General News
28 April, 2023
Tower hill reserve closed to hunting
TOWER Hill Wildlife Reserve will be among the wetlands closed or partially closed to hunting for the 2023 duck season.
Tower Hill State Game Reserve will be closed to protect blue-billed ducks and blue-winged shovelers. A total of 14 wetlands across Victoria will be closed, including three others that are routinely closed each year to reinforce their wildlife sanctuary status.
Game Management Authority announced the closures last week in a bid to prevent disturbance to a significant number of threatened species.
The wetlands to be closed to hunting include Lake Elingamite (near Cobden), Lake Goldsmith State Game Reserve (west of Ballarat), Lake Natimuk (near Horsham), Bryan Swamp State Game Reserve (north-west of Dunkeld) and the Green Swamp State Game Reserve (east of Dunkeld). Also listed on the partial closures were Lake Murphy State Game Reserve (south of Kerang), Gaynor Swamp State Game Reserve (west of Shepparton) and Reedy Lake State Game Reserve (near Nagambie).
Signage will be installed to alert hunters to the closures. Other wetlands may be closed or further regulated if significant concentrations of rare or threatened species are found. Hunters should regularly check the GMA website for updates to wetland closures.
Hunters are reminded the start time is 8am for every day of the season, from Wednesday this week to Tuesday, May 30. The daily bag limit is four game ducks per person, per day. The blue-winged shoveler and hardhead must not be hunted in Victoria this year. Authorities from a range of agencies will be patrolling wetlands to ensure hunters act in a safe and responsible manner. For more information on wetland closures, visit gma.vic.gov.au.
