Duck hunters fined over offences caught on video at Lake George, south-east SA

Three duck hunters have been fined over incidents caught on digital camera by animal activists in South Australia’s south-east earlier this yr.

A fourth person was issued with a warning by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW). A fifth person, who had since died, had their penalties withdrawn.

Members of a bunch known as South Aussies for Animals filmed the hunters at Lake George, close to Beachport, on the primary day of the state’s duck looking season on March 18.

While duck hunters are meant to humanely kill birds that don’t instantly die when shot, a hunter within the video will be seen giving a dwell duck to an unrestrained canine.

One of the scenes from the video additionally reveals a hunter stomping on what seems to be a seagull — a protected species.

DEW conservation and wildlife director Lisien Loan informed ABC South East SA that three duck hunters had been fined below the National Parks and Wildlife Act “for failing to adjust to the situations of their duck looking allow and the code of apply for hunters”.

“One person was fined a complete of $927 for 3 separate offences, whereas two individuals have been every fined $309,” she mentioned.

“One person was issued with a warning in relation to a minor offence [and] penalties for one hunter have been withdrawn after that person died.

Ms Loan didn’t go into specifics of what offences have been dedicated.

Animal cruelty offences are prosecuted individually by the RSPCA below the Animal Welfare Act.

Duck looking future unsure

A parliamentary committee wanting into the looking of native birds in South Australia will go to Mount Gambier for a listening to on November 22.

Members of the Conservation and Hunting Alliance of South Australia (CHASA) intend to talk on the listening to, which can comply with the same listening to within the Riverland — the opposite foremost area for duck looking within the state.

“We simply speak to our monitor report in environmental administration,” mentioned CHASA vice-president Rob West.

“We speak to our practices of how we hunt and what it means to individuals — the traditions, the tradition of looking.” 

The fined hunters weren’t members of the alliance.

Mr West mentioned “99 per cent” of hunters did the correct factor, and that schooling is extra vital than fines in bringing individuals into line.

Duck looking is banned in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, with Victoria prone to comply with swimsuit.

The RSPCA has been lobbying for South Australia to additionally ban it.

In an announcement to the ABC, RSPCA South Australia’s animal welfare advocate Dr Rebekah Eyers mentioned the organisation welcomes the motion by DEW in opposition to hunters not complying with allow situations for capturing native birds.

She additionally famous that the video footage was captured on “simply the primary day of the capturing season” and that there was “inadequate compliance monitoring undertaken throughout the season”.

“So it is extremely doubtless that many different ‘incidence of non-compliance’ happen however will not be seen or recorded, as a result of nature of the exercise and the various distant areas the place it happens,” Dr Eyers mentioned. 

Duck looking could be banned in a lot of Lake George and Lake Bonney SE below a DEW proposal to make the lake areas conservation parks.

The plan additionally consists of including bogs, signage, formal campsites and walking tracks.