UPDATE: TWO duck protesters were fined about $9000 apiece after a case concluded in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court this week.

Dave Mould and Kelly Lachman were fined and convicted on a number of charges relating to duck season opening in 2010.

Charges included theft, harassing and hindering of shooters plus the use of indecent language.

Court costs were also awarded against the pair.

Meanwhile, social media savvy Animals Australia has now joined the RSPCA in asking members to vote in a poll being run by weekly times now.

The poll has galvanised two warring parties over duck hunting with thousands getting involved.

Both the RSPCA and Field and Game Australia are running campaigns for members to respond to this week's online survey.

Although the Victorian Government has already agreed to a 12-week duck hunting season this year, the fors and againsts remain as vocal as ever.

The gap is narrowing in the poll ''Should duck hunting be banned'' but most still say the season should continue.

Field and Game Australia are urging members through an email campaign to vote in the poll, saying the result is ``far closer than it should be''.

Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh last week gave the green light to the 2013 season.

Field and Game Australia chief executive Rod Drew has welcomed the full season announcement, saying it would boost the rural economy.

Animals Australia already has 248 "likes'' and more than 100 comments in its Facebook campaign.

"Of course it should be banned, all hunting should be,'' one member commented.

"Allowing it just gives idiots (some very drunk!) an opportunity to be sadistic. Not all are killed first shot, most are maimed and left to suffer.''

Another said: "Who are the idiots voting no . . . maybe we should try shooting one of them and then see how quickly they decide to say yes to the ban!''

The duck season will run from March 16 to June 10.