My 1st Crane

[sdkidaho]

I know it isn't exactly waterfowl but I wasn't sure where else to put this.

 

I talked to a guy I had recently met on Tuesday and he offered to take me Sandhill Crane hunting. I hadn't ever really thought about going for one and so I took him up on the offer and last night after work we went out.

 

We walked for a ways to get to where we needed to be and sat on a small pile of lava rocks and began to wait for the cranes to hopefully fly past us. We watched geese taking off and ducks and then came the first group of cranes. Six or seven I think, but they were flying to far away to think about shooting, and then here came a pair of cranes right for us. He noted to me that they were flying faster than what they appeared to be doing and to lead them a bit. Once they got close enough I gave them a six to eight foot lead and shot.

 

We were barely there five minutes I'll bet and here was a Sandhill Crane crumpling up and plummeting to earth. What an experience. I know they aren't really that easy to hunt but essentially he had done his homework and knew where they would be and where they would be heading and at what time. Props definitely go to him because everything I read the night before told me they weren't an easy bird to get.

 

I hope you guys don't mind a few pictures.

 

Here is the crane, just as it landed:

 

Me and the crane:

[sdkidaho]

Man they are a big bird!

 

[sdkidaho]

 

They have a beautiful head on them:

 

It was a great experience and one I really had never even thought about trying. I'm looking forward to trying some crane!

 

Darby

[riceducker]

It looks like a juvenile bird. Should be tender. We can't shoot them here in California, but those that have shot them describe them as "ribeye in the sky"

[Matt D]

Congrats on the Sand Hill crane. We have killed them on our bird lease in North Central Okalhoma. The locals call them the "Ribeye of the sky" they are real good tasting birds.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

I've gotta figure out if I can shoot them here in MT. I think you have to have a permit, I've seen them flying every day, hearing them a lot too. Seen them walking a few fields. Man they are a big bird, I'd love to bring one down. Great job!

[Matt D]

I know in Oklahoma they require a special state permit and your Federal Stamp.

 

Two years ago a couple guys in center Kansas mistaked Wooping Cranes to Sand Hills. They got hefty fines and had to pay the vet bill to rehab one of the birds a KSU vet school.

[tucker301]

Nice job!

I was thinking the red crest meant that it was an adult, but I may have it backwards?

 

Heckuva bird either way!

 

Did you get a weight on it?

[sdkidaho]

Didn't weigh it or measure the wingspan. I can reach almost six feet, finger tip to finger tip, and so he's probably close to seven feet across. And I thought the red on the head indicated an adult bird as well, but I'm guessing it must be the brown flecks in the feathers that shows it's not quite adult?

[Remy]

Let us know what that bird tastes like when you get a chance to eat them. I have also heard that they are quite tasty!

[TMAC]

In WI we also cannot shoot Cranes, Swans, or too many ducks or geese either so your Crane looks pretty cool to me. We see lots of them here sitting on fields.

 

Job well done.

[JEFFRO67]

I think here in Illinois those are protected birds and a quick way to lose your guns and a trip to the county jail.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

I've been looking them up for MT, I can't hunt them in my area, even with a permit, but in some areas of MT, its a limit of 3 a day, for about a 2 month season. Dang, I think it would be awesome to bring a bird that big down.

[sdkidaho]

Around here you have to draw for a permit, but apparently they don't get a lot of interest and have permits available after the general draw has taken place. We can two a day for a total of nine of them in a two week season.

 

I keep hearing how good they are to eat so if that turns out to be true I might have to do this agian next year.

[nodakhunter]

I can attest to the 'ribeye of the sky' statement. They certainly are a good eating bird. Also, maybe it's just been a while sinse i've been next to one(last season), but that particular one looks like a greater sandhill!

 

Congrats on your bird!