Swan Hunt
12-24-2009 | 03:39 PM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,420
Likes: 0
From: Where the ducks don't come no more
I didn't know there was a season either. We have lots of swans around here, but they are cared for like they were children. We even have some that are descended from a pair given as a gift to the city from the Queen of England! Needless to say, we don't hunt them. Every now and then someone will hurt one, or try to steal one, and I think the people around here put it on the same level as child molesters! However, I'd love to take one somewhere it's legal. Looks like a challenging hunt, and a good bit of meat!
The season in NC and in VA is done by a quota/lottery system. I know VA has 600 tags annually and I think that it may be the same # in NC, though I know that NC winters more swans than VA does. Our season in VA runs from Dec 1 to Jan 30. Again, you have to apply for and be selected for a tag, and be in possession of said tag while hunting.
Most importantly, these swans are tundra swans... not be confused with the mute or whistling varieties the queen keeps in her ponds.... although here in VA... if a mute comes by... its always in season and may be whackaged with much prejudice.
The success rate on being drawn for a tag here in VA is pretty high, I think I've only been skipped twice in about ten years.
