South Australian Duck and Quail Seasons Announced
As you are aware in 2023 the government conducted a select committee review of native bird hunting. This was an in-depth review of native bird hunting and followed a robust process which included a cross representation of parliamentarians with numerous public submissions considered concluding native bird hunting has value and should be continued.
CHASA congratulates the Malinauskas government for today's timely announcement which allows all hunters to plan their season ahead.
The key information for the 2025 season is;
Duck
Start 22nd March
Finish 29th June
Hunting times – sunrise and sunset
Bag Limits – 6 ducks with no more than 2 Mountain duck
Species – Black duck, Grey teal, Chestnut teal, Wood duck, Mountain duck
Please Note Tolderol Game Reserve is not open to hunting this year due to the works being conducted at the site.
Stubble Quail
Start 26th April
Finish 27th July
Hunting times – sunrise and sunset
Bag Limits – 15
CHASA however continues to argue for sustainable seasons based on the best available science and data. To this end we are disappointed by some of the department decisions
They appear not to have fully considered the continental distribution, migratory behaviour and hunter bag survey data of our waterfowl and excluded Pink Ear and Hardhead from the bag
We question the need for restrictions on Mountain Duck
We continue to believe the advantages of our traditional start time of 30 minutes prior to sunrise outweigh the disadvantages
The stubble quail bag limit appears to be extremely conservatively set considering hunter offtakes and likely populations
The stubble quail season length and timing still does not consider the range of climates we have in South Australia small hunter pressure.
Full Season Announcement
As per Government Gazette
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
Open Season for the Taking of Specified Species of Protected Animals—Ducks
Pursuant to Section 52 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, I, Hon Daniel Cregan MP, Acting Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, being the Minister for the Crown to whom the administration of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 is for the time being committed, declare an Open Season for the taking of specified species of protected animals as set out in this notice.
1. Specified Species
The species to which the open season applies is limited to the following:
• grey teal (Anas gracilis)
• chestnut teal (Anas castanea)
• Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa)
• Australian shelduck (mountain duck) (Tadorna tadornoides)
• maned (wood) duck (Chenonetta jubata).
2. Open Season Dates and Times
Subject to other provisions of this notice, the open season for the species identified in Clause 1 is Saturday, 22 March 2025 until Sunday, 29 June 2025 inclusive, and the specified species of protected animal listed in Clause 1 may only be taken in the period between sunrise and sunset on any given day of the open season.
Refer to Clause 6 for further restrictions to open season dates in Game Reserves.
3. Prohibition Against Taking Eggs
A person shall not take eggs of any species listed in Clause 1 during the open season.
4. Bag Limit
On any day of the open season, a person shall not take more than six (6) ducks listed in Clause 1, including not more than two (2) of the following species:
• Australian shelduck (mountain duck) (Tadorna tadornoides).
5. Area of the State
The open season in relation to the species of protected animal listed in Clause 1 applies to the whole of South Australia, excluding:
• all reserves constituted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, other than those game reserves specified in Clause 6 below; and
• all wilderness protection areas and all wilderness protection zones constituted under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992; and
• all sanctuary zones within any marine park established under the Marine Parks Act 2007.
6. Open Season in Game Reserves
6.1. Subject to the further restrictions contained in this clause, open season (including Clause 2, Clause 3 and Clause 4 restrictions) applies in relation to Chowilla Game Reserve, Moorook Game Reserve, Loch Luna Game Reserve, Currency Creek Game Reserve, Lake Robe Game Reserve, Mud Islands Game Reserve, Poocher Swamp Game Reserve and Bucks Lake Game Reserve.
6.2. Restrictions apply to the dates of the open season for Chowilla Game Reserve, Moorook Game Reserve and Loch Luna Game Reserve from those specified in Clause 2.
