7 October 2025
Field & Game Australia welcomes science-led approach to game management

Field & Game Australia (FGA) welcomes the Game Management Authority’s (GMA) announcement that this year’s Victorian duck abundance survey will commence later this month on Tuesday, 21 October.

Conducted across more than 850 wetlands, rivers and farm dams, the aerial survey plays a vital role in understanding Victoria’s waterfowl populations and habitat conditions. The data collected contributes to the evidence base used to inform annual harvest recommendations through the Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) framework.

“Science has to lead the discussion about game seasons,” said Field & Game Australia CEO, Lucas Cooke. “We can’t argue for decisions based on evidence and then dismiss the process when the evidence is being gathered. That said, good science must always be open, transparent, and repeatable — and that’s what hunters expect to see.”

While acknowledging that many species are still breeding — which can make detection from the air difficult — FGA emphasised that conducting the survey at the same time each year is critical for consistency and long-term analysis.

“Hunters are seeing strong signs of nesting and young birds across many wetlands,” Mr Cooke said. “That kind of context matters — abundance alone doesn’t tell the whole story. We need to ensure the data collected reflects what’s happening in the field and is interpreted openly and objectively.”

FGA reaffirmed its position that robust, impartial science — free from political or ideological influence — is essential to both hunting and conservation.

“Ultimately, transparent science builds trust,” Mr Cooke said. “Hunters want decisions based on facts, not feelings. That means collecting the data properly, interpreting it fairly, and using it to guide a genuinely sustainable future for waterfowl and wetlands alike.”