On a cool fall morning in October 2023 eager duck hunters were set up in blinds along the bank of the Snake River at Duck Point near American Falls. Suddenly multiple gunshots were heard by several hunting groups, drawing attention on a slow morning. Multiple witnesses watched two tundra swans fly from where the shots were heard, possibly spooked? Only to watch one of the swans fall heavy from the sky. The other swan circled above the now lifeless swan before leaving the area. The witnessing hunters continued watching and saw the shooters now shooting at double- crested cormorants. The witnessing hunters worked together and decided to call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline to report what they had seen. While waiting for a Fish and Game Conservation Officer to arrive, the witnesses discreetly took photos of the vehicle the shooters left in. When two Fish and Game Conservation Officers arrived at the scene, they recovered the tundra swan that had been shot and left to waste. Later with the help of a canine officer’s nose they recovered a double-crested cormorant that had also been shot and left to waste. Upon further investigation the two suspects were found and they admitted to shooting both birds and leaving them. Each suspect was cited for taking/killing a tundra swan during closed-season, failing to retrieve the tundra swan, and taking a migratory bird contrary to federal regulations: double-crested cormorant. The suspects worked out a plea agreement and are required to complete a hunter’s safety course and pay restitution to Idaho Fish and Game. If you witness wildlife violations please call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, or report online at idfg.idaho.gov/poacher. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a monetary reward for providing information that leads to a citation.
