(VIC) Ban Recreational Native Duck Hunting

Blake Allan, Claudia Nicoletti, Tahlia Lindsay, Amulya, Muhamad Fajar Irfandi, Ma. Joanna Paula Pascual, Siahn Fraser & Bridie Long
4 days ago
10 min read

Author: Blake Allan, Claudia Nicoletti, Tahlia Lindsay, Amulya, Muhamad Fajar Irfandi, Ma. Joanna Paula Pascual, Siahn Fraser & Bridie Long | Publish date: 29/8/2026

P: In VIC, native ducks may be legally hunted for recreation during declared open seasons.
S: The Minister for Outdoor Recreation should amend Schedule 10, Part 2 of the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024 (VIC) to remove Indigenous game birds (waterfowl) from the list of game birds that may be hunted during an open season.
E: Lawyers For Animals (2023): ‘recommends the immediate revocation of … hunting indigenous game birds (waterfowl) in Victoria’.

Problem Identification:

Regulation 5 of the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024 (VIC) defines ‘game bird’ as any bird taxon listed in Schedule 10 (all of which are native species). Schedule 10, Part 2 lists 8 native duck species as game birds using the term ‘Indigenous game birds (waterfowl)’.

According to the Game Management Authority (GMA), this means that native ducks may be legally hunted for recreation during declared open seasons. BirdLife Australia (BLA) argued that recreational native duck hunting ‘adds unnecessary pressure to already struggling populations.’ RSPCA Australia further highlighted that recreational native duck hunting creates a risk to ‘non-target birds’ and RSPCA VIC argued that the practice causes the ‘inevitable suffering of native ducks’.

Context:

The GMA is the relevant body that regulates duck hunting in VIC as a recreational activity. Duck hunting is permitted by the GMA during VIC duck season, between certain dates in March and June. In VIC, the GMA only legally permits hunting using a shotgun, which releases a ‘cluster of pellets’.

The VIC Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions stated duck hunting is ‘undertaken [in VIC] each year by approximately 14,000 licensed hunters who collectively harvest on average 320,000 game ducks per year.’

Wounding refers to the formal term for birds ‘hit by pellets and not retrieved by the hunter.’

Arguments:

BLA argued recreational native duck hunting ‘adds unnecessary pressure to already struggling [native game duck] populations.’ The Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) reported possible impacts from hunter disturbance include the ‘abandonment of nests or young … and reduced habitat availability’. Further, survey data from Porter et al. (2025) recorded ‘five out of eight game species continued to show significant long-term [population] declines.’ BLA concluded declining populations ‘continue to face mounting challenges – exacerbated by the unnecessary and significant threat posed by recreational hunting.’

RSPCA Australia highlighted game hunting of native ducks creates an ongoing risk to non-target birds, including protected and endangered species. BLA commented ‘threatened species ... are often illegally shot as part of the duck shooting season.’ The ARI’s latest assessment identified ‘32 waterbird species that are listed as threatened in Victoria’ are susceptible to hunting-related disturbance. Wildlife Victoria’s 2023 fieldwork recorded ‘out of the 73 birds illegally left in field by shooters … [8] of the birds were [non-target] threatened species.’

RSPCA Australia raised that ‘the pain and suffering caused to ducks in the name of “recreation” is neither justified nor acceptable.’ The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics highlighted that duck hunting ‘can never ensure a humane, instantaneous death … [which falls short of] the standard expected at abattoirs and for euthanasia.’ The Victorian Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan (WWRAP) 2025–2029 reported that ‘historic wounding rates … [in Australia ranged] from 6–40 per cent.’ According to the WWRAP, this figure likely ‘under-estimate[s] the true extent of wounding’, and can ‘translate into tens of thousands of birds in a season.’ RSPCA VIC commented that ‘wounded birds can suffer from the pain and disabling effects of their injuries, from sickness … or starvation.’

The VIC Minister for Outdoor Recreation stated ‘duck hunting ... supports regional communities and economies.’ However, The Australia Institute argued economic claims ‘rely on biased survey results … [and] make no consideration of environmental costs.’ The VIC Parliamentary Budget Office estimated in 2023–24, duck hunting season contributed only ‘0.002% of Victoria’s gross state product’ and ‘0.003% of Victoria’s employment’, not including substitute recreation. The Australia Institute concluded the practice ‘provides benefit to very few Victorians while imposing costs on many’.

Advice/Solution Identification:

Lawyers for Animals (LFA), Wildlife Victoria, BLA, and RSPCA VIC have all called for an end to recreational native duck hunting. LFA stated this could help ‘secure the future viability of native water-bird populations’ and protect non-target species.

Precedent:

There is domestic precedent for prohibiting recreational native duck hunting. WA and QLD have legislated bans, while NSW only permits native duck shooting through an authorised agricultural management program.

