Hunters will have a bag limit of two birds per day, according to the state's Game Management Authority

Police and GMA officers will be patrolling public land and private properties to ensure compliance with hunting, animal welfare, and public safety laws.

All licensed hunters must pass a Waterfowl Identification Test before being permitted to hunt ducks.

Following surveys, some hunting some species of duck will be prohibited - according to the media release, this includes the Blue-winged Shoveler, and the Grey and Chestnut Teal (north of the Princes Highway only).

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"Given the similarity in appearance of the Grey Teal and the female Chestnut Teal, both species will be prohibited from being hunted north of the Princes Highway/Freeway. Chestnut Teal are more commonly found in coastal wetlands, south of the Princes Highway / Freeway, where they are permitted to be hunted," the release states.

"The arrangements for the 2021 duck season are based on analysis of habitat and waterbird surveys conducted across eastern Australia and other data relating to game duck abundance, habitat distribution and climate."

"Seven of the eight species of game duck can be hunted during 2021. The game duck species that can be hunted are Pacific Black Duck; Chestnut Teal and Grey Teal (south of Princes Highway/Freeway only); Hardhead; Australian Shelduck; Pink-eared Duck; and Australian Wood Duck."

Some wetlands may be closed depending on conditions.

The RSPCA noted its "disappointment" that the season has been announced, urging a review of the decision.

In a media release, chief executive Dr Liz Walker said there are "multiple evidence-based reasons why the 2021 season should not proceed".

"Duck hunting results in a substantial number of ducks being wounded, with some surviving, whilst others will suffer before eventually dying. Australian studies show approximately 26 per cent of birds shot with a shotgun will be wounded or maimed. The likely outcome for wounded, maimed or crippled birds is a slow and painful death," she said.

"Comparing this wounding rate of 26 per cent with the reported total harvest figure of 238,666 from the 2019 season (as the 2020 season was impacted by COVID-19), we estimate that over 62,000 ducks were wounded and not killed outright in the 2019 season. This amount of wounding is unacceptably high and cannot be tolerated."

The releases stated survey findings from the GMA's Summary report of hunters' knowledge show that only 37 per cent of duck hunters could answer questions correctly that related to minimising wounding, and 87 per cent were not able to correctly answer how to dispatch downed ducks.

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