Ending duck hunting in Victoria

The hunting of native ducks is currently a legal activity in the state of Victoria. A hunting season takes place annually and is overseen by the Victorian Government.

Wildlife Victoria adamantly opposes any activity that causes pain and suffering to native animals and advocates for the abolishment of duck hunting in Victoria.

The facts:

Approximately 300,000 native ducks are legally shot and bagged by shooters each year.

Three Australian states have already banned the practice; Western Australia in 1990, New South Wales in 1995 and Queensland in 2005.

Six out of eight native duck species are in significant, long-term decline1.

Less than 0.5% of the Victorian population are licensed duck hunters.

In 2023 the Victorian Government held a Parliamentary Inquiry into Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements. Wildlife Victoria submitted an official report detailing why hunting should be banned in the state and CEO Lisa Palma spoke at the Inquiry hearings.

The Select Committee’s first recommendation following the Inquiry was to end Recreational Native Bird Hunting in Victoria. Unfortunately, elected representatives of the Victorian Government did not accept this recommendation and duck hunting has been allowed to continue in Victoria.

Wildlife Victoria continues to engage with the Victorian Government to advocate for a ban on recreational native hunting, and on reducing harm to native ducks and other wildlife harmed while duck hunting continues.