Right: shooters wait by their boat in a Victorian wetland.
Arguments against duck hunting
1. Duck hunting kills birds in unsustainably large numbers Opponents of duck hunting stress the large number of birds which are shot each season and the impact this is having on bird numbers. The RSPCA recommended with regard to the 2017 duck hunting season, 'While we understand that the Government made an election commitment not to ban duck shooting, there is a need to allow bird populations to recover from recent climatic impacts in order to secure their long-term sustainability. Therefore, we recommend the following: - cancel the 2017 duck shooting season; or - if the season must go ahead, significantly reduce the bag limits on opening day and for the entire season, and substantially reduce the season length.' Despite the RSPCA's recommendation, in 2017, no additional limits have been imposed on the number of duckers hunters are allowed to take. This means hunters are permitted to shoot 10 birds each (the legislated maximum number of birds) every day of the 12-week season, starting on 18 March. Victoria's 26,000 licensed duck hunters reported killing 203,935 ducks in 2015, most of which were bagged on the opening weekend. These numbers were reported in a year when bag limits were significantly lower than those set for 2017. In 2015 the limit was reduced by two, to eight birds on the opening day, and by five, to five birds per hunter per day for the rest of the season. The chief executive of the RSPCA, Dr Liz Walker, said the organisation's position on the 2016 season went beyond its long-held opposition to any form of recreational hunting, saying that the allowable level of hunting has 'put the long-term survival of the species at risk'. In 2016 the bag limit was eight birds per hunter per day. Even greater concerns have been voiced for 2017 because of the higher allowable bag limits. The most recent survey of waterbird abundance, conducted in October 2016, has found bird abundance was the lowest recorded in the survey's 34-year history, and that despite an increase in the number of birds breeding over the unusually wet winter, breeding abundance was below long-term averages. Professor Richard Kingsford, who conducts the annual duck abundance survey stated in December 2015, 'When you're down at the bottom of the trough, which is where ducks are ... if you have a duck shooting season you are really only going to be shooting adults, which will reduce the capacity of the population to bounce back.' In 2009 Professor Kingsford stated in The Age that Victoria's duck numbers had declined more than 70 per cent in the past 25 years, but the drop had been an astonishing 60 per cent between 2007 and 2008. Game bird species numbers are lower in 2017 than they were in 2007 and 2008, when previous Labor premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby respectively decided not to allow hunting. It has also been noted that many hunters appear to shoot more than their bag limit per day. At the start of the 2017 duck hunting season, the Coalition Against Duck Shooting found a buried cache of nearly 200 duck carcasses which it is suspected were the bodies of birds shot over the bag limit and dumped. 2. Protected species are being put particularly at risk Opponents of duck hunting claim that threatened species will be pushed into extinction if duck hunting continues. They argue that, despite prohibitions, hunters are continuing to kill threatened species either through carelessness or an inability to distinguish between species. BirdLife Australia has reported that on the opening weekend of the 2017 duck hunting season, at least 118 Freckled Ducks and 38 Blue-billed Ducks, both threatened species, were killed at First Marsh near Kerang. BirdLife Australia had called on the Victorian Game Management Authority (GMA) to close the First Marsh wetlands due to the presence of at least 200 Blue-billed Ducks. The GMA argued that Blue-billed Ducks are 'rarely shot' as they are 'reluctant', weak flyers that inhabit deep water and tend to dive rather than fly. BirdLife Australia believes that the killing of almost 20 percent of these threatened birds within this region casts doubt on GMA's competence to manage duck hunting in a way that genuinely preserves species. GMA released a statement condemning the actions of hunters who have 'done the wrong thing'. The demonstrated lack of respect for Victorian hunting laws and regulations last weekend ultimately led the GMA to close the Koorangie State Game Reserve to hunting. The Reserve, which encompasses Lake Bael Bael and First, Second and Third Marshes, is to be closed due to the presence of Freckled and Blue-billed ducks. The GMA appears