Trumpeter Swan Shot

[blake]

News!

From the Iowa DNR:

Trumpeter Swan Shot in Clinton County


GOOSE LAKE, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking the public for help to identify the person or persons responsible for shooting a trumpeter swan on or before Nov. 15, near the Goose Lake Wildlife Area, in Clinton County.


On Nov. 15, a trumpeter swan was found walking along Hwy. 136 west of the town of Goose Lake and near the Goose Lake Wildlife Area. Initially, the swan was believed to have hit a power line, but x-rays revealed pellets in the trumpeter's wing. The swan is in the process of getting to a wildlife rehabilitator but its long term prognosis is not clear.


"We've had swan shootings at Goose Lake in the past," said Luke Webinger, conservation officer for Clinton County. "At the very least, the swan will never fly again. This large female swan was hatched in 2000 here in Clinton County and was seen flying in and around the area over the last nine years. What we need is the public's help with any information on this shooting."


Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward either by calling Webinger at 563-357-1078 or by calling the Turn-in-Poachers hotline at 1-800-532-2020. Callers may remain anonymous. Callers may be eligible for a reward through the TIP program.


In addition to any citations and fines, shooting a trumpeter swan has the potential for $1,500 in liquidated damages.


TURN IN POACHERS!
1-800-532-2020

TIP

 

[Killer Miller]

As an avid waterfowler, it seems like a swan being shot in Iowa pops on the forums at least once or twice a year. It's amazing how ignorant some hunters are. Sometimes when these reports come up, the shooters claim they thought the swan was a snow goose. Give me a break. A snow will weigh around 6 or 7 pounds. A trumpeter swan if I'm not mistaken, normally weigh 20+ pounds. The size difference is major. There needs to be stiffer punishment for things like this. Shooting a swan, shooting a buck during the early shotgun doe season, shooting deer completely out of season. Guys that do things like this need to lose their hunting privelages for at least a year or two.

Us ethical hunters that pay all our tag/license fees and always hunt legally need to do our part and call in poachers if/when we see fowl play. Do you think these morons that poach and don't get caught are going to stop poaching? Hell no they're not, it'll probably get even worse. Have your CO's number in your cell phone and freakin' call him when you see something is wrong. Sorry, just venting a little bit. I've never hunted Goose Lake, but I know lots of guys hunt it. Therefore, chances are someone saw whoever shot this swan and obviously didn't call the poacher in. So he got away. What's next for him? Bald eagle?