THE state government has announced a full duck and quail season for 2012, giving hunters almost three months to shoot the birds, but angering animal rights groups.Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh made the announcement while visiting the Big Reedy Lagoon state game reserve yesterday, where he said game bird populations were breeding in great numbers following the drought.But the move has outraged animal rights organisations, who say the recreational duck hunting season should be abolished altogether.“It saddens me that they’ve extended the season and we hope our ducks are not laying there injured and unattended,” said Donna Zabinskas, head of BADGER Wildlife Rescue.“It’s not something that we like to see happen and hope that shooters are following the rules.“Last season we had a number of ducks with pellet wounds imbedded in their wings and bodies. The RSPCA deemed the government’s decision to be “irresponsible, naive and outdated with community views”.“The decision to go ahead with a duck shooting season in 2012 is biased, self serving and not made based on a balanced argument,” RSPCA Victoria president Dr Hugh Wirth said.“Year after year, shooting organisations and clubs are given the opportunity to pledge their case in lengthy consultation periods with the government.“No such consultation is afforded to animal welfare organisations or the majority of the community which oppose this barbaric sport.”The Coalition Against Duck Shooting said the move by the government went against prior statements against animal cruelty.“For many years the government’s own Animal Welfare Advisory Committee has recommended a ban on duck shooting because of cruelty,” campaign director Laurie Levy said. The Courier contacted a number of shooting and hunting stores in Ballarat yesterday, but all declined to comment.The 2012 duck hunting season will run from March 17 until June 11, while the quail hunting period will take place between April 7 and June 30.