THE number of game ducks harvested this year was in line with the long-term average of 320,000, according to a Game Management Authority report.
The Estimates of Duck and Stubble Quail Harvest in Victoria 2023 report provides estimates of the total harvests by Victorian game licence holders and also gives insights into hunting activity during the seasons.
The 2023 duck and quail hunting seasons were reduced to five weeks, and the duck daily bag limit was reduced to four birds.
Results show an estimated 319,900 game ducks were harvested in 2023. This is in line with the long-term average of 320,000.
The three most commonly harvested species were the Pacific black duck (45 per cent of the total harvest), grey teal (29 per cent of the total harvest) and Australian wood duck (18 per cent of the total harvest).
Of the 21,959 licensed duck hunters, 65 per cent actively hunted in 2023. On average, active duck hunters harvested an estimated 22.7 ducks over an average of 7.1 days.
The most popular hunting areas were around the towns of Sale, Kerang, Horsham, Geelong and Echuca. The highest number of ducks harvested were around Kerang, Sale, Horsham, Echuca and Geelong.
Results also show an estimated 302,824 stubble quail were harvested in 2023. This is double the long-term average of 149,000.
The most popular quail hunting areas were around Kerang, Donald, Shepparton, Geelong and Rochester. The highest number of quail harvested were around Shepparton, Wycheproof, Rochester, Kerang and Geelong.
GMA director of strategy and research Simon Toop said the research was based on information gathered from randomly selected licensed game bird hunters who voluntarily participated in the phone surveys.
“Throughout 2023, approximately 2920 licensed 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,” he said.
“The information hunters provide helps build a stronger understanding of gamebird harvest trends and hunting activity in Victoria.”
The report is produced annually by the GMA in collaboration with the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research.
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has recommended recreational duck hunting be completely banned from next year.
The recommendations were made by a nine-person committee, which found duck hunting had “acute animal welfare” issues and contributed to the loss of large areas of public land.
“The committee’s rationale is driven by the considerable environmental evidence of long-term decline in native bird populations, and a worsening outlook as our climate continues to change,” committee chairman and Labor MP Ryan Batchelor said.
“The committee was also acutely aware of the animal welfare issues associated with native bird hunting, as well as the amenity loss of large areas of public land to the overwhelming majority of the Victorian public during the hunting season.
“Tens of thousands of hectares of public land are off limits to non-hunters during duck season, but with the appropriate investment in infrastructure state game reserves could be converted into outdoor recreation reserves.”
