THE Game Management Authority has provided estimates of the 2023 duck and stubble quail “harvest”.
Regrettably, the GMA does not provide a figure for the number of wounded birds.
The RSPCA has, however, made its own assessment. It suggests, “until evidence to the contrary is provided, based on (earlier) Australian studies, approximately 12 per cent of birds will be wounded and survive, and approximately 14 per cent will be maimed or crippled, but this rate could be as high as 33 per cent.
“Therefore, approximately 26 per cent to 45 per cent of birds shot will be wounded, maimed or crippled.”
The RSPCA continues, “the likely outcome for wounded, maimed or crippled birds is a slow and painful death.”
Using the wounding rates of 26 per cent to 45 per cent and comparing this to the reported figure of 319,900 ducks killed in the 2023 season, it seems likely that between 83,174 and 143,955 ducks were wounded, and not killed outright, in the most recent season.
The GMA needs to included these, or their own detailed figures for wounding rates, if we are to have the full picture.
Lesley Walker