to doubt that hunters can be relied upon to refrain from shooting protected species. Even Field and Game Australia, a body which represents and lobbies for hunters, has endorsed the closing of this wetland. It has stated, 'Normally we would dispute that wetlands need to be closed due to the presence of these birds, as we did last year when closures were implemented based on assumptions. However, the evidence presented and behaviour observed last weekend has damaged the reputation of all responsible hunters... Field & Game Australia condemns the irresponsible and illegal hunting which took place last weekend. Uncollected game, non-game species, and early shooting are unacceptable for the majority of hunters, and for Field & Game Australia.' On their Internet page calling for an end to duck hunting, the Greens state, 'In 2016 at just one wetland - Lake Toolondo, near Horsham, rescuers recovered 18 illegally shot threatened Freckled Ducks, 21 vulnerable Blue-winged Shovelers and 30 Eurasian coots and one Egret.' 3. Duck hunting is cruel Opponents of duck hunting argue that the sport is unavoidably cruel. Greens spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Sue Pennicuik MP, has stated, 'Duck shooting is cruel and anachronistic. Many birds are shot but not retrieved by shooters. Others are wounded by shooters and if they are not rescued, will suffer a slow, painful death or survive with shot gun pellets in their bodies. Ducklings are not able to cope alone and also die as a result of the shooting of adult birds.' The same point has been made by Animals Australia which has stated, 'Many [ducks] are maimed and left for dead, with broken limbs and punctured internal organs. The "lucky" ones are killed instantly. The unlucky ones - an estimated one out of every four birds shot - will suffer for days or even weeks before finally succumbing to their injuries.' The RSPCA's position on all forms of hunting as stated in 2016 is 'RSPCA Australia is opposed to the hunting of any animal for sport as it causes unnecessary injury, pain, suffering, distress or death to the animals involved.' In relation to duck hunting, the RSPCA's position is: 'The RSPCA opposes the recreational hunting of ducks because of the inherent and inevitable pain and suffering caused. Every year, during the government-declared "open season" many thousands of ducks are shot over the wetlands of Australia in the name of sport. Some of these ducks will be killed outright. Some will be wounded, brought down and killed on retrieval. Many others will be crippled or wounded and will die within a few hours or days. Some will suffer prolonged pain before they die.' The RSPCA has acknowledged that the exact percentage of water birds wounded and left to suffer (i.e. are not retrieved) through recreational duck hunting is very difficult to determine with certainty. The Association has cited a number of studies which give a broad indication of the extent of the suffering of wounded birds. The results from six annual surveys conducted from 1977-1982 reported that New South Wales duck hunters estimated 9.9% of their total kill were 'shot but not retrieved'. Another study to examine the impact of hunting activity on black ducks, chestnut teals and mountain ducks in Victoria from 1972 to 1977, reported 'cripple losses' ranging from 14% to 33%. Also, an x-ray study of trapped live ducks in Victoria over the period from 1957 to 1973 reported that between 6% and 19% of ducks had embedded shot. 4. Duck hunting is of no significant economic advantage to Victoria It has been claimed by some of those opposed to duck hunting that the activity does not contribute in a significant or reliable manner to the Victorian economy. A new regional lobby group has been formed in 2017 of businesses and landowners claiming that duck hunting actually damages rural economies. The group, Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting, claims that bird watching would attract more tourists to rural Victoria than bird hunting, and the shooters' presence deterred other visitors during the annual, three-month season. A spokesperson for the lobby group and central Victorian resident, Kerrie Allen, has questioned the economic worth of duck hunters to regional Victoria. Ms Allen has stated, 'We don't see hunters coming into the town, buying cases of wine or buying trinkets in the shops.' Ms Allen claims that most of what duck hunters require they bring with them from outside the region, while their disruptive presence discourages other tourists who are more likely to spend money in local towns. Ms Allen has summed up the group's position as 'We want peaceful, ethical, sustainable income year-on-year.' The question of