Members of a duck rescue group believe some south west hunters have jumped the gun.
Rescuers at Lake Colac on Saturday said they heard gun shots sound at 7.41am, 19 minutes before the allowed time of 8am.
Nat Kopas from Geelong Duck Rescue said she was shocked by the hunters behaviour.
“They couldn’t wait the last nineteen minutes for the killing to begin,” Ms Kopas said.
“The shooters were brazenly breaking the law and compliance officers were nowhere to be seen.”
Ms Kopas said there had been a decrease in flock numbers from previous years.
“There’s been a steady decline in duck populations which have been hit by drought and climate change,” she said.
“The small birds that somehow survive all that then become targets for blokes with high powered weapons looking for a thrill kill each year.
“Its barbaric, these killers will keep slaughtering our gentle wildlife and the GMA will keep looking the other way until this horrific bloodsport is banned.”
Duck hunting season began in Victoria on March 18 and will run until June 8.
