2026 South Australian Duck Season Announcement!
The Conservation and Hunting Alliance of South Australia (CHASA) would like to congratulate the Government of South Australia and the Department of Environment and Water for announcing the 2026 open season.
Today's notification is an opportunity to celebrate the robust government processes that South Australians are able to enjoy , which have seen another sustainable season set. The community of South Australia appreciates the commitment to stakeholder engagement and the use of best available science to make these important decisions.
Key conditions the 2026 season will be conducted under are;
Opening Date Saturday 21st March
Closing Date Sunday 28th June
Hunting times Sunrise to Sunset
Bag Limits: 8 birds per day
Huntable Species - Black Duck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Wood Duck, Mountain Duck
15 January 2026 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE No. 3 p. 53
NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE ACT 1972
Open Season for the Taking of Specified Species of Protected Animals—Ducks
Pursuant to Section 52 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, I, Hon Lucy Hood MP, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water,
being the Minister for the Crown to whom the administration of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 is for the time being committed,
declare an Open Season for the taking of specified species of protected animals as set out in this notice.
1. Specified Species
The species to which the open season applies is limited to the following:
• grey teal (Anas gracilis)
• chestnut teal (Anas castanea)
• maned (wood) duck (Chenonetta jubata)
• Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa)
• Australian shelduck (mountain duck) (Tadorna tadornoides)
2. Open Season Dates and Times
Subject to other provisions of this notice, the open season for the species identified in Clause 1 is Saturday, 21 March 2026 until Sunday,
28 June 2026 inclusive, and the specified species of protected animal listed in Clause 1 may only be taken in the period between
sunrise and sunset on any given day of the open season.
Refer to Clause 6 for further restrictions to open season dates in Game Reserves.
3. Prohibition Against Taking Eggs
A person shall not take eggs of any species listed in Clause 1 during the open season.
4. Bag Limit
On any day of the open season, a person shall not take more than eight (8) ducks listed in Clause 1.
5. Area of the State
The open season in relation to the species of protected animal listed in Clause 1 applies to the whole of South Australia, excluding:
5.1 all reserves constituted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, other than those game reserves specified in Clause 6
below; and
5.2 all sanctuaries established under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972; and
5.3 all wilderness protection areas and all wilderness protection zones constituted under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992; and
5.4 all sanctuary zones within any marine park established under the Marine Parks Act 2007.
6. Open Season in Game Reserves
6.1 Subject to the further restrictions contained in this Clause, open season (including Clause 2, Clause 3 and Clause 4 restrictions)
applies in relation to Chowilla Game Reserve, Loch Luna Game Reserve, Currency Creek Game Reserve, Lake Robe Game
Reserve, Mud Islands Game Reserve, Poocher Swamp Game Reserve, Bucks Lake Game Reserve and Tolderol Game Reserve.
6.2 Restrictions apply to the dates of the open season for Chowilla Game Reserve and Loch Luna Game Reserve from those specified
in Clause 2.
6.2.1 Chowilla Game Reserve
The specified species in Clause 1 may only be taken in Chowilla Game Reserve between sunrise and sunset on the
following specified open season dates:
• Saturday 21 March 2026
• Sunday 22 March 2026
• Saturday 2 May 2026
• Sunday 3 May 2026
• Saturday 16 May 2026
• Sunday 17 May 2026
• Saturday 30 May 2026
• Sunday 31 may 2026
• Saturday 13 June 2026
• Sunday 14 June 2026
• Saturday 27 June 2026
• Sunday 28 June 2026
6.2.2 Loch Luna Game Reserve
The specified species in Clause 1 may only be taken in Loch Luna Game Reserve between sunrise and sunset on the
following specified open season dates:
• Saturday 21 March 2026
• Sunday 22 March 2026
• Saturday 28 March 2026
• Sunday 29 March 2026
• Saturday 2 May 2026
• Sunday 3 May 2026
• Saturday 9 May 2026
• Sunday 10 May 2026
• Saturday 16 May 2026
• Sunday 17 May 2026
• Saturday 30 May 2026
No. 3 p. 54 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE 15 January 2026
• Sunday 31 may 2026
• Saturday 13 June 2026
• Sunday 14 June 2026
• Saturday 20 June 2026
• Sunday 21 June 2026
• Saturday 27 June 2026
• Sunday 28 June 2026
6.3 Area restrictions are imposed for the open season in relation to the specified species of protected animal listed in Clause 1 in
game reserves as follows:
6.3.1 Chowilla Game Reserve
The open season applies to the whole reserve, subject to the following exclusions:
(a) for safety reasons, all of the area within a 500 metre radius centred upon the Chowilla Homestead, shearing shed,
Lock 6 on the River Murray, the Chowilla Creek Regulator, Pipeclay Weir, Slaney Weir and Coombool Outstation
(homestead) including any portion of creeks or waterbodies within 500 metres of these sites.
