WESTERNPORT Field & Game Association president Rob Passarin is delighted with the news that duck hunting will continue in Victoria.

“I reckon it’s a great decision,” he said of the recent State Government announcement the pursuit won’t be banned.

Mr Passarin commended Nationals representatives Melina Bath and Danny O’Brien for their determined efforts to achieve that outcome, including organising a well-attended meeting at the Workman’s Club in Wonthaggi late last year.

“They’ve been pivotal those two,” he said, also noting the contribution of Member for Murray Plains and Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh.

“The Nationals understand how country people live,” Mr Passarin said.

He argues duck hunting is sustainable and that Westernport Field & Game members have contributed extensively to wetland conservation projects over many years. That included work a little over 30 years ago at what is now known as Baxters Wetland, close to Wonthaggi.

“We created a moat and put a wall at one end to raise the water level because it was an ephemeral wetland and used to dry out over the summer months,” Mr Passarin said.

“It captures water from south and east of Wonthaggi and by the time it leaves there it’s clean water and it heads down to the Powlett River.”

Mr Passarin explained that at the time club members worked on the wetland, school students planted trees, with the combined efforts resulting in a magnificent spot that is enjoyed by the local community and includes a bird hide.

He said Westernport Field & Game members have since helped in conservation efforts at many other wetlands. One recent initiative involved replacing nesting boxes in the lake at the local cemetery, providing habitat for waterbirds.

Mr Passarin said the Westernport Field & Game Association, like other such organisations, provides simulated field shooting, making it an important training ground for people to learn how to hunt appropriately before heading into the field.

He described wild duck as “the best organic feast”, arguing, “everyone has a right to decide whether they eat lamb, beef or roast duck.”

While pleased with the Government’s decision to allow the continuation of duck hunting, Mr Passarin is disappointed in the announcement shooters can only commence hunting at 8am, stressing that is more likely to result in wounded birds.

“In March, it’s daylight at 6.30am, and early in the morning birds fly at a much lower level, so they’re an easier target,” Mr Passarin said.

He stressed that later, birds tend to fly at an altitude of 50 to 60 metres, a distance many people aren’t prepared to shoot from as it is more difficult to ensure a clean kill.

While the Association advises its members such a distance is problematic, Mr Passarin expects some hunters will become frustrated by the late start and shoot from too far away.

“There’s a very good chance that you’ll only wound it and it will fly off somewhere and die,” he said of the risk that birds will suffer due to the 8am stipulation.

While welcoming the announcement to continue duck hunting, Member for Gippsland South, Mr O’Brien also expressed concern about the 8am commencement of shooting.

He suggested the proposed daily start time “seems designed simply to frustrate hunters”.

Mr O’Brien considers the decision to continue the duck hunting season a win for common sense and science, saying debate on duck hunting’s future is shrouded in emotion and politics, something he argues was demonstrated by the “biased recommendations of the parliamentary inquiry”.

“The evidence tendered to the inquiry made it clear that habitat is the main driver of duck populations and hunting has little impact on native bird numbers.”

Mr O’Brien laid the blame for duck hunting’s threatened future on inner city activists.

“We should always be vigilant and hunters will need to continue to do the right thing to guard against ongoing campaigns to shut down their legitimate activity.”

While pleased there will be a duck season, Mr O’Brien believes it was unnecessary to reduce its duration to eight weeks or impose a six-bird bag limit given the extent of wet weather and bird breeding.