A Valentine’s Day announcement of the 2025 duck shooting season has flown over the heads of Geelong wildlife rescuers.
The state government announced the terms for this year’s hunting season on February 14 and provided certainty about future seasons with dates for the next three years listed in the Wildlife (Game) Regulations.
The 2025 duck season will run from March 19 to June 9, with an 8am start time for the first five days of the season before hours are extended to 30 minutes before sunrise for the rest of the season.
Geelong Duck Rescue’s Natalie Kopas said hunters were legally allowed to shoot nine native birds during the season, which didn’t count for the “number of birds they will kill illegally”.
“The Premier’s pet project, the protection of recreational bloodsports, is not the Valentine’s Day announcement struggling populations of native waterbirds needed,” she said.
“The government has demonised and persecuted people trying to protect native wildlife and shielded those who relish blasting birds out of the sky for fun.
“Wildlife rescuers will be out again, as always, to save as many lives as possible. Though the government has set about making it virtually impossible for anyone to protect wildlife in Victoria nowadays.”
Seven duck game species can be hunted during the season, not including the blue-winged shoveler, which is off-limits. The use of lead shots for quail hunting is also banned.
Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said the Adaptive Harvest Management model would guide the daily bag limit for its first season.
New hunters will be required to complete online knowledge training for a duck shooting license as part of the Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan. Hunters renewing their license from next year must also do the training.
“Duck hunting is a legitimate activity that matters to thousands of Victorians and we’re making sure it can continue sustainably and responsibly – backed by science,” Mr Dimopoulos said.
“Our wounding reduction action plan will improve animal welfare and is a significant step to make sure recreational hunting can continue sustainably in Victoria.”
