We’re on the back end of a great wet winter, emerging from over a decade of drought in Victoria. Water seems to be everywhere. The wetlands are providing excellent habitat and the breeding season has been amazing, in fact many breeding pairs have taken advantage of the conditions and had a second round of ducklings. With this in mind the Department of Sustainability and Environment has finally released the duck season dates and it’s good news, 19th March – 13th June.
Many of the redneck shooters have been filtered out with the drought (many still remain) which means better ethical hunting practices all round. Actually thats been a great result from the anti duck shooting movement, it’s reduced the numbers of armed idiots.
I’m hoping not to bump into any protesters and hunt in peace and then create some amazing wild duck dishes. Last season our favourite was a roast duck risotto. A really simple dish but great gamey flavours.
As I write this more rain is falling, it’s the wettest summer we’ve had since we moved here from Melbourne 8 years ago. Come March the wetlands will be teaming with yet more waterfowl.
NB: Pics not mine, but don’t they make your mouth water?
I looked at the pictures and then frantically scanned your post for a recipe. That does look fantastic and yes, my mouth is watering now… Nice post…
Ben
So your season starts when ours ends. I wonder if a guy could split his time between the hemispheres and hunt ducks year-round. Maybe it wouldn’t be so special then.
Protesters? Really?
The protesters and anti duck hunting lobby has banned duck and quail hunting in three states in Australia. Only a few states remain as managed hunting.
Those bloody soft city green buggers just will not stop until we’re all cuddling animals and turning vegan. It’s a real problem when the voice of a minority can make the government make decisions that effect us.
Even if it does get banned, no one will be able to manage the illegal hunting. In any case the season is already strictly monitored and managed by the authorities as it is.
check these out….
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/duck_shooting.php
http://www.duck.org.au/
What bothers me is the apparent lack of direction a lot of people have in their lives. What part of existing compels someone to drain energy and resources into altering other people’s lives? Even saving the ducks. Say, for instance, that ducks really are people too, and I really really really care about them and their suffering. I couldn’t spare an hour a week on saving them. How many people without families and jobs and enriching cultural and social lives can there be? I don’t even want to know how much it costs a person in fuel, advertising, and politician-purchasing.
Everything dies.
Sorry you have to live with that.
I mean sorry you have to live with the protesters. I’m sure you understand that everything dies. Have a good week.