The second year of swan hunting in Northern Idaho will be a controlled hunt. The Fish and Game Commission voted to run a controlled hunt drawing for 50 swan tags at its July meeting.
Updates for the Second Season
The first swan hunt took place during the fall of 2020. Hunters could get one of the 50 swan tags on a first-come, first-served basis. Tags for the 2020 hunt sold out almost immediately, leading to some frustration among residents. This year, the commission opted for a drawing to avoid the same issue.
The second swan hunt is experimental and will be evaluated. After three years, the Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will review the results and issue an opinion. If approved, the swan hunt will become an annual season for northern Idaho game harvesters.
Application Details
The application period runs August 5-15, which is the same time as the state’s second big game controlled hunt period. Tags are available for non-residents of Idaho but are restricted to only 10% of tags. Interested hunters with a valid 2021 Idaho hunting license can apply for swan tags at any Fish and Game Office or any other license vendor.
Individuals can apply online or by phone for an additional fee for credit card processing. Group hunters should know only two hunters can be submitted in an application.
The swan tag application fee is $14.75 for non-residents and $6.25 for residents of Idaho. If successful in the drawing, tags are $74.25 for non-residents and $22.75 for residents. Hunters are limited to one tag per person with a daily bag limit of one.
Hunt Information
The second swan hunt season will run from October 19 through December 1. The hunt is set to take place in northern Idaho in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties. Before heading out on the hunt, Idaho’s Fish and Game Commission recommends taking the Swan Orientation Course to learn more about swan identification and hunting requirements.
Harvested swans must be presented within three days for a mandatory check and report. You can complete this at a regional office or check station.
