The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, Victoria, strongly disagrees with the today’s decision to delay the 2018 duck season starting time to 9am.
Game Management Authority chairman Brian Hine today announced the decision to commence Duck Season on March 17 with the new time, which is nearly two hours later than last year’s 7.10am opening time.
Hunting Development Manager for SSAA Victoria, David Laird, said the move would lead to more conflict between hunters and protestors.
“There will be hunters frustrated by the delayed start who will then be confronted by protestors who will be allowed into the wetland areas during hunting activity,” he said.
“This is not a good mix and will put the Game Management Authority and local law enforcement under more pressure to deal with the arising conflict.”
Under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012, unauthorised people such as protestors are prohibited from entering wetland areas until 10am during duck season.
Mr Laird said under the former start time most hunters would be finishing up before that time, therefore reducing the interaction between them and protestors.
“With a 9am start, hunters would still be active at 10am when protestors would be legally allowed to enter the wetland areas.
“In the past protestors have acted in an irresponsible manner during hunting activity, and put themselves at risk of injury or worse,” he said.
“Hunting is an inherently safe activity carried out on public land in Victoria every day of the year without incident,” he said.
“However, protestors deliberately placing themselves in front of people legally discharging firearms, as they have in the past is highly irresponsible and obviously dangerous.”
Mr Laird said SSAA Victoria raised this issue with the Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford during meetings prior to the decision and strongly advised against the new start time.
He said he understood the rationale behind the Minister’s decision after reports last year of unethical hunters leaving ducks on the water and ignoring the official start time.
“Aside from the new start time, we agree in principal with some of the new requirements, such as retrieving game ducks and utilising the meat,” he said.
“This is in line with the SSAA’s code of ethics and the SSAA insists its members hunt responsibly, legally and ethically.”
