History of Swan Hunting
In the fall of 1962, Utah became the first state where tundra swans could be legally hunted since the enactment of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Utah initially issued 1,000 permits and interest in hunting swans has subsequently grown. Swan hunting was first authorized in parts of Nevada in 1969, the Pacific Flyway portion of Montana in 1970, and Alaska in 1988. In general, participation in swan hunting has been high; permit hunts in Pacific Flyway states rarely have been undersubscribed. Nationwide, swan hunting has expanded with additional seasons for Eastern Population tundra swans (Central Flyway portion of Montana 1983, North Carolina 1984, North Dakota and Virginia 1988, South Dakota 1990, and a standing authorization for New Jersey).
