WILDLIFE CD-MUTE SWAN

HB 5309 amends Illinois' Wildlife Code to explicitly exclude mute swans (Cygnus olor) from the category of "migratory game birds" that receive legal protection under the law. This change means mute swans will no longer be covered by regulations that protect migratory waterfowl like ducks and geese, altering how they are managed under state wildlife law. The bill directly affects wildlife management practices and hunting regulations for mute swans in Illinois, removing their previous protected status. This is a technical classification change in the law, not a new hunting season or policy. The bill specifies the exclusion in Section 2.2 of the Wildlife Code.