Great Lakes Tribal Members Get 50-Duck Limit, Possible Swan Season

by
posted on September 8, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (59)

According to OutdoorNews.com, one of North America's most liberal waterfowl bag limits is afforded to the tribal members in the 1837 and 1842 treaty areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Duck hunting in these areas opened September 1 and closes Dec. 31; tribal members are permitted a daily bag limit of 50 ducks (any combination of species) and 20 geese.

Sound like a lot? Bear in mind that these are strictly subsistence hunts, and participation by Native Americans is actually quite low. In an interview by OutdoorNews.com, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission biologist Peter David said deer and moose generate much more interest.

"The short story is, the waterfowl stuff never has been highly participated in," he said.

David estimates that about 100 individuals participate and—despite the generous bag limit—most shoot about as many ducks as you or me, averaging two ducks daily.

However, there's an even rarer opportunity on the cusp of approval: OutdoorNews.com reports that David is "99 percent" certain a trumpeter swan season will be held in the 1837 and 1842 areas. It would begin Nov. 1 with a daily bag limit of two. The season would close Dec. 31 or once a quota of 10 trumpeters had been reached. Tribal members may also shoot two sandhill cranes daily.

“It will be a very limited harvest,” David told Outdoor News, adding that in the past two years only two cranes were killed each season. "... I would expect the harvest (of swans) to be the same."

Still, this is a special, potential opportunity. Non-tribal members haven't hunted trumpeters in many decades, due to the disastrous toll European settlers took on swan populations. Prior to the 1916 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, trumpeters were shot year-round for their meat and down—even their young were plucked from nests.

Tundra swans, on the other hand, are a rare but more common opportunity. Utah, Montana and Nevada offer seasons; only Virginia (600 permits) and North Carolina (5,000 permits) hunt them in the east.

Given these unique hunting regulations, I wonder if more tribal members will participate in 2014.

Latest

44 Mag HST LEDE
44 Mag HST LEDE

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.