A Tundra Swan Season In Ontario

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Originally Posted by Dythbringer

A swan identification course?

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Only issue I see with that is the potential for cheating.

Jerome, would there be any provisions regarding age of the swans? While from a management perspective, I don't see an issue with harvest of (obvious) juveniles, I do think it would be bad PR.

As for the idea of a waterfowl ID course (outside the swan discussion), I think that is a conversation that should be had on another thread to avoid confusion on this one.

http://www.oodmag.com/community/show...249#post772249

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Originally Posted by Dead Ringer

Only issue I see with that is the potential for cheating.

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Agreed,

I am sure we all know 1 or 10 people that have never seen the online boater exam but hold a valid permit, and their buddy now holds a case of beer :)

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Originally Posted by blasted_saber

Why on earth are mute swans a protected species?

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I would think that it was from low numbers originally.
If those swans looked like turkey vultures, the majority of this conversation wouldn't be happening. Sad really.

You are a champion amongst hunters buddy boy. Congratulations and thank you.

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Originally Posted by Dead Ringer

Only issue I see with that is the potential for cheating.

Jerome, would there be any provisions regarding age of the swans? While from a management perspective, I don't see an issue with harvest of (obvious) juveniles, I do think it would be bad PR.

As for the idea of a waterfowl ID course (outside the swan discussion), I think that is a conversation that should be had on another thread to avoid confusion on this one.

http://www.oodmag.com/community/show...249#post772249

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I was confused about what GW's online course would refer to (hence why I asked him to clarify) because like you said the potential for cheating is too great for something like this. Practical experience is how hunters learn, getting information online removes that pratical experience from the equation. As I said in my previous post, because of the potential impact of mis-identification between trumpters and tundras, this course needs to be a classroom course with strict passing requirements.

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

I would think that it was from low numbers originally.

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They're an invasive species, and like many dominant invasives, they have quite an impact on native species. Pretty sure the regulation has nothing to do with the size of the population. When was the last time you saw someone saying "please sir, don't hurt the Phragmites"?

In my mind, it's all about how the public (non-hunters) view the harvesting of Mute Swans, let alone Swans in general. They're pretty white birds that they see in city parks.

I'd love to get the chance to shoot Mutes, I've had quite a few opportunities that I could have taken over the years if they were de-listed.

-Nick

The Mute thing goes back to our connection with the UK, and this country being an unworthy "colony" of Mother Britain and the Queen. There's the classic medieval castle moat, complete with lotus, and populated by a few pieces of white eye candy" ( it's never mentioned that they are the sole occupants of this moat, as they'd kill anything else that attempted to land in the moat!). No person can deny that they are beautiful birds to look at. Ontario was even presented with some Mutes, directly gifted by The Queen herself. They came directly from her Maj's Royal Keeper Of The Swans. There is even a pompt ceremony when The Keeper brings them indoors to be pampered for the winter, then the whole routine happens again in the spring. Since the whole thing is British, there's probably some sherry, or port, involved in the deal. If you Google it, I think you'll find that offspring from the gifted royal flock are still kept here in Ontario. You can't even sit down to wipe your backside without being exposed to the regal creatures (is it Delsey "tickets" that have the Mute logo?). I laugh every time I see this, as the classic beautiful Mute pose that is always portrayed is the cobb's aggression display, with the high-arched wings and fluffed-up feathers. If you see this, you better run, as the cobb is capable of breaking a grown man's arm. Some poor dude in a kayak was recently killed by one (beat the crap out of him and drowned him). If they ever do approve a cull, I'm not sure what they'd do with the carcasses. We tested some adult Mute breast meat at work with the fancy gas chromography equipment, and the heavy metals concentration in the two bird sample we had was off the chart. Combine that with the fact you may be eating a 25 year old bird. It would probably chew like a piece of old boot leather. The fall cygnets would prob. be edible. Good luck to CWS on getting a cull going. I can only imagine the politics that will be involved if/when this beautiful bird gets what's coming. I sincerely hope they do something quickly, before we have no resident breeding left in any of our marshes.

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

I would think that it was from low numbers originally.
If those swans looked like turkey vultures, the majority of this conversation wouldn't be happening. Sad really.

You are a champion amongst hunters buddy boy. Congratulations and thank you.

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Mute Swans are a totally invasive species to Canada.

Didn't know that.

I was on a hunt at Walpole island this past fall I couldn't believe the Mute swans flying around there could have easily seen 40 and probably could have shot 5 or so they didn't have much fear of hunters, I guess because no one ever shots at them. This was in early Oct but I assume those birds would be there most of the year that's a lot of unneeded competition for nesting ducks and geese. Kill em all

One of my favorite marshes which plays host to more things than I can name, appears to be slowly being overrun by Mutes. More and more every year.

What to do about it?
Well the same might be asked of Cormies. Lots of brick walls there to.