doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Thanks to DGJ and forum users

About a year ago, I started reading DGJ and got the itch for a blackpowder era shotgun. I have been shooting BPCR for years. I purchased a 12 gauge Parker Hammer gun made in 1883. I did this rather blindly, but the gun proved to be tight with clean chambers, even though it had a moderate amt. of pitting in the barrels. I wanted it for duck hunting. Then, I was lucky to draw a swan tag for Montana, and that began the quest to take a swan with a blackpowder load. So, the search began for suitable non-toxic shot, and with the help of this forum, I came up with a duck load using #5 bismuth and a Swan/goose load using #2 Nice shot. The load was 3.5 drams 3F black powder/1 1/4 ounces #2 Nice Shot. Enclosed are a couple of pictures of me, the Parker and the swan I took. Thanks to you all, and DGJ, for getting the interest started and for the ultimate journey with the gun. Now I am thinking about 10 gauge guns .........

Congratulations. A very nice job. Looks like it was a fun hunt.

Pete

FMI: does a swan taste like a goose?

Interesting story. Congratulations on the big bird. Aweful looking hat, though...Geo

I have a hunting camp at Delta Marsh in Manitoba. All the local guides in the area are Metis and the Metis in Manitoba have gained hunting rights similar to what the Indians have. Shoot whatever, whenever. They all have eaten swan. They say it's fantastic. I know I'd like to try some.

Canvasback

There is NOTHING---I MEAN NOTHING-- with webbed feet that comes close to a swan on the table !

That's a BigBird, Ridgerun. I wouldn't want it scolding me! Also great photos of ? in the U.S. or Canadian west? Thanks for posting.

jack

I have a chapter in my book, When Ducks Were Plenty (Safari Press 2000), titled "Wild Swans" gleaned from an 1882 book, American Game-bird Shooting by John Mortimer Murphy. Here's what JMM had to say about swan meat in the 1880s:

"Market hunters of the Pacific coast usually shoot swans for their plumage alone.... Few sportsmen kill adult swans for their flesh, as it is dry and tough. Cygnet meat is palatable, although inferior to the meat of young ducks and geese. A swan in full plumage sells as high as a dollar and a half when there is good demand for the down..."

Murphy and his friends shot a bunch (gaggle?) of swans and concludes: "We had cygnets for dinner that day, and although their flesh was dry, it was palatable. But it took four days of seasoning to make the adults fit for the table, and even then they were not very dainty." EDM

Good work, nothing like a Parker and waterfowl. I'm headed out to Arizona in a few weeks to try one of mine on cranes.

Don't let George put a damper on your cap, I've got one like it and it's the best cold weather fowling hat I've ever owned.


Destry

Ridgerun: Perfect hat for that gun and hunt, IMHO. Of course, I happen to like old and (in the opinion of many slaves to fashion) goofy hats, and take occasional flack for all of mine, too. I definitely smell a sulphery 10-bore in your future. Happy hunting! TT