Sustainable Use - Duck Hunting

• Duck and Quail Hunting in 2008 - General Open Season Information
• Duck
• Stubble Quail
• Important Information
• Further Information

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Photo: P Wainwright

Duck and Quail Hunting in 2008 - General Open Season Information

General Open Season Information

Due to the continuing drought conditions throughout south-eastern Australia there will be no duck hunting in South Australia during 2008.

A restricted quail-hunting season has been declared. 

Duck

There will be no open-season for Duck during 2008.

For the twelve month period from November 2006 to October 2007, for the second consecutive year, most of South Australia has experienced rainfall deficiencies.  Cumulative rainfall shortages in most areas have led to an acute loss of seasonal wetland habitat that is most noticeable in the eastern districts of the upper Southeast and the River Murray corridor. The mid-north, northern Eyre Peninsula, and far northeast of South Australia have returned average rainfall over this period

Pink-eared Duck (Photo: Michael Todd)

The Murray-Darling Basin contains large areas that are drought affected and rainfall deficient, however the size of the drought affected area has diminished during 2007. Watershed areas on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range are amongst those suffering the greatest deficiencies. Breeding records for 2007 are scant and no significant breeding events were identified during the Aerial Survey of Wetland Birds in Eastern Australia (October 2007)

The results of the 2007 ground-based waterfowl survey showed  that average waterfowl density from a sample of 91 wetlands was 4.28 ducks/hectare; this compares with 4.9 ducks/ha. during October 2007 and 5.8 ducks/ha in October 2006. The largest change in density was seen in the Murraylands district (9.60 ducks/ha in Oct. 2006 – 2.56 ducks/ha. Oct 2007). Species that prefer the arid zone have migrated away from their compromised habitat towards permanent watercourses such as the River Murray and coastal refuge wetlands.

2007 documents available for downloading:

• Climatic Discussion relating to the Wetland and Landscape Condition in southern South Australia, November 2007 (1.5Mb PDF)
  
• An assessment of waterfowl abundance and wetland condition in southern South Australia November 2007 (3Mb PDF)

Stubble Quail

A restricted open season for Stubble Quail will run between Saturday 5 April and Sunday 27 July 2008 and a bag limit of 15 quail per day applies.

Landscape modeling shows that habitat condition over much of eastern South Australia remains below average. Rainfall has been variable and habitat quality is patchy. This is likely to influence abundance and quail populations may well be mobile

The open season for Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis throughout the State is from 6.30 am on Saturday 5 April 2008, until 5.35 pm on Sunday 27 July 2008, between the daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.

Bag limit - 15 Stubble Quail per day.

To shoot quail in South Australia a permit is required. More information is available at the fauna permits website.

Individuals hunting on private land are required to have the written permission of the landowner.

Important Information for Quail Hunting

• You will need a hunting permit endorsed for the hunting of protected game. You are required to carry the hunting permit with you at all times and produce it on the demand of a warden.
• Observe the bag limit.
• It is unlawful to use pump action and self-loading shotguns for the purpose of hunting.
• Quail may only be taken with a smooth bore firearm that has a bore not exceeding 1.9cm (12 gauge) firing shot no larger than BB (4.1mm in diameter).
• Shooting or taking any protected bird, mammal or reptile other than the species listed is prohibited.
• You will need written permission to hunt from all landowners for all land, including Crown Land. This includes the backwaters of the River Murray where it floods private land, and the lakes of the Southeast. The Minister for Environment and Heritage has not approved hunting on some unalienated Crown Lands.
• Hunting without a current hunting permit and/or failing to obtain the written permission of the landowner prior to hunting on any land may incur a penalty of up to $1,000.
• The penalties for the illegal taking of, or possession of protected fauna range from $2,500 and six months imprisonment, up to $10,000 and two years imprisonment, depending on the type of animal involved. Therefore, please identify your species before shooting and do not exceed bag limits.

Further Information

Hunters can obtain additional information from the offices below:

Fauna Permit Unit
Department for Environment and Heritage
1 Richmond Road
Keswick, SA 5035
Phone (61 8) 8124 4972

Department for Environment and Heritage
9 Mackay Street
Port Augusta 5700
Phone (61 8) 8648 5300

Department for Environment and Heritage
75 Liverpool Street
Port Lincoln 5606
Phone (61 8) 8688 3111

Department for Environment and Heritage
Naracoorte Caves NP
Naracoorte 5271
Phone (61 8) 8762 3412
Office hours only, Monday to Friday

Lake Robe Game Reserve
Department for Environment and Heritage
Robe Street
Robe 5276
Phone (61 8) 8768 2543

Tolderol, Currency Creek and Mud Islands Game Reserves
Department for Environment and Heritage
Princes Highway
Meningie 5264
Phone (61 8) 8575 1200

Chowilla, Moorook and Loch Luna Game Reserves
Department for Environment and Heritage
28 Vaughan Terrace
Berri 5343
Phone (61 8) 8595 2111

Department for Environment and Heritage
11 Helen Street
Mount Gambier, 5290
Phone (61 8) 8735 1177