6.2.1. Chowilla Game Reserve
The specified species in Clause 1 may only be taken in Chowilla Game Reserve between sunrise and sunset on the following specified open season dates:
• Saturday 22 March 2025
• Sunday 23 March 2025
• Saturday 29 March 2025
• Sunday 30 March 2025
• Saturday 5 April 2025
• Sunday 6 April 2025
• Saturday 3 May 2025
• Sunday 4 May 2025
• Saturday 10 May 2025
• Sunday 11 May 2025
• Saturday 17 May 2025
• Sunday 18 May 2025
• Saturday 24 May 2025
• Sunday 25 May 2025
• Saturday 14 June 2025
• Sunday 15 June 2025
• Saturday 21 June 2025
• Sunday 22 June 2025
• Saturday 28 June 2025
• Sunday 29 June 2025
6.2.2. Moorook Game Reserve and Loch Luna Game Reserve
The specified species in Clause 1 may only be taken in Moorook Game Reserve and Loch Luna Game Reserve between sunrise and sunset on the following specified open season dates:
• Saturday 22 March 2025
• Sunday 23 March 2025
• Saturday 29 March 2025
• Sunday 30 March 2025
• Saturday 5 April 2025
• Sunday 6 April 2025
• Saturday 3 May 2025
• Sunday 4 May 2025
• Saturday 10 May 2025
• Sunday 11 May 2025
• Saturday 17 May 2025
• Sunday 18 May 2025
• Saturday 24 May 2025
• Sunday 25 May 2025
• Saturday 31 May 2025
• Sunday 1 June 2025
• Saturday 14 June 2025
• Sunday 15 June 2025
• Saturday 21 June 2025
• Sunday 22 June 2025
• Saturday 28 June 2025
• Sunday 29 June 2025
6.3. Area restrictions are imposed for the open season in relation to the specified species of protected animal listed in Clause 1 in game reserves as follows:
6.3.1. Chowilla Game Reserve
The open season applies to the whole reserve, subject to the following exclusions:
(a) for safety reasons, all of the area within a 500 metre radius centred upon the Chowilla Homestead, shearing shed, Lock 6 on the River Murray, the Chowilla Creek Regulator, Pipeclay Weir, Slaney Weir and Coombool Outstation (homestead) including any portion of creeks or waterbodies within 500 metres of these sites.
(b) within Chowilla Game Reserve, all of the area within a 100 metre radius of the shorelines of Werta Wert wetland and Coombool Swamp, including the Werta Wert wetland and Coombool Swamp themselves.
6.3.2. Moorook Game Reserve
The open season applies to the whole reserve, subject to the following exclusions:
(a) the western boundary of Sections 474, 475 and 476, Hundred of Moorook, County of Albert, adjacent to the Kingston-Loxton Highway; and
(b) an area of Wachtels Lagoon being the land and water contained within and bounded by a line commencing at E 442748, N 6210926, then south-easterly to E 443079, N 6210458, then south-easterly to E 443268, N 6209307, then westerly to E 442454, N 6209208, then north-easterly to E 441377, N 6209958, then north-easterly to the point of commencement.
All lines are geodesics based on the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94).
6.3.3. Loch Luna Game Reserve
The open season applies to all creeks and associated backwaters of the reserve, subject to the following exclusions:
(a) a 500 metre radius of any house or outbuilding, and within 300 metres of any road or bridge; and
(b) for safety reasons, the open season does not apply to all of the area within 500 metres radius of the homestead of Section 706 McIntosh Division Hundred of Cobdogla Irrigation Area.
6.3.4. Bucks Lake Game Reserve, Currency Creek Game Reserve, Lake Robe Game Reserve, Mud Islands Game Reserve and Poocher Swamp Game Reserve
The open season applies to the whole of each reserve.
7. 2025 Hunting Survey
7.1. Pursuant to Regulation 9 of the National Parks and Wildlife (Hunting) Regulations 2011 all duck hunting permit holders are required to complete and lodge a duck hunting survey in accordance with the instructions specified in the survey form supplied with their duck hunting permit.
Dated: 9 January 2025
Hon Daniel Cregan MP
Acting Minister for Climate, Environment and Water
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
Open Season for the Taking of Specified Species of Protected Animals—Stubble Quail
Pursuant to Section 52 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, I, Hon Daniel Cregan MP, Acting Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, being the Minister for the Crown to whom the administration of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 is for the time being committed, declare an open season for the taking of stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) as set out in this notice.
1. Open Season Dates and Times
Subject to other provisions of this notice, the open season for the taking of stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) will start on Saturday, 26 April 2025 and end on Sunday, 27 July 2025 inclusive. Stubble quail may only be taken in the period between sunrise and sunset on any given day of the open season.
2. Prohibition Against Taking Eggs
A person shall not take stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) eggs during the open season.
3. Bag Limit
On any day of the open season, a person shall not take more than fifteen (15) stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis).
4. Area of the State
The open season in relation to stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) applies to the whole of South Australia excluding:
4.1 all reserves constituted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972; and
4.2 all wilderness protection areas and all wilderness protection zones constituted under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992; and
4.3 all sanctuary zones within any marine park established under the Marine Parks Act 2007.
5. 2025 Hunting Survey
Pursuant to Regulation 9 of the National Parks and Wildlife (Hunting) Regulations 2011 all quail hunting permit holders are required to complete and lodge a quail hunting survey in accordance with the instructions specified in the survey form supplied with their quail hunting permit.
Dated: 9 January 2025
The Hon Daniel Cregan MP
Acting Minister for Climate, Environment and Water