Swan Hunting in South Dakota

Dave Horvath

Dave Horvath

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Has anybody swan hunted in SD? Our group, a buddy and I, drew NR waterfowl permits as well as swan permits this year. We figured if it was available to draw for we might as well put in for it since we already drew the waterfowl permit. Neither of us have hunted swans before. Any info is appreciated, TIA.
 
I hunted them in North Carolina with an outfitter, but I’ve DIY waterfowl hunted NoDak a few times. Unfortunately never lucky enough to draw a permit but we’d still run a few swan floaters and they decoyed several times. If SD is anything like ND if you put some out in an area where they’re at I’m sure you’ll get a shot at one.
 
Have shot several in NC over the years (great eating) while duck hunting. My observation in the Outer Banks was that they responded extremely well to calling. The blinds I hunted rarely put out swan decoys, but if anyone could make a sound remotely like a swan they'd come into any spread. They are beautiful decoyers - look like a massive 747 approaching a landing nice and slow... then in range and you realize they're actually moving at a pretty good clip.
 
I killed one in North Dakota 2 years ago. I made 2 decoys out of old super mag canada shells. Put pool noodles around the bottom to make them float, painted white with black bills. had 7 going up a big lake about 150 yard out, just did a kinda swan call with my mouth. They turned and came right in.
 
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