DAVENPORT – Two men have been charged after allegedly shooting two Trumpeter swans at the Princeton Wildlife Area in Scott County.
Levi Young, 25, of Davenport, and Kyle Munson, 25, of Eldridge, allegedly shot the two swans while waterfowl hunting, killing one and injuring the other. Attempts to capture the injured swan which was shot through a wing have so far been unsuccessful, but wildlife biologists for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will continue the effort to locate the bird to determine if it can rehabilitated.
Both Young and Munson were each charged with one count of unlawful taking of a protected game species and one count of attempted taking of a protected game species. Both also received two charges of abandoning the swans after they were shot. In addition to penalties associated with the charges, Young and Munson each face a civil penalty of $1,500 restitution for shooting the swans if convicted.
In addition to the charges, DNR law enforcement officers seized three shotguns, shotgun shells, shell casings, a boat, motor and trailer.
The incident took place shortly after 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The two were charged by the DNR on Sunday morning following an investigation.