swan

[justinj]

would it be legal to do a swan skull

[Head Hunting Iowan]

No.

[Randy Miller]

Yes

[Head Hunting Iowan]

Now we're playing the DNR.  Different answer everytime you ask.

[grygon]

depends on the species maybe?  like you can't do a canadian goose, but one of the white ones is fine i was told?  so... looking on wiki i think these swans are out because of the conservation status:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpeter_swan#Conservation_status
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swan#Conservation

just guessing... but i bet if it's a swan you can buy at a feed store then it would fine to do (my feed store said they'd call me if ever a swan died there).

[Eric R.]

That would be a question to ask you local DNR or CO.  I know my regs. are different in my state than yours, I could do a goose if I had a federal permit.  Just like the stinkin swans and cranes are protected here in Michigan to hunt but are hunted elsewhere.

[OregonOutdoordude]

Heck ya you can even do canada geese with proper tags, at least here.

[justinj]

i always wondered about migratory birds too.  Dnr told me I do not need a taxi liscense for skulls so would you need a federal permit for bird skulls. 

[Scott Olson]

If you have a tag for it, why not...You can shoot them in certain states..Just make sure you keep the tag with it..

[EastonWest]

the answer is YES!!  i do waterfowl skulls all the time for customers including swans.  I called our local warden and he transferred me to a federal warden whom said as long as i keep the proper paperwork with the skull, it is legal for me to do.  you need to keep a piece of paper or tag with the skull at all times containing the hunters name, address, phone number, hunting license #, tag #(for swans), date shot, county where shot, species, number of species, and have the hunter sign the bottom. nothing too difficult.  of course it is illegal to sell waterfowl skulls but it ain't illegal to clean them, just like it ain't illegal to taxidermy them. 

[Head Hunting Iowan]

Well there ya go.  I was told no here, guess it differs state to state.  I thought trumpeter swans were protected though, guess not!

[benjhind]

Like others have said... depends on where your local country/state/provincial laws and the species of swan.  If it is a mute swan and you're in Canada, they are legally the property of the queen, so that's a big no-no

[EastonWest]

trumpeter swans aren't the ones people are allowed to hunt.  tundra swans are the species which a few states allow hunters to harvest every year (north dakota and north carolina to name a couple).  trumpeters are sometimes incidentally harvested instead as they are impossible to tell apart from a tundra swan unless you are up close to them, but they are a rarity.