South Dakota tundra swans here we come! Me an the boy gonna swat those big dudes come November!

Nice!

We didn't get drawn last year, but they say chances will now be better for us this year.

Shooting for North Carolina.

Congrats!

I won't be chasing swans, but I got drawn for South Dakota waterfowl.

Finally get to chase ducks in the morning and pheasants in the afternoon!

So to enter a draw for another state do you need to have purchased a hunting license there or do you wait til you win a draw to pick it up? I haven't ever participated in the draw process (especially out of state).

In South Dakota you enter into the draw and if you get picked then you have to pay for the license. If you don't get drawn, you don't pay anything.

South Dakota is the only State I am aware of that makes non residents draw for waterfowl licenses. Knowing I will want to waterfowl hunt South Dakota in a future year, I did the preference point only this year. No license purchase was required. Because I did the preference point only option, I do not draw a license. You have to draw a waterfowl license to be able to put in for the Swan draw, so unfortunately I can't gain a preference point on that one. I do buy preference points for Swan in Utah for some future hunt though.

Way Cool! Hope y'all have a great hunt.

Accurate info...you do have to send in a check for full license fee before cutoff on the draw along with your application. My understanding is they don't cash the check unless you're drawn.

The kiddo is 13 and he's jumping out of his skin ready to go. He's duck hunted a good bit but hasn't shot geese or swans. Need to get him on a goose hunt or two before we go to steel his nerves a bit...John Paul you better get to scoutin' son!

This is the second year I applied online. The first year, we created a group and submitted for the waterfowl drawing under the assumption we wouldn't be drawn (we weren't). This year, everyone in our group had a preference point, so we all got drawn.

Success rate looks to be about 66% if you put in alone. We didn't want to be in a situation where only one or 2 got drawn, so we went the group route. For the group application, they use the least amount of preference points someone has and either all or none get drawn.

I have never applied for SD before, but I only used the online system and was able to buy a preference point only for $10 without putting in for the draw and I did not have to pay a license fee. Once the preference point was purchased, it removed my ability to apply for a first draw license in that category. So maybe something has changed.

Just go to ND if you are worried about getting a permit . Plenty of swans up there !

No...you're right...if you're just putting in for points you don't have to pay full fee. If you're entering the draw you do.