Proposed tundra swan hunting season in Prairie provinces met with concern

Hunters might soon get what they've been asking for—the opportunity to harvest mourning doves and tundra swans.

The federal government is proposing the creation of a tundra swan hunting season for Prairie provinces.

“We were requested by interested individuals and user groups that we assess the sustainability of a hunt in Alberta, and we have done that,” explained Garnet Raven, a wildlife biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

“At this point, it’s a notice of consideration for a hunt.”

The proposal would allow for an expected harvest of less than 10,000 for mourning doves, while 500 tundra swan permits would be issued to Alberta.

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Similar permits would also be issued in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

“Tundra swans are something that hunters are already encountering while they’re out there hunting other species, and some would like the opportunity to hunt them,” Raven said.

The Canadian Wildlife Service does expect deaths of some trumpeter swans, which are classified as a species of special concern.

Distinguishing the difference between tundra swans and trumpeter swans can be difficult.

“They will get mistaken, and they will get shot,” said David Duncan, a retired biologist.

“It happens in the U.S. It’s very hard to distinguish between the two species. The tundra swan is slightly smaller. [There are] some slight differences in the build of the face, but to any hunter, when a swan is flying over, you cannot tell the difference.”

Duncan worked for Canadian Wildlife Services and dealt with swans.

He is also a hunter but says he is against the proposed hunt.

Trumpeter swans were once considered a threatened species under the province’s Wildlife Act.

“Having this administrative burden for a swan season to appease a couple of hundred people – they’d only land a couple of hundred licences – It’s just not worth the effort,” Duncan said. “There [are] some people who want to shoot anything and everything.”

Elizabeth Anderson, a conservation biologist for the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association, says there are less than 10 pairs of trumpeter swans that breed in her area on an annual basis.

“We don’t want any of the birds here to be mistakenly taken out by a hunter,” she said.

The Canadian Wildlife Service is currently getting feedback from the public on mourning dove and tundra swan hunts.

The earliest the hunts could be instituted is 2028.

A statement sent to CTV News from Alberta’ Department of Foresty and Parks says:

“The Government of Alberta is aware of the federal government’s proposed amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations, including changes related to sandhill cranes, mourning doves, and tundra swans.

“Alberta supports science-based, sustainable wildlife management, including regulated hunting opportunities where they can be responsibly expanded.

“Any future adjustments would be informed by population data, conservation considerations, stakeholder input, and jurisdiction alignment. Alberta would support the proposed changes and will continue to work with our federal and provincial partners to make informed decisions”