Swan Hunting Permit Applications accepted until Sept. 10

The chance to apply for a swan hunting permit is almost over. You can now apply for a 2009 Utah swan hunting permit at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/ . To get your application in the draw for permits, you must submit it no later than 11 p.m. on Sept. 10. If you need help applying, call (801) 538-4700 no later than 6 p.m. on Sept. 10.

Must complete swan course first

If you haven’t completed Utah’s one-time swan hunting orientation course, you must complete the course before you apply for a permit. The course is available at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/ . It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. The course must be taken only one time, so if you’ve already completed the course, you don’t need to take it again.

Two changes

Two changes await Utah’s swan hunters this year:

- If you apply for a swan permit, but you don’t draw one, you’ll receive a preference point. Your preference point will put you at the top of the list to receive a swan permit in 2010.

Also, if you won’t be hunting swans in 2009, you can still apply for a preference point for 2010. If you’d like to apply for preference point, make sure you submit your application at www.wildlife.utah.gov no later than 11 p.m. on Sept. 10.

- For the first time, up to four swan hunters can apply together as a group. For more information, see page 12 of the 2009 – 2010 Utah Waterfowl Guidebook. A draft copy of the guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks .

2,000 permits

A total of 2,000 permits will be available for this fall’s hunt. Last year, 4,347 hunters applied for the 2,000 swan permits that were available.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.