By Jena Carr
Geelong hunters will not be allowed to undertake recreational duck and quail shooting from next year if the state government approves calls for a complete ban.
Final report findings from a Parliament Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Bird Hunting Arrangements on August 31 recommended cancelling the bird hunting season from 2024.
Geelong Field and Game president Luke Mifsud said there were a “lot of emotions” regarding the proposed ban on duck hunting and felt hunters were being attacked.
“A lot of people think that hunting is just going out there to kill ducks and then that’s it, but there’s a lot more that goes into it,” he said.
“Geelong Field and Game have helped construct channels to manage the water flow to certain swamps and build, install and monitor breeding habitats for the ducks and all water birds.
“As hunters, we do have a heart. We do care about the ducks, and no one wants to see a suffering duck when you’ve been hunting.”
Field and Game Australia chief executive Lucas Cooke said hunting posed “no risk” to game birds and positively impacted habitat conservation.
“It’s really disappointing to see people say that a decline in 66 species of non-game birds, birds that aren’t even hunted, is being caused by hunting,” he said.
“The Geelong branch has cleaned countless amounts of polystyrene… and has constantly been opening inlet channels and maintaining the function of those wetlands.
“If the ban is successful, hunters won’t be engaged to do that work in wetlands anymore, and the wetlands will suffer in Geelong.”
Geelong Duck Rescue coordinator Natalie Kopas said she was “absolutely overjoyed” and that the ban on duck hunting would be a “big step forward” for conservation.
“Wounding native wildlife for fun is just not acceptable,” she said.
“There’s a lot of rubbish left behind by duck shooters, and the ban would mean we would have cleaner waterways for animals.
“There’s absolutely no reason for the state government to hold on to the ban or drag their feet about it. They can just implement the recommendations and move on to other things.”
