Swans shot at Mcnary

[Fishnclifff]

 Men Fined For Shooting 4 Tundra Swans Near Tri-Cities
December 15, 2016 Andy Walgamott   

The shooting of several tundra swans near Tri-Cities early last month serves as a good reminder to know your target before you pull the trigger, as well as illustrates the strong partnership between hunters and fish and wildlife officers.

When the giant waterfowl were illegally killed early on Nov. 6 by a pair of middle-aged Western Washington men, nearby hunting parties at McNary National Wildlife Refuge by Burbank quickly called WDFW’s poaching hotline to report the incident.

Details were patched through to Sgt. Brian Fulton who contacted two federal wildlife officers, and the trio went to the blind and located four hidden tundra swans.

“They told us they’d shot some snow geese the day before and thought they were snows,” says USFWS Officer Hindman.

While that’s possible in the early light of a Columbia Basin morning, there’s also quite a bit of size difference between the two species, plus tundra swan necks are much longer than those of snow geese.

Hindman says he doesn’t believe the two men went out that morning to purposefully kill swans, but all the same, it’s a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to do

Both men were fined $560, which they’ve subsequently paid, he says.

Hindman says that the unit where the swans were shot is a draw hunt where hunters are given ground rules before going out. Information that tundras are in the area has been added to the spiel.

At least three other tundras have been shot here this season, but in this case waterfowlers saw something that wasn’t right and immediately called it in.

“The hunting community by and large doesn’t stand for these violations. It really makes our job easier,” Hindman says.

He adds that USFWS and WDFW have a good working relationship.

Though not open for harvest in Northwest states, limited tundra swan hunts occur in the Dakotas, Utah, North Carolina, Alaska and Montana.

Hindman says the four killed at McNary NWR will likely be mounted for display at the refuge’s visitor center.

[boneaddict]

Nice work by all parties except the idiots doing the shooting.  I'm glad they specified they were from Western Washington. Lol      I wonder if they are members here.

[Bob33]

Nice work by all parties except the idiots doing the shooting.  I'm glad they specified they were from Western Washington. Lol      I wonder if they are members here.

They must either be ______ _____s or members of the _______s.

[huntingfool7]

$560 seems cheap.  No mandatory court appearance on something like that?

[birddogdad]

agree, 560$ doesn't fit the crime.. state would have more invested in response than that!

[Wacenturion]

Geez.....how sad.  Got off cheap for sure.  Boy if you don't know the difference between a snow goose and a swan, you have no business hunting waterfowl....period.

[Stein]

They should have read the mute swan thread.


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[Fishnclifff]

I believe the 560 is only the state portion of it.
It is a fed. violation of the Mig. Act, so they may be looking at a fed. court appearance also.

[JODakota]

They did mess up, but I do feel the state should issue a lottery on tundras. They aren't endangered and plenty of states allow harvest. I'm not condoning in any way,  I do, however, feel there should be a season on them. Good work WDFW

[greenhead_killer]

This Is the same reason stuff up north (skagit) is becoming more difficult. Saying they thought they were snows is laughable. Those tundras are like a 747 going by. If you're that far off, time to hit the indentification books.

[huntingfool7]

They did mess up, but I do feel the state should issue a lottery on tundras. They aren't endangered and plenty of states allow harvest. I'm not condoning in any way,  I do, however, feel there should be a season on them. Good work WDFW

 
Nothing like having a tag in your pocket when Tundra Swans make a second pass

[constructeur]

They did mess up, but I do feel the state should issue a lottery on tundras. They aren't endangered and plenty of states allow harvest. I'm not condoning in any way,  I do, however, feel there should be a season on them. Good work WDFW

If we have people that shoot snows the day before and can't tell the difference in them and a swan the very next day, it sure doesn't make a good case for the rest of us that can identify the different swans.

[Fieldp66]

I could of bagged one yesterday outside of Fall City. It was bee Bopin' down the middle of the road near some farm land. I stopped when I got close to it and it waddled by. It stopped at the window to look at me eye to eye (or to check out it's beak in the mirror). I was in an SUV and taken back by how big they are up close. I thought some thing may have been wrong with it but I saw it take flight in the rear view mirror.

[Britt-dog]

$560.00 per person is nothing. Won't even pay the taxidermy bill on all four. you and I are now paying for that.

[huntingfool7]

They did mess up, but I do feel the state should issue a lottery on tundras. They aren't endangered and plenty of states allow harvest. I'm not condoning in any way,  I do, however, feel there should be a season on them. Good work WDFW

If we have people that shoot snows the day before and can't tell the difference in them and a swan the very next day, it sure doesn't make a good case for the rest of us that can identify the different swans.

I think the "I thought they were snows" is kinda like a drunk saying "he only had a couple".  Both come off pretty lame in front of a LEO.  It's not believable at shotgun range that a swan is honestly mistaken for a snow goose.