Duck hunting season is back next Wednesday, with hunters and activists both preparing for their time at Lake Connewarre.
The state’s duck season will start at 8am on 18 March and run until 30 minutes after sunset on 8 June, with a daily bag limit of nine ducks or stubble quail.
Geelong Duck Rescue’s Natalie Kopas said she was concerned that more birds would be shot this year compared to other years due to the recent weather conditions across the state.
“We’ve spent the last few weekends scouting water levels and birds, along with preparing all of our rescue gear,” she said.
“After the drought and the fact that there’s been lower than usual rainfall, there’s so little refuge for those birds out there.
“The areas that do have water are going to be full of birds, so it’s just going to be like shooting fish in a barrel, and just thinking about all that wildlife due to be slaughtered is sad.
“If you are hearing shots at odd times of day or…if you’re out there as a bird watcher and happen to see any threatened or protected species, please report it.”
Geelong Field and Game conservation officer Trent Leen said he was “really excited for the season to unfold” and reassured the community that measures were in place to protect duck numbers.
“Anyone is more than welcome to come down to the Wetland Centre at Connewarre for a walk around or to have a chat with the friendly staff there,” he said.
“We can explain how we go about it and how all the regulations are in place to ensure the public’s safety and to ensure everything’s done as ethically as possible.
“We have an adaptive harvest model that regulates the bag limits to ensure that we’re only taking a very small percentage of the population, and that’s obviously completely sustainable.
“The duck populations have never been healthier since the recent floods across the state, so we’ll be looking forward to many years of prosperous bag limits.”
Visit Field and Game’s website for more information about the 2026 Victorian Duck Season.
