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Sandhill Crane

Went on my first sandhill crane hunt Monday in Weakley County with Chris Knight and I'm hooked. Hunted over a harvested cornfield where we set the decoys up. Chris started calling and we started hearing them as some groups flew by out of range. It was foggy and they were flying over the fog. Chris continued calling and TJ was working the decoys as the fog lifted. A group came into the decoys that looked like FA-18's coming in for a landing. My 4 new friends and I opened up and 5 hit the ground. We were pumped, fixing to get good. Then as if someone had flipped a switch a heavy fog descended on us that we couldn't even see the spread. Good ol Mother Nature had come to pay a visit. Got deathly quiet. Chris and TJ kept working as it cleared a little and we were able to get one more before we called it a day. Met some great guys and Chris and TJ know what they are doing. Enjoyed TJ's hunting stories and Red worked like a champ. Hope to draw again next year.
 

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Texan11285 said:
Went on my first sandhill crane hunt Monday in Weakley County with Chris Knight and I'm hooked. Hunted over a harvested cornfield where we set the decoys up. Chris started calling and we started hearing them as some groups flew by out of range. It was foggy and they were flying over the fog. Chris continued calling and TJ was working the decoys as the fog lifted. A group came into the decoys that looked like FA-18's coming in for a landing. My 4 new friends and I opened up and 5 hit the ground. We were pumped, fixing to get good. Then as if someone had flipped a switch a heavy fog descended on us that we couldn't even see the spread. Good ol Mother Nature had come to pay a visit. Got deathly quiet. Chris and TJ kept working as it cleared a little and we were able to get one more before we called it a day. Met some great guys and Chris and TJ know what they are doing. Enjoyed TJ's hunting stories and Red worked like a champ. Hope to draw again next year.
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Got a trip booked with him in two weeks! Glad to hear this report! Congrats on yalls success!
 
Such a fun time. Unfortunate that the weather bit your butt. We had a similar problem at our hunt last year. If there's not a bright sun casting shadows on those decoys, the birds don't even know they're set up. We had a cloud bank roll in and end our morning. Now you get to eat some great wild game!

Skin out the whole bird. The breasts will each be at least 1-lb "steaks". But the legs and thighs are awesome to cook as well. Don't throw them out.
 
If I recall correctly, there are two populations of whooping cranes. One with maybe 200 birds and another less than 100. One was created by biologists flying crane gliders or something along a new flyway.

I would not want to shoot one of those by accident....they are probably more protected than the bald eagle. SSS would probably be the best way to handle it. :)
 
Antler Daddy said:
I would not want to shoot one of those by accident....they are probably more protected than the bald eagle. SSS would probably be the best way to handle it. :)
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My wife and I like to go down to Wheeler Refuge and see the Sandhill and Whooping Cranes in the winter. Everyone of the Whooping Cranes has a GPS transmitter. SSS might not be that easy. 😉

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Buzzard Breath said:
My wife and I like to go down to Wheeler Refuge and see the Sandhill and Whooping Cranes in the winter. Everyone of the Whooping Cranes has a GPS transmitter. SSS might not be that easy. 😉

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I figured that many do! That would be tuff to beat! They taste a lot like bald eagle anyway....best to just shoot those grey ones. :)
 

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