Right: Duck shooters: over the past decades, duck shooting has declined in most states, with some banning the activity completely.
Background information
Duck hunting legislation in Australia:ACT - The ACT is a wildlife refuge and all native waterfowl are protected.
New South Wales - Recreational duck hunting was banned in 1995. Shooting is still permitted for ducks that cause, or have the potential to cause, damage to crops.
The Northern Territory - Recreational duck hunting is permitted during the duck hunting season.
Queensland - A permanent recreational duck hunting ban was imposed in 2006.
South Australia - Recreational duck hunting is permitted is permitted during the duck hunting season.
Tasmania - Recreational duck hunting is permitted during the duck hunting season.
Victoria - Recreational duck hunting is permitted during the duck hunting season.
Western Australia - Recreational duck hunting was banned in 1990. Shooting is still permitted on properties where ducks are causing damage to dams or waterways.
There are ten different species of native duck that can be hunted in Australia, although only two of these species (Pacific black duck and grey teal) can be shot in every state where duck hunting is still permitted. Each state sets its own laws to control which species can be shot and which species are protected, as well as setting limits (known as bag limits) on the maximum number of birds that can be shot and retrieved by a single hunter on any one day.
An annual survey of duck populations in Eastern Australia is carried out jointly by Victoria, SA and CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology. The survey assess the possible impact of hunters and the effects of available wetland habitat on waterbird populations. The results of this survey are used to assess which species will be included in the open season and what bag limits will be set.