DUCK hunters have been kicked off Lake Boort after the State Government banned shooting days before yesterday’s official start to the season.
Lake Boort and wetland reserves around Kerang and Donald were declared off-limits on Sunday.
Game Management Authority says Lake Boort has been closed to hunters because of its colony of the threatened bat species.
But Victorian Duck Hunters’ Association spokesman Danny Ryan has questioned the Government’s last-minute decision and reason for closures of reserves across Victoria.
Mr Ryan said the grey-headed flying-fox was the same species of bat found in Bendigo’s Rosalind Park.
“You can’t mistake the bat for a duck,” he said. “There are thousands in Rosalind Park and they still have fireworks and crackers going off in that area over Easter, the Madison (March long weekend) and for New Year,” he said.
“Last week Bird Life Australia, now an activist group, was demanding a list of wetlands be closed. Then on Sunday the Government gazetted the closures.”
Freckled duck and breeding waterbirds have been cited for closure of Kerang’s Koorangie State Game Reserve while blue-winged shovelers at Lake Cullen reserve and Lake Buloke will see those areas off limits.
Hird Swamp State Game Reserve at Macorna North has also been closed.
Mr Ryan said some hunters have arrived at reserves to set up camp over the weekend after scouting for hunt locations and doing their diligence.
He said the association had hit the phones to State Government departments on Monday morning questioning the closures.
Mr Ryan said bats had not been included in the Government’s Assessing Water Bird Susceptibility to Disturbance by Duck Hunters report.
“Now they are given as the reason for closing off Lake Boort,” he said. “And hunting groups weren’t even consulted by the Rylah Institute who did that report.”
GMA says: “Occasionally, wetlands or parts of wetlands, may be closed to duck hunting or hunting may be further regulated (e.g. hunting from boats prohibited) to protect concentrations of rare or threatened species from disturbance or being mistakenly shot.
“Wetlands are monitored throughout the duck season. If the reason for further regulation or closure no longer exists, the wetland may be reopened to hunting.” Mr Ryan said large sections of northern Victoria had now been removed for hunting options this season and the Government “is condensing the area where shooters can be as well as where activists will turn up.
“The activists’ sole goal is to create conflict and we are concerned that this situation will have conflict at a flashpoint,” he said.
Mr Ryan said duck hunting attracted thousands of people to northern Victoria during the season, boosting local economies.
The State Government earlier this year rejected a Parliamentary inquiry recommendation to dump duck hunting.
However, reduced bag limits apply in 2024 with additional shooter regulations to be implemented next year.
Victoria’s duck hunting season closes on June 5.
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Last-minute lake closure sends duck hunters batty
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