A rare bird indeed

Cody Williams

Cody Williams

Well-known member
[font "Arial"]I was able to make good on a rare opportunity earlier this week, here in Utah we have permits for Tundra swans available in a limited draw and this year I finally drew one. We get quite a migration through here, and after a quick rattle can conversion of some old super magnum floater shells that a buddy gave me I was able to call one in close enough to knock down. My dog Cedar was a bit confused at first but made a great retrieve, I'm really excited to have been able to harvest such a cool bird! This one ended up weighing 17 pounds, that makes quite a splash coming down! We will have a roast Christmas swan to replace our traditional roast goose this year, can't wait to try it out![/font]
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[font "Arial"]PS-turns out that seared swan liver is um......edible. I'm usually not a big organ meat guy but I figured that I should take the opportunity to eat every bit of this bird that I could![/font]
 
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Good morning, Cody~


Congratulations! Your landscape must make every hunt truly memorable.



We do not hunt Tundras here in New York. I can clearly remember, though, a flock that landed in my rig once before shooting time - on Great South Bay in the 1980s. I belive think they were still called Whistling Swans back then. Their haunting calls will stay with me forever.


All the best,


SJS

 
That is one hefty bird, should make a great Christmas dinner.

Cedar has the "you only got one?" look on this face.
 
Congrats on a great bird, I've never roasted one but I'm sure it will be good. I like to make stews and soups out of the ones I've taken. I want to shoot one over the water sometime but have only shot them in the field and that makes a nice thud that would hurt if coming at you.
 
That is pretty exciting, we have a bunch of Trumpeters that breed at the new house which I love seeing, but no tags (for either Tundra or, obviously, Trumpeters). I'll have to look at the Utah draw odds for nonresidents - always happy to take anything Utah will give me. :).

If the roast comes out good, update with a photo, I'd love to see that.
 
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Congratulations on your swan and beautiful scenery. Feel free to show a picture of him all roasted up for Christmas. And let us know how it is table fare. I would like to shoot a swan someday...
 
Thanks everyone! It was a fun adventure for sure. I have eaten grilled swan breast before, it was really similar to goose but a bit milder, I'm looking forward to the roast!

The backdrops here never get old, here is another of my favorite photos from a few years ago-
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PS Tod-they do have about 150 nonresident tags available every year, better start applying now! I've got the decoys ready for when you do draw one!
 
Cody Williams said:
PS Tod-they do have about 150 nonresident tags available every year, better start applying now! I've got the decoys ready for when you do draw one!
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That sounds great to me! I checked out the draw odds earlier. I'll definitely start building a few points for swans, it isn't like I don't already send Utah enough annually in license and point fees.
 
Love this post! I drew my first NC swan tag this year and I'm hopeful for my Jan hunt up in Hyde county.

On a different note, I was stationed at Hill AFB in Utah for 2 years and I was blown away by the fantastic hunting - ducks and upland birds. My oldest son shot his first duck there (Ogden WMA, maybe?). It was a widgeon that tried to take our hats off at first light. That scenery never gets old to a flat lander like me.

Great job!
 
That's a great prize Cody. I have eaten Tundra swan, and it is absolutely the finest waterfowl you will ever have.
 
[quote Tony Young]Love this post! I drew my first NC swan tag this year and I'm hopeful for my Jan hunt up in Hyde county.

On a different note, I was stationed at Hill AFB in Utah for 2 years and I was blown away by the fantastic hunting - ducks and upland birds. My oldest son shot his first duck there (Ogden WMA, maybe?). It was a widgeon that tried to take our hats off at first light. That scenery never gets old to a flat lander like me.

Great job![/quote]

That should be a fun one! My family is originally from Eastern NC, my dad's side from the Outer Banks and Beaufort and my mom's side is from New Bern, I spent a lot of time out there as a kid, I miss it! I actually was born in and grew up in western NC (Cullowhee, if anybody knows where that is) until we moved out west when I was 11. I hope your hunt goes well, post some pictures! Sounds like you guys were at Ogden Bay, where the Weber river empties into the lake. My wife's cousin works at Hill, small world!
 
An enterprising fellow could put together a calendar of sorts which featured some of your incredible backdrops.

I feel like i am swooping down into a Reneson watercolor.

Your shots are breath taking.


TpxvFFL.jpg

 
I will never get tired of seeing those beautiful duck hunting photos! I had a friend that hunted for a week on the great Salt Lake last week. Every time he sent me pictures I was just blown away.

I love our East Coast salt marshes, but man oh man, you guys sure have some scenery!
 
My uncle is from Little Washington area, and I'm just north of Albemarle Sound. It's a pretty small world. I've never been to Cullowhee but I know of it.

I've tried to convince my wife to move out west to Wyoming/Montana/Idaho but with both of us having all of our close family here within 25 mins drive (some across the street) it's hard to make a move across the country. But I have used some of your photos this week to try to convince her further.
 
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