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Know Your Quarry -- Don't Shoot a Swan!



While hunting snow geese be sure of your target before you shoot.

Don't Shoot a Swan!
Trumpeter Swan
(Source: Waterfowl Identification in the Central Flyway)


Swans are much larger and longer than snow geese.  Snow geese have a 3-4 foot wing span in contrast to the 6-8 foot wing span of swans.  The wings of swans are entirely white and their necks are long.  The small-bodied snow geese have black wing tips and short necks.  Juvenile swans may appear gray as do juvenile snow geese.  Careful attention to body size and observation of black wing tips will help you tell the difference. 

Snow geese are legal game.
Adult Snow Goose (White Phase)
(Source: Waterfowl Identification in the Central Flyway)

Test your identification skills using the photos below.
(Holding your pointer over the photo will reveal the species pictured.)

Snows in FlightPair of Trumpeter Swans

Juvenile Trumpeter SwanA pair of Snow Geese

Large group of Snow Geese

White Pelicans (notice the position of the neck)

Snow Goose (If Uncertain Don't Shoot!)



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Last Update April 2001
 

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