DUCK hunters will have their highest bag limits in years under settings for the 2025 Victorian duck hunting season.
Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, on Friday confirmed arrangements he said ensure the duck hunting season in Victoria is “sustainable, safe and backed by science”.
He said the settings were determined by the science-based Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) model and the Wounding Reduction Action Plan.
“This year is the first season the AHM model will be used to guide the daily bag limit in Victoria, with the modelling tailored to Victoria’s unique conditions, habitats and species,” he said.
“Recreational duck and quail hunting is a legitimate activity, and it matters to thousands of Victorians who love the great outdoors and regional businesses who benefit, but it needs to proceed safely and sustainably.”
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The 2025 duck season will open on Wednesday, 19 March 2025 and close on Monday, 9 June 2025.
The start time is 8am for the first five days of the season, after which hunting can start 30 minutes before sunrise.
The 2025 daily bag limit is nine ducks, and seven duck game species can be hunted.
The blue-winged shoveler cannot be hunted this season, and the use of lead shot for quail hunting is also banned.
All new hunters seeking a license are required to do mandatory online knowledge training and testing - including Aboriginal cultural awareness training – as part of the Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan.
All hunters renewing their licence from 2026 will also be required to complete this training.
Minister Dimopoulos said the government is also giving hunters certainty about future seasons with the dates for the next three years set out in the Wildlife (Game) Regulations.
He said the government has invested $11.6 million to ensure the proper compliance and enforcement measures are in place so duck hunting remains safe and sustainable into the future.
Further details about the 2025 season, including any wetland closures, will be regularly updated on the Game Management Authority (GMA) website at gma.vic.gov.au.
