(a) All
boats and/or boat blinds used for hunting waterfowl shall be launched and
removed daily.
(b) It shall be
unlawful for any person to fish from October 31st through the second Saturday
in February.
(c) All activity is
prohibited in the DWU when gates are closed. There shall be no activity from
7:00 PM to 4:30 AM, during the periods when gates are open.
(d) It shall be unlawful to use
airboats.
(e) All limited quota
walk-in and boat blind locations within the Swan Creek WMA DWU will be
permitted through a limited quota permit system determined by random
computerized drawing for weekend hunts or in-person drawings on the day of
weekday hunts. With the following conditions:
1. In order to apply, ALL applicants are
required to obtain a Conservation Identification Number (CID); registration is
restricted to individuals 16 years of age and older; those residents who are
aged 16 to 64 and nonresidents aged 16 years or older must have a valid WMA
license to register for the Swan Creek WMA hunt selection process.
Successful resident applicants and hunting guests aged 16 to 64
and non-residents aged 16 or older must obtain and have in possession a valid
Alabama hunting license, WMA license, HIP, and state and federal duck stamps if
applicable. Any violation of any rules, regulations, or laws by permit holder
or guests while hunting on Swan Creek WMA will result in those individuals
forfeiting the remainder of their hunt and forfeiting their Swan Creek WMA hunt
eligibility for the remainder of the current season and the entire following
season. Failure to participate in solicited hunt without providing Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries 7 day prior notice by email to hunt coordinator of
cancellation will result in that individual losing their eligibility for future
Swan Creek WMA DWU limited quota hunts for the present and following
year.
2. Boat blinds must
meet all U.S. Coast Guard Minimum Requirements for Recreational Boats. Life
vests and kill switches must be worn at all times when the boat is under power
and in motion.
3. Permit holders
and guests shall only hunt on their assigned dates and within thirty (30) feet
of their assigned hunt location marker.
4. It shall be unlawful for any limited quota
permitted hunter to hunt without checking in and out of Swan Creek WMA on each
hunt using the Outdoor Alabama WMA check-in Application and reporting harvest
OR with a daily permit from the self-service kiosk. When using daily permit,
the tear-off stub with number matching daily permits must be filled out and
deposited in the return slot of self-service box. The Harvest Report portion of
the permit is to be retained in possession of the hunter until the end of the
day, then filled out and deposited in the self-service box before leaving Swan
Creek WMA each hunt.
5. It shall be
unlawful to access or hunt on Swan Creek DWU unless selected for a limited
quota permit for specific hunt dates and hunt location. The permit holder and
three properly licensed guest(s) may only access and hunt the DWU permitted
hunt location and on permitted times and days. The guests may be different
individuals each hunt day. Permit holder must be present with hunting party
each hunt.
6. Permitted walk-in and
boat blind hunters must be anchored or stationed to hunt within 30 feet of the
appropriate hunt location marker for the duration of the limited quota hunt.
Hunt location markers shall not be moved or otherwise altered or tampered with.
No blind may be attached to the location marker in any way. If a boat or blind
is found to be attached to a marker, all hunters in the blind will be deemed in
violation of this regulation. Walk-in locations must be accessed by foot
only.
7. Permitted hunters and
guests may enter Swan Creek DWU at 4:30AM; Hunting may begin at legal shooting
hours; all hunting activity is prohibited after 12:00NOON; and all parties must
exit the DWU no later than 1:30PM. It shall be unlawful to leave assigned hunt
location except when retrieving a downed bird or departing the DWU for the
day.
8. Limited quota hunt
selections will be conducted by:
(1) Weekends
(Saturday and Sunday) and Special Youth and Veteran Hunts, applicants will
register pre-season on the limited quota hunt platform on
www.outdooralabama.com. Randomized
computer selections will occur prior to the season opening. Successful permit
holders will be able to hunt both days.
(2) Weekdays (Tuesdays and Thursdays),
applicants will register in person on the day of the hunt. Drawing will occur
at the District I Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Office (21453 Harris
Station Road, Tanner, AL 35671) each Tuesday and Thursday during waterfowl
season. Registration begins at 4:00AM, registration ends at 4:25AM and drawing
will occur at 4:30AM. Successful permit holders can hunt only the day they are
successfully selected.