Premier Ted Baillieu yesterday announced the 2012 duck shooting season would go ahead, prompting anger from the Coalition Against Duck Shooting.

“He (Ted Baillieu) said he was personally opposed to animal cruelty and assured us the cruelty against waterbirds wouldn’t continue,” Coalition Against Duck Shooting director Laurie Levy said.

“But he’s contradicted himself by announcing the new shooting season.

“He’s in coalition with the National Party and I think it’s pretty clear the Nationals are calling the shots on this issue.”

Mr Levy said he was disappointed the shooting season was going ahead after a protestor was shot in the face with a pellet gun at Lake Buloke this year.

“It was a tough decision for us, whether or not to continue our wetland operations, but if we don’t protect the waterbirds no one will,” he said.

The 2012 duck shooting season is expected to be one of the biggest seasons in decades, with water reserves brimming after floods in central Victoria.

State agriculture and food security minister Peter Walsh said duck populations were now breeding in great numbers.

“Game bird populations have increased to levels not seen since 1984,” he said.

“The land and our waterways have made a rapid recovery, which has provided highly productive habitats.”

With wetlands full, stores such as Hartley’s Hunting and Fishing in Bendigo are bracing for a big rush of duck hunters.

“Duck numbers have flourished after the floods,” Hartley’s owner Lindsay Hamley said.

“This year’s shooting season was probably the biggest since the early 1970s, and next year will be bigger again. There’s areas like Lake Buloke and Kerang where the duck population has just exploded.”

Mr Hamley said despite the protest groups, duck hunters would be out in large numbers.

“Duck hunters are pretty mindful of supporting the population and keeping duck numbers strong. Most people will be doing the right thing,” he said.

The early announcement of the season, which runs from March 17 to June 11, would benefit regional businesses, Mr Walsh said.

“The duck hunting season will generate a great deal of economic activity, particularly for those northern Victorian communities affected by last summer’s floods.”