(b) For safety reasons, all areas within a 500 metre buffer zone of planned construction site zones and access tracks.
Public entry into this zone is prohibited (including waterways within construction zone).
6.3.2 Loch Luna Game Reserve
The open season applies to all creeks and associated backwaters of the reserve, subject to the following exclusions:
(a) a 500 metre radius of any house or outbuilding, and within 300 metres of any road or bridge; and
(b) for safety reasons, the open season does not apply to all of the area within 500 metres radius of the homestead of
Section 706 McIntosh Division Hundred of Cobdogla Irrigation Area.
6.3.3 Tolderol Game Reserve
The open season applies to the whole reserve, subject to the following exclusions:
(a) the area of Tolderol Game Reserve being the land and water west of a line commencing at E 332052, N 6084977,
south to E 332014, N 6083738, and north of the southernmost track east of this line. This encompasses all areas
commonly referred to as “the bays”.
6.3.4 Bucks Lake Game Reserve, Currency Creek Game Reserve, Lake Robe Game Reserve, Mud Islands Game Reserve and
Poocher Swamp Game Reserve
(a) The open season applies to the whole of each reserve.
7. 2026 Hunting Survey
7.1 Pursuant to Regulation 9 of the National Parks and Wildlife (Hunting) Regulations 2011 all duck hunting permit holders are
required to complete and lodge a duck hunting survey in accordance with the instructions specified in the survey form supplied
with their duck hunting permit.
Dated: 7 January 2026
HON LUCY HOOD MP
Minister for Climate, Environment and Water
NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE ACT 1972
Open Season for the Taking of Specified Species of Protected Animals—Stubble Quail
Pursuant to Section 52 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, I, Hon Lucy Hood MP, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water,
being the Minister for the Crown to whom the administration of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 is for the time being committed,
declare an open season for the taking of stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) as set out in this notice.
1. Open Season Dates and Times
Subject to other provisions of this notice, the open season for the taking of stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) will start on Saturday,
25 April 2026 and end on Sunday, 2 August 2026 inclusive. Stubble quail may only be taken in the period between sunrise and sunset
on any given day of the open season.
2. Prohibition Against Taking Eggs
A person shall not take stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) eggs during the open season.
3. Bag Limit
On any day of the open season, a person shall not take more than fifteen (15) stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis).
4 Area of the State
The open season in relation to stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) applies to the whole of South Australia excluding:
4.1 all reserves constituted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972; and
4.2 all sanctuaries established under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972; and
4.3 all wilderness protection areas and all wilderness protection zones constituted under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992; and
4.4 all sanctuary zones within any marine park established under the Marine Parks Act 2007.
5 2026 Hunting Survey
Pursuant to Regulation 9 of the National Parks and Wildlife (Hunting) Regulations 2011 all quail hunting permit holders are required
to complete and lodge a quail hunting survey in accordance with the instructions specified in the survey form supplied with their quail
hunting permit.
Dated: 7 January 2026
HON LUCY HOOD MP
Minister for Climate, Environment and Water