Duck hunters have received a stern warning from the Game Management Authority, after a handful of protected birds were found dead at Lake Toolondo near Horsham.
Game Management Authority Chief Executive Officer Greg Hyams said a number of protected birds, including threatened Freckled Duck, were found dead after the opening weekend.
“Hunters are a generally law-abiding group, but unfortunately there are some who choose to do the wrong thing,” Mr Hyams said. “This sort of behavior will not be tolerated. Illegal hunting can put people and wildlife at risk and damages the reputation of hunting. There are heavy penalties for failing to comply with the state’s hunting laws.”
Hunters found to break the law could face jail terms, fines, loss of equipment used in the commission of an offence, conviction and the loss of Game and Firearms licences.
“Hunters must be sure of their target before they pull the trigger, and if you are not sure, don’t shoot,” Greg said. “Illegally shooting Freckled Duck can incur a fine of more than $36,000, up to two years imprisonment or both.”
The 2016 Victorian Hunting Guide containing current duck hunting regulations and the Duck WISE DVD for maintaining waterbird identification skills are both available here.
Four wetlands – Round Lake at Lake Boga, Heywood Lake State Game Reserve at Boundary Bend, and Johnson Swamp State Game Reserve and Lake Elizabeth near Kerang – have been closed for the 2016 season to protect threatened species. Kow Swamp near Gunbower and Reedy Lakes near Kerang are also closed to reinforce their sanctuary status.
The daily bag limit is four birds per day for for the remainder of the season and Blue-winged Shoveler must not be hunted.
SSAA Victoria members are encouraged to report any hunters doing the wrong thing by call 136 186.