ANKENY – On December 6, 2019, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources received an anonymous tip about a man shooting trumpeter swans at Paul Errington Marsh, just east of Ankeny.
A hunter alerted authorities of a man shooting trumpeter swans at the marsh. The hunter later heard three shots fired and then saw three swans flopping in the water, as well as other swans flying over.
DNR Conservation Officer Dustin Eighmy arrived on scene a short time later and witnessed the man shoot a trumpeter swan. As Conservation Officer Eighmy was approaching the man, the man shot at another swan. He also witnessed three swans in a pile near the man, as well as the swan he had just killed and two others in the marsh that the man could not retrieve. When questioned, the man claimed he thought the swans were geese.
Loai Abdulal, 28, of Ankeny, is charged with six counts of illegal taking of a non-protected game and one count for an unplugged shotgun. A DNR conservation officer seized his shotgun. The man had shot six trumpeter swans, with five of them being young swans. If convicted, the man will face a $1,500 civil penalty per trumpeter swan.
“Sadly, this isn’t uncommon lately, we’ve seen this happening more frequently so it’s very important that all hunters identify their target before pulling the trigger,” said DNR Conservation Officer Dustin Eighmy. “We’re very thankful that a hunter knew to call to alert us of this poaching incident in a very timely manner.”
27 thoughts on “Man charged with illegal hunting after killing 6 trumpeter swans in Iowa”
How surprising that the name of the “hunter” is Loai Abdulal.
There are states where they have seasons to shoot swans. I’d love to shoot swans legally. Imagine the meat on that thing. Plus a mounted one would make quite a display. Also some states whither crane seasons. The meat looks amazing.
Which states allow the shooting of trumpeter swans.
He didnt care. There are groups of Hmong hunters from iowa that absolutley go over their limit on squirrels and put it on YouTube. Not that anyone cares about them but it’s still breaking hunting regs.
If you see these guys anywhere in the woods, don’t turn your back on them.
A few years ago one of them used an assault rifle to execute a whole family who approched him – unarmed – and asked him not to please not hunt on their land.
Yeah, after that the Red Star (aka The Minneapolis Star Tribune) did story after story on racial discrimination against Hmongs and how the REAL criminals were native Minnesotans in general (I.e the descendants of the Scandinavians who created Minnesota – not the cannibals who roamed around there prior to that) and, of course, the murdered family themselves.
What it would take like three minutes to show the silhouette of a duck, a goose, and a swan in a class.
If you dont automatically know the difference between an duck and a swan you shouldnt be out in the field with a firearm…. because you’re a fvckin retard.
https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds
It is up to the hunter to have the knowledge of what he/she is shooting at. Not knowing is akin to driving without knowing the rules of the road.
“Does a hunter safety class include migratory game bird identification?” There is NO REASON for it to. read above.
Carmen, please push your agenda elsewhere, in a topic that is at least similar to it.
“According to the release, (Officer) Eighmy said incidents like this aren’t uncommon and warns hunters to identify the animal before pulling the trigger.”
You really think he deserves death? Maybe, just maybe, he made a mistake. But, of course, his name isn’t Bob White so he must be punished.
What is the difference shot by a poacher. Chopped up by a windmill. Any large electric power producers being arrested?
Hey Einstein, that device you are using to make comments…it runs on electricity that originated somewhere.. Would you prefer coal-fired power? Nuclear?
Nothing wrong with natural gas.
Nothing wrong with coal, nuclear or wind, they are cheaper for the consumer.
Cost per KW/h:
Nuclear-3.5¢
Coal–4.1¢
Wind–4.3¢
Gas—5.2¢
Solar-7.7¢
But consider that coal and nuclear are long cycle facilities compared to the short cycle wind and natural gas plants
I am the guy that the power company pays to ‘clean up’ the blade kills under the wind generators. Used to be..truckloads of dead birds under the killer fans. But now,every year, my job gets easier and easier, because the generators have pretty well decimated the bird population across the country. There are so few birds left, that I may soon be out of a job. Please,please people..turn off those unnecessary Christmas lights and those stupid toaster ovens.
Where exactly have you had to clean up the birds.
Focus, you idiot.
Does a hunter safety class include migratory game bird identification? If not it should and if it does not much of an excuse. Then that is assuming the person had a hunting license.
Hunters safety classes are about exactly that HUNTERS SAFETY. It is up to the hunter to know what they are shooting at, just like it is up to a driver to know the rules of the road. For reference, took less than 1 minute to find this: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds there is all the information needed.
Stick that gun up his ass and pull the trigger.
Fine him the max permissible by law, confiscate everything he had while (hunting?) and then send his ass back to wherever he came from.
Agreed! This makes my heart hurt!
I know what you mean, I feel the same way about abortion. Those poor swans and babies never had a chance. So sad.
What ?? Abortions are wrong too, but why are you bringing that up?
Because that makes my heart hurt too. Thanks for understanding.
he/she was on a different bandwagon, fell off and hit his/her head, and cant find their way back.