Sandhill Cranes

[KahrMan]

I just got back from a three day hunt in Canyon Texas for Sandhill Cranes.  I bought this hunt at our local chapters SCI banquet.  This was my first time hunting cranes and it was a blast.  

They call sandhill cranes the flying ribeye of the sky.  I had heard so much about how great they are to eat that I was worried that it would not live up to hype.  Our outfitter grilled us some breasts one night and let me say that it does live up to the hype.  If you did not know you were eating crane you would think it was steak.   We also had some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  

 

I used Diamond Wing Outfitters.  They were great.  Worked hard to make sure we had opportunities to kill cranes.  The limit is three per day.  We had four hunters in our group.  The first day we saw thousands of cranes but only killed 3.  The second day we got 9 but should have limited out.  They are a tough bird to bring down unless you get a clean head shot.  The third day we got our limit.  One afternoon we also got some duck hunting in.  All in all it was a great trip.

https://www.diamondwingoutfitters.com

 

[KahrMan]

[Luckyforward]

Thanks for sharing!  Looks like you had a great trip!

[jpx2rk]

Have a buddy who gets him some every year over here in E TN, Watts Bar lake IIRC.  Glad you had a good trip.  

[jeremiah]

Great Photos !

If you brought too many steaks back home, let me know.

[martin5]

I hear them fly over my property in Loudon county. Congratulations on your trip.

[peejman]

The Hiawassee WMA is a popular rest stop for their migration. I've seen hundreds of them gather there in Jan-Feb. 

https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/wildlife/viewing-area/east-tennessee/hiwassee-refuge.html

[KahrMan]

I actually got drawn for a sandhill crane tag here in TN.  Now I just need to figure out where to go hunt them.

Edited December 7, 2019 by KahrMan
typo

[martin5]

I bet I saw 200 of them on hwy68 between Dayton and Decatur today. 

[TomInMN]

4 hours ago, martin5 said:

I bet I saw 200 of them on hwy68 between Dayton and Decatur today. 

Talk about a traffic jam!

[martin5]

Actually I realized after I wrote that, I meant hwy30. 

[CJDore]

There were probably 150 in my backyard today. I think hunting season ended today.......they always seem to know,

[KahrMan]

Today was the last day.  I got drawn for a tag and didn't get to use it.  I was supposed to go this week but life happens and couldn't go.  

There is always next year.

[A516]

I go out to southern Oklahoma each year to hunt doves for three to four weeks.  The guy that puts on the dove hunts also guides for Sandhills.  He uses stuffers and has great success.  He has hunting rights on 50-75 properties.  He recently had a crane hunt filmed for the Jimmy Houston Outdoors TV show.

[Lumber_Jack]

This is awsome, I want to do this!! I saw several hundred in a field in Southern Indiana on Monday driving up for a meeting. 

[gregintenn]

I always wondered if they were edible. Thanks for sharing your amazing trip.

[KahrMan]

21 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

I always wondered if they were edible. Thanks for sharing your amazing trip.

They really are great to eat. 

[KahrMan]

Last couple of weeks there have been some huge flocks of Sandhill cranes migrating through. Opened the garage door this morning and all I could here was the cranes. They are noisy. 

 

[papa61]

On 12/6/2019 at 9:30 AM, KahrMan said:

I actually got drawn for a sandhill crane tag here in TN.  Now I just need to figure out where to go hunt them.

wish I'd know someone with a tag a few years back when one tried to empty my coy pond. moved since so no more pond,