East Gippsland duck hunters have to be content with a shorter season and a significantly reduced daily bag limit this year.

The 2019 season has been modified from 12 to nine weeks starting on Saturday, March 16, and closing on Sunday, May 19.

Hunters will be restricted to four game ducks per day on the opening weekend, with a five game duck per day bag limit for the remainder of the nine-week season, down from the limit of 10 in 2018.

The hunting of blue-winged shoveler will again be prohibited throughout the entire season. Bairnsdale Field and Game president, Mick Crane, said he would like to see the 2018 bag limit “reinstated”. “I think with the sustainability programs put in place by Field and Game Australia the bag limit changes wasn’t warranted,” he said. It’s disappointing the count numbers completed by Field and Game weren’t taken on board, but still we’re happy we’ve got a season.”

Field and Game Australia chief executive officer, Richard Light, said he is disappointed with the State Government’s announcement.

“Through the submission process Field and Game Australia advocated forafullbagof10birdsperdayanda full length season and provided ample scientific and empirical data to support our position,” he said.

“We have seen no compelling data from the government for us to modify our position. Our members are reporting widespread concentrations of birds across the state, particularly after the significant rainfall in early December.

“We question what is trying to be achieved by the reduced bag limit and season length when the expert scientific view is that hunting has no adverse impact on the sustainability of waterbird populations.”

The Game Management Authority (GMA) late last week outlined the arrangements for the 2019 season, saying there has been persistent dry conditions across eastern Australia, reducing duck numbers, breeding and wetland habitat in Victoria.

GMA advised the State Government a modified season was necessary to reduce the seasonal harvest, to ensure duck hunting is conducted responsibly and duck numbers remain sustainable.

As per last year, hunting on the opening weekend will start at 9am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday across the whole of Victoria as part of a two-year trial of opening the season during daylight hours.

For the rest of the season, hunting times will revert to the standard period of half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Hunters are reminded of the laws introduced last year requiring them to immediately retrieve all game ducks that they shoot and to at least salvage the breast meat from a duck to ensure that harvested game is not wasted.