls for a cancellation of the 2015 season due to significantly low duck numbers across the state.
The new State Government’s support for the recreational sport is sure to cause backlash among anti-hunting activists who believe the sport is threatening protected duck species.
But the decision has been warmly received by local hunting enthusiasts, who are hopeful more rainfall between now and the March duck hunting season opening.
“The Labor Government believes duck hunting is a legitimate recreational activity,” a government spokesperson told The Guardian.
“The government is currently working with the Game Management Authority regarding recommendations for the 2015 duck hunting season.”
But Coalition Against Duck shooting campaign director Laurie Levy has slammed any plans to launch a 2015 shooting season.
“As far as we’re concerned there shouldn’t be a duck shooting season in 2015,” Mr Levy said.
Mr Levy said duck numbers were down by 60 per cent across northern Victoria and that any shooting season would threaten colonies already struggling to find habitat after a dry 2014.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Monday’s Guardian (January 5).
