tundra swan seasons shutdown early

The tundra swan season has been shutdown early for the last 3 seasons due to hunters shooting to many trumpeter swans in Utah. Utah had required hunters to take a test before they could hunt tundra swans and that will now be going to a yearly requirement. I took the test and to be honest it is a joke. Doesn't represent how you would actually see swans when hunting and the information provided for each question gives you the answer. If anything this shows hunters cannot identify trumpeter swans from tundra swans under hunting conditions and anyone who is a true waterfowl hunter will understand why without me providing an explanation. Idaho has recognized this and is going to limit areas of hunting to where trumpeters swans would likely not be encountered. It goes to show you probably shouldn't hunt tundra swans where there are populations of trumpeter swans. Utah is now going to try and figure out which trumpeter swans are getting shot, the reason being the rocky mountain populaion which is around 11 000 birds mostly coming out of Canada. Part of that population is non-migratory trumpeters and is around 800-1100 birds depending on which numbers you want to go with. Of these birds they are broken down in three groups. The one group as of July 13 2020 only 27 birds where counted in yellowstone national park. Not doing so well that part of the populatio

Currently ont. populations of trumpeter swans is 1500- 2000 birds. Not many in my opinion. Most of those birds who don't stay in ont are not seen again.

Hello Honker 220,

I would like to thank you for bringing this to our attention however there are a few salient points to consider regarding the incidental Trumpeter Swan harvest.

There is currently a "General Swan Season" in Montana, Nevada and Utah in which a holder of a swan tag may legally harvest either a Trumpeter Swan or a Tundra Swan. The season is however directed towards the harvesting of birds from the Western Population of Tundra Swans with the "incidental harvest" (accidental harvest) of a Trumpeter Swan being heavily discouraged through the Swan Hunter Orientation Course which I have taken.

Furthermore the Trumpeter Swan "incidental harvest" in both Nevada and Utah is currently limited to only five (5) birds before the "General Swan Season" in that state is closed. Montana does not have a Trumpeter Swan "incidental harvest" limit but its "incidental harvest" is closely monitored at this time. It would be interesting to know how many of those Trumpeter Swans were "deliberately harvested" rather than by an error in identification ... something to consider.

I have previously proposed several options to ensure that the risk of an "incidental harvest" (accidental harvest) of a Tumpeter Swan is kept to a minimum.

Jerome

Starting with the 2019 season the US fish and wildlife service set the incidental harvest limit to 20 in Utah. Every year since then hunters in Utah have shot 20 trumpeters. Before the 2019 season it was 10 . This was done so hunters would not be charged for mistakenly shooting a trumpeter because they recognize it is hard to tell them apart under hunting conditions. There was a studies in the 90's were over a 4 year period where 38 trumpeters were shot by hunters and the hunters reported they thought they were tundra swans. But some are probably deliberately shot by hunters for various reasons , some reasons being they paid for a tag so there going to shoot a swan to other reasons like they had a neck collar. However biologist believe it has more to do with more trumpeters being in the area and being mixed in with the more numerous tundra swans and hunters can't tell the difference when hunting them. But again you probably shouldn't hunt tundra swans were there are populations of trumpeter swans.

And now for a fun fact. When Minnesota first released in 1980 it first 19 free flying trumpeter swans , 9 of them got shot.

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Originally Posted by Buddy Boy

Hello Honker 220,

I would like to thank you for bringing this to our attention however there are a few salient points to consider regarding the incidental Trumpeter Swan harvest.

There is currently a "General Swan Season" in Montana, Nevada and Utah in which a holder of a swan tag may legally harvest either a Trumpeter Swan or a Tundra Swan. The season is however directed towards the harvesting of birds from the Western Population of Tundra Swans with the "incidental harvest" (accidental harvest) of a Trumpeter Swan being heavily discouraged through the Swan Hunter Orientation Course which I have taken.

Furthermore the Trumpeter Swan "incidental harvest" in both Nevada and Utah is currently limited to only five (5) birds before the "General Swan Season" in that state is closed. Montana does not have a Trumpeter Swan "incidental harvest" limit but its "incidental harvest" is closely monitored at this time. It would be interesting to know how many of those Trumpeter Swans were "deliberately harvested" rather than by an error in identification ... something to consider.

I have previously proposed several options to ensure that the risk of an "incidental harvest" (accidental harvest) of a Tumpeter Swan is kept to a minimum.