Public Support of the Solution:

(This list reflects publicly stated positions and should not necessarily be taken as endorsement of this specific brief.)

News Coverage:

The Point - “Victoria’s duck hunting season begins amid declining support and compliance concerns”. This opinion piece argued that declining hunter participation and ongoing environmental, regional and compliance concerns supported ending recreational duck hunting. By: Kerrie Allen | 8 April 2026 - Read the article here.
The Guardian - “Labor gifts duck hunters longer shooting season in Victoria and ups daily kill limit”. This article reported that eastern Australian waterbird populations had fallen by almost 50% over the preceding year, while VIC extended its 2025 season and increased the daily bag limit. By: Australian Associated Press | 14 February 2025 - Read the article here.
ABC News - “Duck hunting season begins in Victoria despite inquiry recommending it be outlawed”. This article reported that the parliamentary inquiry’s recommendation was informed partly by the long-term decline of native birds and the wounding and death of threatened species. By: Rhiannon Stevens | 13 April 2024 - Read the article here.
The Guardian - “Victorian government under fire from animal rights advocates over rejection of duck hunting ban”. This article reported on criticism from animal welfare organisations following the VIC Government’s rejection of the inquiry’s recommendation to prohibit duck hunting. By: Adeshola Ore and Australian Associated Press | 29 January 2024 - Read the article here.
ABC News - “Duck hunters turned away from Lake Buloke, Victoria after claims protected birds were shot”. This article reported the closure of Lake Buloke following alleged illegal shootings and the detection of hundreds of threatened blue-billed ducks, freckled ducks and blue-winged shovelers. By: Emile Pavlich | 9 May 2023 - Read the article here.

Where to go to learn more:

(2023) Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements | Parliament of Victoria - This report examined the animal welfare, environmental, regulatory, social and economic effects of recreational native bird hunting. It recommended ending the annual recreational native bird hunting season on all public and private land from 2024. View the report here.
(2023) Submission to Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements | Lawyers for Animals - This submission outlined the legal, animal welfare and environmental case for immediately revoking the waterfowl open season and prohibiting future recreational native waterbird hunting. Read the submission here.
(2023) Economic Impact of Native Bird Hunting | Victorian Parliamentary Budget Office - This submission independently estimated the net economic and employment effects of native game bird hunting in VIC. It also examined regional impacts, substitute recreational activities and broader costs that were not included in its quantitative estimate. Read the submission here.
(2025) Victoria’s Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan 2025-2029 | VIC Government - This plan documented evidence regarding waterfowl wounding and outlined the government’s current approach of training, monitoring and harm reduction. It helped explain the principal regulatory alternative to prohibiting recreational native duck hunting. View the plan here.
(2024) Victorian Government Response to the Legislative Council Select Committee Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements Report Recommendations | VIC Government - This response rejected the recommendation to end recreational native bird hunting and outlined the government’s alternative reforms, including mandatory training, stronger compliance measures and actions intended to reduce wounding. View the response here.
Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024 (VIC) - Read the Regulations here.

Human Perspective:

CW: Animal Injury and Death

Every autumn since Daniel was 12, he had accompanied his father, uncle and older brother on duck hunts in the Kerang Wetlands. They would wake up at the crack of dawn, pack their shotguns, binoculars, and game bags, and head off early so they could be ready, waist-deep in the water, by 8 am. The first time he made a kill, Daniel was frightened: he had hit the bird inaccurately and watched as it struggled, injured, in the water. His dad always carried a pithing tool to slice quickly into a wounded duck’s brain, killing it instantly. Over time, Daniel became more accustomed to hunting and made more accurate shots. Once the sun set, Daniel’s family would cook their game on a smoking fire, laughing and sharing stories. To his father, this was not a cruel sport: ducks raised in captivity didn’t live as good a life as ducks in the wild. However, Daniel had always been sceptical. Although his family made every effort to recover the ducks they shot, some could not be found. Once, Daniel saw rescuers pulling ducks from the reeds with fractured wings and pellets lodged in their bodies. He had seen other hunters go over the bag limit, sometimes on consecutive days. There were hunters unable to tell the difference between the silhouettes of target species and non-target species, and others who were merely careless. Before each season, Daniel began to dread what he might find in the wetlands; not only ducks that had been legally hunted, but injured birds hidden in the reeds or non-target species caught in the shooting. So when he turned 19, Daniel decided he would no longer join his family in duck hunting.

To protect the anonymity of those involved, this is a fictionalised account drawn from an amalgamation of real-life stories, experiences and testimonials gathered during the research process for this brief. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.

Conflict of interest/acknowledgment statement:

N/A.

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Reference list:

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