POLL: Swans

[Bullkllr]

I'm pretty certain trumpeters are federally protected under the endangered species act.

Anyone know what % of the population here is tundras -vs trumpeters? As opposed to states that do have seasons on swans? I could see identification issues as a reason for us not to have a season (look at the whole dusky thing).

Still don't think I'd want to shoot one...

[Tealer]

I'm pretty certain trumpeters are federally protected under the endangered species act.

Anyone know what % of the population here is tundras -vs trumpeters? As opposed to states that do have seasons on swans? I could see identification issues as a reason for us not to have a season (look at the whole dusky thing).

Still don't think I'd want to shoot one...

I want one bad. Need one for the museum that I have made of my house.

[Special T]

I have No need or desire to hunt buffalo... Should there be no season?

[Houndhunter]

Im not a big waterfowl guy as there's no where to hunt by oly, but I've done a bit and its a blast. I'd like to shoot a swan, only because ive heard they taste great! Not a big deal to me but I would if I could

[huntindoc]

I would love to add one to the waterfowl collection.  Eventually will probably go to Montana or SC to get one (after the King Eider hunt...).  I would love to get all species. 

2 weeks ago I was jump shooting a pond in NE oregon-  I got a nice drake Widgeon, my daughters first duck was a hoodie, and my buddy got a hen shoveler and there were 4 swans on the pond, less than 10 yrds away and below me when I jumped the pond.  Very cool, and very tempting.  Beautiful to watch fly away.  BTW, there were at least 3 other species of ducks on that one small pond.  Pretty cool.  That was the first shovelor I've seen killed in Wallowa Co ever, and only the 3rd or 4th Hoodie in 20+ yrs of hunting

[Skagit_Hunter]

The prob in Sno, Skagit and Whatcon counties it the trumpeters and tundra fly together.
A swan season would be for tundras only. To many accidental trumpeters would be shot by gomers that can't tell the difference.

The anti backlash will be something that will end badly for hunters. Stupid look at me mounts, Is a poor excuse to ruin hunting in the long run.

[Tealer]

Stupid look at me mounts, Is a poor excuse to ruin hunting in the long run.

This is a crazy statement. They hunt swam in several states. Almost all of the birds end up on a wall. It hasn't stopped hunting in any state. I realize WA is full of tree hugging hippies, but I find it hard to believe a well run swan hunt would ruin hunting.

[Special T]

Set up for snows in a field this morning and decoyed in about 30-40 swans! If you use your goose flute and just lightly feather a warble  you can get them to answer you back.... And man do they make a hell of a thud when they land on the field!  It was actually pretty cool watching them work and land... right were we wanted the Snows to!

[Tealer]

Set up for snows in a field this morning and decoyed in about 30-40 swans! If you use your goose flute and just lightly feather a warble  you can get them to answer you back.... And man do they make a hell of a thud when they land on the field!  It was actually pretty cool watching them work and land... right were we wanted the Snows to!

You should hear the thud when they get shot. I have been on a few hunts were they were taken, never lucky enough for a tag.

[dreamunelk]

Yet, another nail in the coffin of our hunting heritage from the I want to kill em crowd.  Thanx guy's.

Perhaps some of you should take the time to see just how many swans there really are in Washington.  The population can not handle any hunting pressure, period!

[Special T]

Sorry, But history has proven that if you want to save a species all you have to do is make them hunt able, and people will be willing to spend the $$$ to get sustainable populations.

[dreamunelk]

Sorry, But history has proven that if you want to save a species all you have to do is make them hunt able, and people will be willing to spend the $$$ to get sustainable populations.

Close but, not quite correct.  History as it currently stands shows that no managed species has ever went extinct.  Pick up a current college level wildlife ecology book and you will find this is discussed well.  That is if it is a good well rounded book and not written buy a bunny hugger.  Swans are being managed by not allowing any hunting mortality at this time.  I remember when a few dozen swans showed up in Skagit county it was news worthy! 

Hunter are a very small percentage of the population.  The zeal to kill a swan buy some hunters will be intolerable to the remaining and further others anti hunting agenda.  When populations reach a point when human mortality is considered compensatory or is needed for additive mortality then it will be supported though scientific means.  This will at least make it more difficult for the antis to mount a defense. 

[Stilly bay]

Hunter are a very small percentage of the population.  The zeal to kill a swan buy some hunters will be intolerable to the remaining and further others anti hunting agenda.  When populations reach a point when human mortality is considered compensatory or is needed for additive mortality then it will be supported though scientific means.  This will at least make it more difficult for the antis to mount a defense.

Anti hunters would be the last thing I would worry about if swans were legal game over here. its the non hunters that are not against us that we need to be concerned about keeping, of which there are many more than Antis. If we lose them were toast.
we also need to focus on the next generation of non hunters and educate them so they can make up their own mind about hunting.
if letting all those pesky swans live unhunted is the part of the price to keep non hunters on our, side then so be it.

many of us are far too preoccupied by the perceived threat of anti hunters, mean while were letting public relations with the rest of the world go down the crapper. we need more guest speakers in schools and programs like hunters helping the hungry instead of wasting so much energy on a bunch of radicals that aren't taken seriously by the non hunting community anyway.