A Tundra Swan Season In Ontario

[Dythbringer]

Dyrth, why draw the line there? Why not make it required for all waterfowl hunters?

Keep in mind I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

Hey Dead Ringer,

No problem about playing Devil's Advocate (I like to be his advocate from time to time as well) because by discussing a topic like this, we as hunters can make a solid and logical reasoning towards government officals (MNR provincially, CWS federally) to instute what we want to happen. If we go off with a half baked idea without having looked at it from all sides, government officals and anti-hunters will poke holes in our ideas and we will not advance our causes. Ok with that said....

Some waterfowlers should be taking an identification course, Jaycee's examples showed that. If you can't tell the difference between a blue heron and a goose, well, then I don't imagine any identification course in the world is going to help you. Would any us care to hazard a guess as to how many "white ducks" (seagulls) are killed every year despite not being a huntable species? We don't ask hunters to do an ID course because we trust that being adults, they will know how to identify what they are shooting at. I believe it is in the hunters course one of the questions you need to ask yourself before you pull the trigger is "Am I legally allowed to shoot this animal?" (perhaps someone who has recently taken the course can confirm this). However, because there is a fairly reasonable chance of identification mixup with a protected species, I think an identification course would be most prudent. I also think there should be a stringent conditions for passing for that course (for instance 85% or higher to pass). Opening up a hunt for the tundra species is special and I for one don't want guys like Jaycee used in his example to be out there blasting away at every swan which comes into range.

Dyth

[Dythbringer]

3) Dyth Bringer ... well I took the Utah "Swan Hunter Course" yesterday afternoon and I passed (100%) on the first attempt. It is a basic identification course but it is reasonable.

Note: Supporting your argument is the fact that when (not if) the Mute Swan is removed from the List of Protected Species you will not be required to take any identification course to shoot (not "harvest" as this is not a game bird) a Mute Swan in Canada. Although I have previously suggested this to Mr. J. Hughes (Head of Population Management, CWS) Dr. S. Petrie (Executive Director, LPW) told me (e-mail on file) that it will be up to the individual to be able to correctly identify a Mute Swan before shooting it ... just like a crow hunter cannot just shoot any bird that is black in colour.

Jerome,

I wouldn't want this course to be online. I would want this course to have a definate hands on approach where guys are taught how to actually distinguish the difference and it is hammered home if you have any doubts if the swans you are about to shoot are trumpters, you don't take the shot. While it would make it seem like we are treating the guys who would take the course as kids, in reality, most guys will have no experience identifying the differences between tundras and trumpters and any mistakes by swan hunters will be scrutinized to the fullest if something bad happened.

Dyth

[greatwhite]

Dyth, does anyone actually put on a waterfowl identification course??

I think something like that would be very useful.

[Dythbringer]

Dyth, does anyone actually put on a waterfowl identification course??

I think something like that would be very useful.

To be honest, I am not sure. When I took my hunter's education course back in '91 (I believe), I think we had a quick waterfowl section (the course's book even had a section about game animals in it) and I distinctly remember a point about being able to tell the difference between a black duck and a mallard (at the time I don't think you were allowed to harvest black ducks or you were only allowed one).

The thing about a waterfowl id course is you would have to make passing it a condition to purchase a migratory bird license. While guys like you who would probably take the course to gain knowledge to positively id waterfowl, there are more guys out there who wouldn't want to bother.

Dyth

[Dythbringer]

I stand corrected. It seems the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has a waterfowling ID course and it is a condition to get an access permit to select National Wildlife refugees and state lands open to waterfowling. And it seems to be free (probably only for NY state residents though).

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/92272.html

So I guess they are out there. I have never heard of one in Ontario though.

[bardern]

no more courses.

if you are taking your hunting license course fine, expand the ID part and for gods sake include the friken turkey course section at the same time.

if I have to take another course, and at the same time give someone another 75 bucks for nothing. I cant be bothered.

[Dythbringer]

no more courses.

if you are taking your hunting license course fine, expand the ID part and for gods sake include the friken turkey course section at the same time.

if I have to take another course, and at the same time give someone another 75 bucks for nothing. I cant be bothered.

Bowhunters hunting in Thunder Bay's city archery season had to take a course to qualify. Why should this be any different?

[greatwhite]

This could be something made to take online.

[blasted_saber]

Why on earth are mute swans a protected species?

[Dythbringer]

This could be something made to take online.

A swan identification course?