Potential wetland closures for duck hunters to be aware of
With the duck season only two weeks away, warm conditions are seeing several wetlands contracting and the potential for significant congregations of game ducks (and other species) on remaining wetlands. With a full-length season and a nine-bird bag limit, hunters will have plenty of opportunity to harvest a good feed of birds over the season. Take the opportunity to enjoy the hunting experience, take your time, be selective and put into practice the basic steps to REDUCE Wounding.
Duck hunters are advised that the hunting locations listed below are being considered for further management action, including closures, for the commencement of the 2025 season, with stated reason(s):
Eastern Victoria |
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|
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|
Location |
Species |
Trigger Point |
Management Issue |
History (years closed) |
Dowd Morass State Game Reserve |
Pied Cormorant |
Breeding event |
Disturbance |
2022 |
Western Victoria |
|
|
|
|
Location |
Species |
Trigger Point |
Management Issue |
History (years closed) |
Tower Hill State Game Reserve (SGR) |
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
|
Blue-billed Duck |
100 |
Disturbance |
|
Lake Wongan State Game Reserve (SGR) |
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
2024 |
|
Brolga |
10 |
Disturbance |
|
Hospital Swamp
(Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve (SGR)) |
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
2014, 2019 |
Lake Connewarre
(Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve (SGR)) |
Orange-bellied Parrot (OBP) |
1 |
Disturbance |
2022, 2024 |
Lake Elingamite |
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
2023 |
|
Blue-billed Duck |
100 |
Disturbance |
|
|
Musk Duck |
137 |
Disturbance |
|
Lake Struan |
Blue-billed Duck |
50 |
Disturbance |
|
Lake Lonsdale |
Freckled Duck |
20 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
2018, 2019, 2020, 2024 |
|
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
|
Lake Weering Lake Reserve |
Brolga |
10 |
Disturbance |
|
Lake Muirhead State Game Reserve |
Brolga |
10 |
Disturbance |
2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Northern Victoria |
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|
|
|
Location |
Species |
Trigger Point |
Management Issue |
History (years closed) |
Great Spectacle Lake Complex |
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
|
State Game Reserve |
Blue-billed Duck |
100 |
Disturbance |
|
Lake Cullen State Game Reserve |
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
2024 |
Lake Bael Bael
(Koorangie State Game Reserve) |
Australasian (Blue-winged) Shoveler |
108 |
Disturbance/Mistakenly shot |
2017, 2018, 2024 |
Lake Tutchewop |
Curlew Sandpiper |
180 |
Disturbance |
2024 |
|
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper |
|
Disturbance |
|
|
Red-necked Stint |
|
Disturbance |
|
It is not expected that all these areas will be closed, however, if you plan on hunting at any of these locations, please check that they are open for hunting before arriving. This can be done through the GMA website.
If you are planning to hunt at any of these locations, it is strongly recommended that you factor in an alternate hunting destination and a backup plan.
Formal announcements are expected to be made on Friday, March 14, only five days before the season commences on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Please note that other areas may also be added to the list.
SSAA Victoria fully understands the difficulties faced by hunters when closure decisions and announcements are made so late and has communicated those concerns to the responsible bodies. The Association continues to work with the government and other hunting stakeholders in attempts to improve the further management processes around duck hunting and the timing of announcements.
Hunters can play a big role in having wetlands re-opened by using the DEECA reporting page to report if the stated reason for the closure is no longer applicable.