Duck hunting season should not have gone ahead, say activists

By KIRSTI WEISZ

The Victorian duck hunting season ended today but animal welfare activists believe it should not have been allowed to go ahead in the first place.

In the lead up to the duck hunting season, which began on March 21, animal protection, environmental and conservation groups united in an attempt to stop the duck hunting season from happening.

Victoria's Game Management Authority recommended a reduced bag limit, in response to reduced duck numbers and habitat after below-average rainfall for the past two years.

In 2007 and 2008 the duck hunting season was cancelled because of the decreased number of waterbirds and dry conditions.

This year, Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford announced a full 12-week season, with a limit of 10 ducks per hunter on opening day, and five each day thereafter. "Duck hunting is a popular recreational activity in Victoria, with more than 26,000 people licensed to hunt game ducks," she said.

However, Animals Australia communications director Lisa Chalk said the season should never have gone ahead.

“The conditions for native waterbirds are terrible at the moment, and there was plenty of evidence that would have justified a moratorium this year,” Ms Chalk said.

According to Animals Australia, waterbird breeding levels are the lowest on record and the wetlands are at drought-like lows.

Ms Chalk said the restrictions were only implemented after the opening weekend when most of the birds had already been shot.

“So they placated hunters and gave the perception they were doing something whereas in reality, it would not have made a difference at all,” Ms Chalk said.

According to the Coalition against Duck Shooting (CADS) campaign director Laurie Levy,  waterbird numbers have decreased by 60 per cent since 1983.

Mr Levy said the restrictions meant very little because duck shooters would just leave smaller ducks behind and not include them in their bag.

“Duck shooters will keep shooting if no compliance officers are present, discarding smaller birds for large ones,” he said.

Mr Levy also said duck rescuers were receiving tougher fines for obstructing hunters and that it made their work even more difficult.

“They are getting tougher – a lot of rescuers see a fine of $886, including myself, but we’re still out there,” Mr Levy said.

CADS duck rescuers have been going to the wetlands every weekend throughout the duck hunting season.

So far they say they have recovered 37 protected species, including 10 freckled ducks that are unique to Australia.

The number of game species illegally killed is currently less than last season where 135 protected species were killed, but Mr Levy said the true number was unknown.

“No one could actually tell you how many protected and threatened species are illegally shot, as it's only our rescue team that recovers illegally shot species,” Mr Levy said.

While Mr Levy said telling the difference between game species and protected species was extremely difficult, duck hunter Nick, who did not want his surname used, said the colouring and shape of the species were different and not too difficult to identify.

“Experience helps you recognise what is a game species and what is not – it is a skill quickly picked up,” Nick said.

The hunter, who has been shooting ducks since the 1990s, said there had been fewer ducks around but that the number killed during the season was still only a small percentage of the total.

“Duck hunting is harvesting a natural resource just like fishing … we are what we are and the thrill of the chase is [an] interest within us,” Nick said. 

“We always dispatch [wounded] bird[s] as soon as possible. We don’t like animals suffering, same as everyone else.”

According to Animals Australia, nearly half a million Victorian waterbirds died during last year's shooting season.

It is estimated that one in every four ducks shot will be left wounded with an injury such as a shattered bill, broken bones or internal injuries.

Mr Levy, pointing out the difference between shooters and rescuers, said that when a shooter hit the bird, the shooters cheer but the rescuers risked their lives because they did not like to see the birds suffering.

Hunting in Victoria is worth $439 million, according to Victoria’s Economic Impact of Hunting report, which surveyed the state’s 47,000 licensed game hunters.

However duck hunting has been banned in other states, including Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. South Australia this year also introduced a reduced bag limit.

“It’s really one of those activities that should have died in the 1950s, it doesn’t have any place in the modern day society,” Mr Levy said.