Why is this still happening?

Number of rare 'protected' ducks who were found dead by rescuers during this year's shooting season: 456

Number of shooters who were prosecuted for illegally killing 'protected' ducks this year: 0

Duck hunting season came to an end last week (10 June) and once again I am feeling bewildered as to how this cruel "sport" is still permitted in certain states in Australia. I'm also a little confused about what the word 'protected' means. I'd have thought it meant not being killed or wounded for no reason. But over the three month shooting season in Victoria, the Coalition Against Duck Shooting pulled a total of 456 'protected' duck species out of the water, dead, with many more wounded. However, to date, not a single shooter has been prosecuted for illegally shooting a 'protected' species.

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Among the slaughtered birds rescuers found were 110 rare and threatened Freckled Ducks.

Hundreds of 'protected' eurasion coots were killed in this year's season. Coots are poor fliers. When fired at they can scarcely get away.

This Black Fronted Dotterel was struck by a shotgun pellet and died. Shotguns fire a spray of pellets, which also puts at risk non-target animals.

An estimated one in every four birds shot is left behind injured, to suffer and often die from their injuries. This black swan was one of those unfortunate birds.

Despite bans in some states, Victoria, Tasmania and SA still allow a duck shooting season.

The Coalition Against Duck Shooting have been calling on the Victorian government to take responsibility for animal cruelty caused by recreational shooting.

Rescuers found 456 'protected' birds shot in just a few locations throughout this year's duck hunting season.

Thank goodness duck hunting season is over for another year. The problem is though, that there never should have been a shooting season to begin with. Can you believe that duck hunting is still legal in some Australian states? It's 2013! When I was in primary school we had to imagine what it would be like in the year 2013. I probably said something like we will all be riding hover-boards and playing with our robots. I never would've thought that we would still be living in a society where some states say it's ok to kill animals for fun.

It's time that the governments of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia got with the times and banned duck shooting. Western Australia banned recreational shooting way back in 1990. New South Wales followed in 1995 and Queensland in 2005. How is it that the other states have failed to realise that duck hunting is cruel and needs to be stopped?

Your voice is needed to speak up for these ducks. Take a moment to send a message to the decision makers in Victoria, SA and Tassie, calling on them to ban duck hunting.

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