Just wondering who has any experience with hunting Sandhill Cranes? Do you call them in and use dogs as you would with other waterfowl? Or is it more spot and stalk? I would have imagined the later, but I see ID regs prohibit the use of a rifle on them. Also, are they good eating? Just curious.
Cranes?
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Rocky1
New member
Personally, I'm not a bird hunter, but I did have a home I rented out for about 2 months a year to bird hunters, for 10 years. One group drove almost a thousand miles, just to hunt cranes, because Nebraska didn't, at that time, allow crane hunting. One of the guys had one mounted to stand up in a corner of the living room. And, I've been told...
While it is possible; when it comes to spot and stalk, you better be part Indian. They stand really tall, and they see really well!
Decoys are available, and they aren't real tough to decoy. IF you live in the flyway. Around here the flyway changes constantly dependent upon how much pressure they receive. It's 60 miles or more in the last ten years.
As far as eating them... marinated and deep fried chunks, they taste about like venison. Don't overcook them or they get real chewy. Also had them marinated in red wine and prepared in the crockpot in a nice gravy. They got so tender that they cut easily with a fork in that method.
Pretty tasty either way.
Was told once to cut a few slits, insert bacon and/or onion, and bake them. And, it wasn't to bad tasting that way, for about the first 10 minutes you chewed each bite!! But, after that your taste buds just sorta wore out, like chewing a stick of chewing gum too long. Never did get it chewed up, you just cut really small bites so you could swallow it easy, after you got tired of exercising your jaw muscles.
While it is possible; when it comes to spot and stalk, you better be part Indian. They stand really tall, and they see really well!
Decoys are available, and they aren't real tough to decoy. IF you live in the flyway. Around here the flyway changes constantly dependent upon how much pressure they receive. It's 60 miles or more in the last ten years.
As far as eating them... marinated and deep fried chunks, they taste about like venison. Don't overcook them or they get real chewy. Also had them marinated in red wine and prepared in the crockpot in a nice gravy. They got so tender that they cut easily with a fork in that method.
Pretty tasty either way.
Was told once to cut a few slits, insert bacon and/or onion, and bake them. And, it wasn't to bad tasting that way, for about the first 10 minutes you chewed each bite!! But, after that your taste buds just sorta wore out, like chewing a stick of chewing gum too long. Never did get it chewed up, you just cut really small bites so you could swallow it easy, after you got tired of exercising your jaw muscles.
doggin coyotes
Well-known member
The breast of a sandhill crane is fine table fair.
Most guys hunt them with about the same tactics used for geese. As in fields where they feed or routes to and from those fields where they may be flying low. Decoys are often used also.
Dogs for retrieving? Cranes are big, long birds. I spose dogs are used, but I've never seen anybody use em.
Hmmm, I've never heard of anybody calling for sandhill cranes. Wonder why that is? Or maybe they do? Heck, you can call about anything else. Don't know why sandhills would be any different. Maybe not legal?
I can't think of his name right now, but there is a guy that posts on here from Texas that is a big time sandhill hunter. He kills a lot of them every year. He'll start posting once season rolls around. Watch for his posts.
Most guys hunt them with about the same tactics used for geese. As in fields where they feed or routes to and from those fields where they may be flying low. Decoys are often used also.
Dogs for retrieving? Cranes are big, long birds. I spose dogs are used, but I've never seen anybody use em.
Hmmm, I've never heard of anybody calling for sandhill cranes. Wonder why that is? Or maybe they do? Heck, you can call about anything else. Don't know why sandhills would be any different. Maybe not legal?
I can't think of his name right now, but there is a guy that posts on here from Texas that is a big time sandhill hunter. He kills a lot of them every year. He'll start posting once season rolls around. Watch for his posts.
Thanks doggin, I'll keep my eye out for him. From the little cursory look at the regs for crane hunting, the rules seemed to follow that of any fowl...hand calls only, no rifles and I believe non-tox shot. I've never heard them "talk", maybe that is why? I saw a few out scouting for elk the other day and thought, wonder how you hunt them? Looked over the regs and they didn't seem to permit how I thought one would.
Rocky1
New member
Little more difficult to call, but some guys do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGfLIjnwZyc&feature=related
Decoys are available, and work well if you're in a flyway.
Non-toxic shot is required, they are considered migratory waterfowl, so they fall under federal guidelines there. Check your local regs, ND also requires a special license for them.
http://gf.nd.gov/hunting/small-game.html
I believe that too is a federal stamp, if my memory serves me correctly. Been years since I bought one, so I honestly can't remember for sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGfLIjnwZyc&feature=related
Decoys are available, and work well if you're in a flyway.
Non-toxic shot is required, they are considered migratory waterfowl, so they fall under federal guidelines there. Check your local regs, ND also requires a special license for them.
http://gf.nd.gov/hunting/small-game.html
I believe that too is a federal stamp, if my memory serves me correctly. Been years since I bought one, so I honestly can't remember for sure.
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