North Carolina’s winter swan flock tops 75,000

Wintering flocks of tundra swans, like this one, arrive in North Carolina’s coastal counties in December and stay through the winter.

A swan mount is what many hunters are after on what may be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, so waterfowl hunters from all over the nation head for North Carolina’s coastal counties, where the majority of tundra swans spend the winter. The wintering flock can number more than 75,000 and may exceed twice that number.

Swan permits are issued by lottery in several states, with North Carolina issuing the most at 5,000. Approximately 2,500 hunters fill their tags each season. To be eligible the next season, all hunters must fill out a questionnaire about the success of their hunt. Out-of-state hunters can hunt swans, but they must buy a North Carolina hunting license before applying for a permit.

About Mike Marsh 356 Articles
Mike Marsh is a freelance outdoor writer in Wilmington, N.C. His latest book, Fishing North Carolina, and other titles, are available at www.mikemarshoutdoors.com.

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