sustainability is a significant one where duck hunting is concerned. The viability of duck hunting varies dramatically from year to year, dependent on weather conditions and duck numbers. This point has been made in the study commissioned by the Game Management Authority estimating the economic contribution of hunting to Victoria. The Victorian Government cited the study to justify the opening of a full duck hunting season in Victoria in 2017, noting, 'An estimated $439 million flows into towns and regional centres across Victoria, supporting approximately 3,500 jobs.' However, this is the estimate for the economic benefit that derives from all forms of hunting. That which derives from duck hunting is much smaller and less reliable. The same 2013 study states, 'Duck hunting is particularly sensitive to climatic fluctuations. Since 2000, 11 duck hunting seasons have been modified with three of these being completely cancelled. This has a significant impact on duck hunters and their expenditure, especially when consecutive seasons are cancelled.' The 2013 economic estimate continues, '2013 saw a return to "normal" conditions after three historically wet years. Game birds dropped from record numbers down towards long-term median levels. Although the success of game bird hunters was still good, it was below the levels recorded in the previous years with fewer hunter days in the field. It could be reasonable to assume that associated spending was also lower. Generally speaking, game bird hunters spent less time hunting and took fewer birds when compared with 2011.' In opposing duck hunting, the Greens have quoted another study of the economic impact of duck hunting undertaken by the RSPCA and titled 'Out for a Duck'. This concludes that claims that duck hunting contributes significantly to the economy of Victoria are false and that revenue from non-hunting tourism is far more important to Victoria's economy. 5. Duck hunting is a minority sport which is opposed by most Victorians It has been claimed by groups opposed to duck hunting that the activity is one a majority of Victorians oppose and only a small minority of Victorians participate in. Animals Australia's fact sheet on duck shooting states, 'Since the commencement of the campaigns against duck shooting in the 1980s, the number of shooters has been dramatically reduced. It is no longer supported by the majority of Australians. For example, in Victoria, where by far the greatest number of duck shooters reside, duck shooter numbers decreased drastically from about 95,000 in 1986 to around 20,000 in 2010/11.' After a low turnout of shooters across the 2015 duck hunting season, the campaign director of Coalition Against Duck Shooting, Laurie Levy, stated, 'There has been a major shift in public opinion where the numbers of duck shooters have been reduced from 100,000 in 1986 to 20,000 today. Duck hunters are 0.4 per cent of Victoria's population.' (It should be noted that as of 2017, the Victorian Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford, has claimed there are 26,000 licensed duck hunters in this state.) Regarding the number of people in Victoria who oppose duck hunting, on October 7, 2010, a petition was presented to state Parliament bearing 30,000 signatures and calling for the banning of duck hunting. Critics of duck hunting note that the petition carried more signatures than the total number of licensed duck hunters in the state. A 2007 Roy Morgan poll found 87 per cent of Victorians oppose duck shooting. The poll specified, 'Those living in Melbourne (91 per cent) were more likely than those in country areas to think the shooting of native waterbirds should be banned, but even in country areas an overwhelming majority (77 per cent) think the activity should be banned.' The poll further noted, 'Women (94 per cent) were more likely than men (81 per cent) to say the shooting of native waterbirds should be banned. Support for banning this activity was highest amongst younger people (14-17-year-olds -- 91 per cent) and lowest amongst those aged 35-49 (86 per cent).' Critics of the sport argue that the high level of opposition among young people indicate that the number of duck shooters is likely to further decline over time. Opponents of duck hunting also point to the number of Australian states and territories where duck hunting is either banned or has never been made legal. Duck shooting was banned in Western Australia in 1990 - 27 years ago; in New South Wales in 1995 except for on some public land where it is still allowed - 22 years ago; and in Queensland in 2005 - 12 years ago. It has never been allowed in the Australian Capital Territory. |
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