In Minnesota a Mute Swan is unprotected and can be taken at any time, including using lights and rifles. Article in the paper there has been a pair up the North Shore (Lake Superior) and panick is in the air! Last pair there was in the 1970s.

We also now have a tremendous population of Trumpeter Swans (both summer & winter residents) and Tundra Swans (migrators). They are easy to tell from the Mute, but extremely difficult from each other unless they vocalize. That speck of color and beak "V" is great in a spotting scope at the municipal park, not so much in a duckboat. I hope they open a season, even if token $25 permit, one per person.