Six seasoned Manitoba hunters and wildlife experts have formed a coalition to reject proposed hunting seasons for tundra swans and mourning doves. They call on the public to join their opposition during the ongoing consultation.

Environment and Climate Change Canada proposes amendments to migratory bird regulations, establishing seasons for these species across the Prairies. Manitoba could see a tundra swan hunt launch in 2028, issuing 400 permits annually to residents.

Trumpeter Swan Misidentification Risks

Opponents highlight dangers of confusing tundra swans with protected trumpeter swans, which remain off-limits throughout North America. The species appear nearly identical except for subtle size and bill marking differences.

Ted Muir, a veteran waterfowl hunter and former provincial wildlife educator, warns, “The fear is that they will mix in with the tundra swans, which are smaller but almost impossible to distinguish during the hunting season.”

“It’s counterproductive, unnecessary and unwarranted—it’s just completely wrong,” Muir adds.

Trumpeter swans once thrived across central Canada and the northwestern U.S. but faced near extinction during the fur trade era due to demand for their feathers and skins. Over a century of protections has spurred recovery, including recent expansion into Manitoba.

The Canadian Wildlife Service projects roughly three incidental trumpeter swan deaths yearly if Manitoba issues 400 tundra swan permits. Distinguishing the birds falls to hunters themselves.

Muir deems the gamble unacceptable: “Most people won’t know the difference until the bird is on the ground and it’s too late.” The group backs Manitoba’s hunting traditions and local businesses but insists on public advocacy, such as contacting politicians, to block the plans.

Mourning Dove Hunt Debated

The federal plan sets a daily bag limit of 15 mourning doves and possession limit of 45 across the Prairie provinces. Surveys counted over 2.3 million in Manitoba last fall, marking one of North America’s largest game bird populations.

James Duncan, a white-tailed deer hunter and retired director of Manitoba’s wildlife and fisheries branch, challenges the merit: “I’m just questioning the ability of anyone—hunters or non-hunters—to rapidly make a decision that might result in bycatch or mistaken identity.”

Duncan fears damage to hunters’ public image, as many view mourning doves as admired songbirds at feeders in cities and rural areas alike. He points to pressing threats like habitat loss, with a 2024 report showing 36 percent of Canadian bird species declining since 1970.

Government and Group Stances

Manitoba Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie notes the proposals remain in early development, urging residents to submit feedback for a well-informed federal choice.

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation, representing 15,000 hunters, endorses sustainable expansion of licensed hunts while honoring personal decisions in outdoor pursuits.

Even without these seasons, Manitoba offers abundant migratory bird hunting, including robust duck and goose populations sustained by waterfowl hunters’ habitat investments.