The 2017 duck season opened earlier this month, with wildlife rescuers labelling the behaviour of Wimmera shooters as ‘barbaric.’

Horsham shooter and Natimuk Field and Game member David Scott said the criticism of the season was unfair.

He said there was no reason why duck season shouldn’t continue.

“There are always people who do the wrong thing, but that is the same with any bowls club or football club – there is always an idiot that spoils it for the rest,” he said.

“The amount of hunters in Victoria is about 22 or 23,000 and majority of them do the right thing. Typically there is always someone against it though.”

Mr Scott said he grew up with duck hunting.

“Three generations of my family have done it,” he said.

“We go out and camp together on the side of a swamp or river, it’s a traditional thing.

“I’ve been involved since my early teens.

“Over the years we’ve camped both with our family group or with lots of people.

“The atmosphere out there is fantastic – it’s just a bunch of like-minded people doing the same thing.

“It’s good fun.”

Mr Scott said he liked duck hunting mainly because he liked to eat them.

“I can’t see any reason to stop the season,” he said.

“According to most people who eat meat, it is a good thing.

“It is similar to going fishing – what’s the difference?”

Mr Scott said hunters were also good for the environment.

“People shoot rabbits – what’s the difference between rabbits and ducks?” he said.

“There are good things hunters have done, such as clean up the salt lake at Natimuk or cleaning up Dock Lake – hunters did that.

“We’ve also done fox shoots and we get rid of vermin.”

Mr Scott said there had been a reasonable hunt so far this year.

“The first day we got our bag full, but the second day we didn’t and that’s what it is all  about,” he said.

“Some older people who like to eat ducks can’t go out anymore, so we also get some for them too.

“It’s a good community.”