CENTRAL Victorian duck hunters will experience a shorter hunting season and a lower daily bag limit this year.
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The 2020 Victorian duck hunting season will start nearly two months later than last year's season.
The state government announced arrangements for this year on Wednesday.
A spokesperson said the Game Management Authority provided the government with advice on the hunting season prior to the height of the summer bushfires. Since then, the authority had advised that the bushfires had a minimal direct effect on current duck populations and habitat.
The restricted season was a "necessary response" to prolonged dry conditions that led to low duck numbers and reduced habitat, the spokesperson said.
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This year's five-week season will start at 8am on May 2 and close 30 minutes after sunset on June 8.
Hunters will be restricted to three game ducks a day throughout the season.
The hunting of the Blue-winged Shoveler is prohibited for the entire season.
In 2019, the season ran from March 16 to May 19, with a daily bag limit of five game ducks.
Two years earlier, in 2018, the season ran from March to June, and had a daily bag limit of 10 ducks.
During the opening weekend, hunting can start at 8am on both days and must cease by 30 minutes after sunset.
For the rest of the season, hunting can start half an hour before sunrise and must stop half an hour after sunset.
The state government statement said the 2020 arrangements were based on analysis of habitat and waterbird surveys run across eastern Australia and other data relating to game duck abundance, habitat distribution and climate.
The Game Management Authority, Victoria Police and other agencies will patrol both public lands and private properties throughout the five weeks to ensure compliance with hunting, animal welfare and public safety laws.
The authority will monitor conditions in the lead-up to and during the season. Some wetlands could be closed to hunters to protect concentrations of rare threatened species.
The spokesperson said people could visit www.gma.vic.gov.au for further details.