Jerome

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by honker220

Starting with the 2019 season the US fish and wildlife service set the incidental harvest limit to 20 in Utah. Every year since then hunters in Utah have shot 20 trumpeters. Before the 2019 season it was 10 . This was done so hunters would not be charged for mistakenly shooting a trumpeter because they recognize it is hard to tell them apart under hunting conditions. There was a studies in the 90's were over a 4 year period where 38 trumpeters were shot by hunters and the hunters reported they thought they were tundra swans. But some are probably deliberately shot by hunters for various reasons , some reasons being they paid for a tag so there going to shoot a swan to other reasons like they had a neck collar. However biologist believe it has more to do with more trumpeters being in the area and being mixed in with the more numerous tundra swans and hunters can't tell the difference when hunting them. But again you probably shouldn't hunt tundra swans were there are populations of trumpeter swans.

And now for a fun fact. When Minnesota first released in 1980 it first 19 free flying trumpeter swans , 9 of them got shot.

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Interesting portraying of facts. Hard to know which side is being honest or deceptive.

Hello Finsfurfeathers,

I believe that Honker 220 obviously has more recent information than I have been able to review so I believe that neither of us is being deceptive.

I reviewed the Management Plan for the Western Population of Tundra Swans (updated in 2017) last fall (2021) and I based my comments accordingly since I had no further (recent) information ... the incidental Trumpeter Swan harvest for both Nevada and Utah was five (5) at that time.

I would appreciate if Honker 220 could contact me by e-mail and let me know his/her academic background and his/her source since he/she appears to be well informed regarding this topic. My e-mail address is "[email protected]" without the quotes.

I am aware of that incidental harvest study (done several years ago) with most of the Trumpeter Swans being harvested in Montana with no incidental harvest limit.

Jerome

Hello Finsfurfeathers,

I did not receive a response from Honker 220 so I searched the internet for "Tundra Swan Season Closure" and found a State of Utah wildlife bulletin stating the closure in November of 2021 for the third consecutive year.

The wildlife bulletin also confirmed that the incidental Trumpeter Swan harvest for Utah was increased to 20 birds in 2019. I read that all Swan Hunters will now have to requalify on a yearly basis before applying for a swan tag.

Jerome

For the 4th year in a row the swan season has been shutdown in Utah as too many trumpeter swans have been shot. I guess a yearly test and not being allowed another tag for 5 years did not stop hunters from shooting too many trumpeters. Again not a good idea to hunt tundra swans in areas where there are trumpeter swans.

Hello Honker 220,

I thank you for posting this update regarding the incidental harvest of Trumpeter Swans during the "General Swan Season" in Utah.

It would appear (unfortunately) that these waterfowlers may be taking advantage of deliberately harvesting a Trumpeter Swan during their "General Swan Season" although this was certainly not the intent or reason for having a "General Swan Season" in the western states.

I would like to encourage you to suggest any ideas that may help in limiting (not eliminating) the risk of an incidental harvest of a Trumpeter Swan during a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Ontario since it is only a matter of when not if such a season is eventually implemented in this province.

We could implement a more advanced mandatory "swan identification course" for all waterfowlers wishing to participate in a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in this province. I am willing to fully finance the development of such a course and Delta Waterfowl is quite capable of doing this at this time.

I have also suggested that "No Swan Hunt Zones" could be designated within this province where the current Trumpeter Swan population may significantly increase the risk of an incidental harvest of a Trumpeter Swan. The corollary to this would be to have specific zones where Tundra Swans could be harvested.

It would be best if interested parties regarding this issue could accommodate the concerns of others while proceeding with the implementation of such a season.

Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.

Hello Guys,

The State of Utah has decided to issue only Tundra Swan tags this year after having closed their General Swan Season early over the past four (4) hunting seasons after the limit of twenty (20) Trumpeter Swans had been harvested in that particular state.

There has been a General Swan Season in Montana, Nevada and Utah for over twenty (20) years and it is unforntunate that a few waterfowl hunters obviously had decided to deliberately harvest a Trumpeter Swan with their tag while the provision for a General Swan Season was to account for an incidental (not a deliberate) harvest of a Trumpeter Swan.

The State of Montana and the State of Nevada have not had a similar issue with a General Swan Season in the past ... as I understand.

Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.