Joshua Gregori, 35, of Roland, was cited Tuesday morning for shooting a trumpeter swan east of Little Wall Lake, near Jewell. Gregori's fine totaled $195, was assessed $1,500 in liquidated damages for the swan, and his firearm was seized by the Department of Natural Resources.

Two waterfowl hunters witnessed the shooting at 7:30 a.m., and called the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department to report the incident. Deputies stopped Gregori and returned him to the scene where Conservation Officer Matt Bruner issued the ticket.

"There is really no excuse to shooting a trumpeter swan," Bruner said. Adult trumpeter swans are all white except for the black bill and feet.
"Besides the color, trumpeter swans have up to an 8 foot wingspan, weigh up to 35 pounds, have a very long neck and should not be mistaken for any geese or other waterfowl. Every waterfowl hunter should know their target and be able to identify all waterfowl," said Bruner.

The first of Iowa's Canada goose seasons runs through Oct. 4 for the north and south zones.