The SSAA Victoria Podcast

In Episode 11 of the SSAA Victoria Podcast, Barry Howlett is joined by co-hosts David Laird and Daryl Snowdon, along with special guest Simon Toop, Director of Strategy and Research at the Game Management Authority.

Simon has spent years working at the intersection of wildlife science, hunting policy and game management, and in this episode, we take a deep dive into the science behind Victoria’s duck season.

Before that, the team runs through what’s happening around the traps, including the Ken Lay Rapid Review of Victoria’s firearm laws, issues with Wild Dog baiting, our ongoing case for a proper deer management strategy for Victoria, the need for a Hunters for the Hungry program for Victoria, and update on the Game Changing huts trial and a report on the awesome Mansfield Hunting & Fishing Expo. 

The main discussion focuses on how duck season is actually set in Victoria, including the adaptive harvest management (AHM) system used to determine season length and bag limits based on environmental conditions and waterfowl populations. READ MORE ABOUT AHM

Simon also explains the work of the Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan (WWRAP) and the collaboration between hunters, scientists and government to reduce wounding rates through improved hunting practices. READ THE WATERFOWL WOUNDING REDUCTION ACTION PLAN

The episode finishes with a look at current and future game research projects in Victoria, including deer movement studies, hog deer genetics and the growing need for robust, evidence-based wildlife management. CHECK OUT SOME COOL DUCK RESEARCH

It’s a wide-ranging conversation that explores how science, hunting and policy come together in Victoria’s game management system.

Join the SSAA Victoria team as we examine the policy responses following the Bondi attack and explore how Victoria's evidence-based review process can deliver effective firearms regulation.

We discuss the rushed NSW legislative changes, the federal government's responses, and why Victoria's methodical approach under Ken Lay may offer a better path to public safety outcomes that respect both community concerns and evidence-based policy.

Explainer of the National changes with SSAA National CEO Tom Kenyon https://youtu.be/2ymIe8eVyFg?si=EbYQGUE5Vfutv2my

Details of the National Firearms Register https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/national-firearms-register

Join SSAA Victoria for a deep dive into the biggest moments of 2025 — the wins, the setbacks, the politics, and the hard work behind the scenes — as we look ahead to a massive year in 2026. In this episode, we run through a huge year for Victorian hunting and shooting, covering everything from public land wins to animal rights activism and the escalating push toward evidence-based policy.

Steve Hill from Hunters4Hope joins the team to share an inspiring story of community, conservation, and giving back.

In just a few short years, Hunters4Hope, based in regional New Zealand, has grown into a powerhouse of grassroots impact, set to donate over 12,500 kg of wild-shot venison this year alone. That’s more than 100,000 meals going to food charities and families in need.

Driven entirely by volunteers, Hunters4Hope relies on public donations to keep doing its essential work. If you'd like to support the cause, visit: www.hunters4hope.com/donate

More episode details and links on the SSAA Victoria website.

Neal Finch is an Environmental Scientist and a lifelong hunter with a long and rich association with the SSAA.

Neal has hands-on experience in hunter-centred wildlife research and worked for the Queensland Government for many years on its commercial kangaroo management program. He is currently the Executive Officer of the Australian Wild Game Industry Council.

In 2024, Neal travelled to Europe on a Churchill Fellowship to explore the wild game harvesting industry in Europe, specifically how it is regulated and the relationship between animal welfare organisations and the wild game industry. For more information on the Churchill Fellowship, go to https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/neal-finch-qld-2024/