DURING the 2023 duck season, Game Management Authority’s (GMA) Authorised Officers undertook 469 patrols at 216 individual wetlands across Victoria. Authorised officers checked more than 1212 game licences and 981 hunter bags. Most hunters GMA spoke to were complying with the law and enjoying their time on the wetlands. However, some hunters and protesters were in breach of game hunting and public safety laws. Breaches to hunting laws detected throughout the season included failure to comply with the season arrangements, hunting without a valid game licence, possession of toxic shot, two hunters were found to have exceeded the daily bag limit and one hunter failed to immediately dispatch a retrieved duck. Breaches to public safety laws detected included entering a wetland without authorisation, hindering and harassing hunters and people littering and leaving campfires unattended, As a result, the GMA will issue 19 infringement notices and is currently conducting 17 investigations. A total of 45 breaches were detected throughout the 2023 duck season. GMA director of compliance and intelligence Paul Stevens said the GMA works in partnership with multiple government agencies to monitor and regulate the 2023 duck hunting season. “While some people breached game hunting and public safety laws, most people authorised officers spoke to were compliant,” Mr Stevens said. “Thank you to everyone who acted safely and responsibly during the 2023 duck season.” The GMA works in partnership with Victoria Police, the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA), the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), Victorian Fisheries Authority and Parks Victoria to regulate the duck season. Report illegal hunting and breaches to public safety laws to the GMA, visit Report Illegal Hunting or call 136 186.
