Duck & Waterfowl hunting in Australia
Anas superciliosa and others
Decoys at dawn on private wetlands
Duck season is a rite of autumn in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Private swamps, crater lakes, farm dams and flooded pasture offer outstanding decoy shooting without the opening-morning crowds of public wetlands, and hosts with reliable water list some of the most sought after dates on this site.
Waterfowl hunting is the most tightly regulated shooting in Australia, and rightly so. Seasons and bag limits are declared each year, a Waterfowl Identification Test is required in the southern states, non-toxic shot is mandatory, and only declared game species may be taken. Hosts list the wetland; the compliance is yours to bring.
Done properly, a morning in a private hide is as good as Australian shotgunning gets: teal working the decoys in the half light, black duck circling high, and a trained gun dog doing the retrieving. New South Wales runs a different system, where waterfowl may only be taken under its Native Game Bird Management Program for crop protection.
Where to hunt waterfowl
The Murray Valley and western districts of Victoria, the wetlands of south east South Australia, Tasmanian marshes, and the NT floodplains. In NSW, only under the Native Game Bird Management Program on approved properties.
When to go
Declared open seasons only. Southern seasons run through autumn, typically opening in March; exact dates and bag limits are announced each year by each state. The NT season for magpie geese and ducks runs later, through the second half of the year.
Methods & gear
Decoying over swamps and dams from natural hides, jump-shooting creek systems, and evening flight lines. Non-toxic shot such as steel or bismuth is mandatory everywhere, and a well-handled dog turns a good morning into a great one.
Best regions for waterfowl
Duck & Waterfowl hunting: common questions
What do I need to hunt ducks in Victoria?
A Victorian Game Licence endorsed for duck, a passed Waterfowl Identification Test, non-toxic shot, and strict adherence to the declared season dates, times and bag limits announced each year by the Game Management Authority. Only declared game species may be taken.
What is the Waterfowl Identification Test?
The WIT is a one-time test that proves you can identify legal game ducks from protected species in flight. It is required before you can hold a duck endorsement in Victoria or an open season duck permit in South Australia, and Tasmania runs an equivalent requirement.
Can you hunt ducks in New South Wales?
Not under a general open season. NSW allows waterfowl harvest only under its Native Game Bird Management Program, which licenses landholders to manage game birds causing crop damage, mainly in the rice-growing districts. Hunting under the program happens on approved properties within strict quotas.
Is lead shot legal for duck hunting?
No. Non-toxic shot is mandatory for waterfowl hunting in every Australian jurisdiction with a season. Steel is the common choice, with bismuth and other approved non-toxic loads also legal. Using lead on ducks is an offence.
Properties with waterfowl
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