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Preparing for the 2025 Victorian duck season
Preparing for the 2025 Victorian duck season: The benefits of participating in NSW’s Game Bird Management Program
As we look ahead to the 2025 Victorian duck season, hunters across the state are beginning to think about preparation—whether it’s applying for licences, getting gear ready, or honing shooting skills. One of the best ways to prepare, particularly for new or less experienced hunters, is to take advantage of the opportunities available through NSW’s Game Bird Management Program.
While the NSW program operates under a different framework to Victoria—primarily focusing on pest mitigation for agricultural purposes—it offers unique benefits that can help Victorian hunters refine their skills and ensure they are ready for the upcoming season.
A different approach, same skills
NSW’s Game Bird Management Program, particularly hunting “on the rice”, is designed to help farmers manage waterfowl populations that can cause significant damage to crops. Because of this focus, the management objectives in NSW differ from those in Victoria, where game bird hunting is more closely tied to conservation and sustainable use.
However, the skills you can develop in NSW are the same critical skills you’ll need in Victoria. Waterfowl identification, marksmanship, and field experience are all essential components of both NSW and Victorian hunting, and the abundant bird populations in NSW mean there’s no shortage of opportunities to practise these skills. Participating in the NSW program offers the chance to hone your abilities in a real-world setting, while helping with necessary agricultural pest control.
The learning experience for new hunters
For new or inexperienced hunters, the NSW Game Bird Management Program can be a less pressured environment in which to gain confidence. With typically better bird numbers and more frequent shooting opportunities, there’s less urgency to take every shot. If you’re hunting with an experienced mentor, you can choose to pass up shots while you focus on improving your waterfowl identification skills or practise tracking birds in flight. This freedom allows you to grow your proficiency gradually, without the stress of trying to make every shot count right away.
Additionally, seasoned hunters can share their knowledge, guiding new hunters through the finer points of species identification—a critical skill that will be even more important come the Victorian season. Participating in NSW’s program, where there is ample opportunity to see and study birds, is an ideal way to build this skill in a hands-on environment.
Preparation beyond the hunt
Beyond the opportunity to improve your shooting skills, participation in the NSW Game Bird Management Program offers a natural lead-in to the Victorian season in terms of preparation. October and November are perfect times to:
- Apply for your Victorian hunting licence and ensure all paperwork is in order before the season opens.
- Test your gear—from clothing to firearms and ammunition—to make sure everything is ready for the field.
- Fine-tune your shooting accuracy and patterns, giving you the confidence to take the best shots when the Victorian season begins.
FGA also offers Waterfowl Identification Testing (WIT), which is a valuable tool for ensuring you’re ready for the demands of ethical and responsible hunting in Victoria. The more familiar you are with species identification, the better prepared you’ll be to participate in the Victorian season according to FGA’s conservation values.
Ethical hunting in both states
While there are differences in the management goals of NSW and Victoria, hunters in both states should always focus on ethical hunting practices. In NSW, it’s important to remember that even though the primary goal is pest mitigation, the principles of responsible hunting—such as species identification and clean, humane shots—are just as crucial. The hunting community has a role to play in demonstrating that ethical hunting practices can support both agricultural needs and conservation outcomes.
By taking part in the NSW Game Bird Management Program, you will not only assist farmers in managing crop damage but also position yourself as a more skilled and ethical hunter heading into the Victorian season.
Join the program and prepare for 2025
For Victorian hunters, participating in NSW’s Game Bird Management Program is a fantastic way to prepare for the 2025 duck season. Whether you’re a new hunter looking to build confidence, or an experienced hunter wanting to fine-tune your skills, the NSW season offers invaluable experience that translates directly to success in Victoria. Remember to always hunt ethically, prepare thoroughly, and make use of the tools FGA provides, such as waterfowl identification testing, to ensure you’re ready for the season ahead.
The 2025 Victorian duck season will be here before you know it—get ahead of the game by preparing in NSW this spring!
For more information on NSW licensing and hunting requirements, visit the NSW Department of Primary Industries Game Licensing Unit.
For Victorian duck hunting regulations and resources, visit the Game Management Authority (GMA) website's duck hunting section.