Sandhill Cranes?

hurrikane18

hurrikane18

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Driving home last night, I spotted two fairly large animals by the tree line. I just caught a glimpse of them as I cruised past and thought they might be wild boar, so I pulled a quick U-Turn to go back and investigate. I was pleased to discover that they were not hogs at all! They look like Sandhill Cranes but I've never actually seen one before, so maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong? What a beautiful bird, and a very impressive size too! Ahhh yes, this thread is worthless without pictures. Sorry for the poor quality though, I didn't want to get out of my truck and disturb them.IMG_1039.jpgIMG_1034.jpgIMG_1033.jpg
 

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Yup, those are sand hills. You would be surprised how big they can get. I did some construction work for a guy who's son was doing a study of them on Manitoulin Island in Ontario to see if there are enough of them to hunt. I imagine if less then 5 years there will be a season on them, at least in some areas. 5 years ago I saw maybe 3 pairs a summer, last year I counted 20-30 birds consistently in the same field each night in the summer. They may end up being the new coyote.
 
They have been talking about a sandhill crane season in Ontario for two decades... they keep putting it off... we have seen fields on Manitoulin with 5,000 cranes in them... I know of two roosting lakes that have upwards of 10,000 birds on them every night during the migration... ask Island farmers how they feel about cranes...

I have decoys ready to go when they "green light" the season... but the dekes have been gathering dust for years.
 
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Easy to identify by their call, definitely unique and often the first sign they are around. Song birds they ain't. ;)

Grizz
 
DiabeticKripple said:
i heard they are super greasy
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I've heard that bear was super greasy. I've heard that duck was super greasy. I've even heard that moose was super greasy.

In my experience these opinions usually came from "hunters" who didn't prepare their meat properly during or after butchering. Cooking styles can also have a drastic effect on how meat tastes. I'm a strong proponent of "I can make bear taste like elk. I can make moose taste like whitetail. etc"
 
stuckon308 said:
I've heard that bear was super greasy. I've heard that duck was super greasy. I've even heard that moose was super greasy.

In my experience these opinions usually came from "hunters" who didn't prepare their meat properly during or after butchering. Cooking styles can also have a drastic effect on how meat tastes. I'm a strong proponent of "I can make bear taste like elk. I can make moose taste like whitetail. etc"
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I agree. Sandhills are not greasy, nor is duck or goose. These birds have all dark meat as all migratory birds do due to their long distance flying. I've been hunting them for years. Just breast them out out and treat them as you would geese. Makes great jerky also.

DF
 
hoytcanon said:
They have been talking about a sandhill crane season in Ontario for two decades... they keep putting it off... we have seen fields on Manitoulin with 5,000 cranes in them... I know of two roosting lakes that have upwards of 10,000 birds on them every night during the migration... ask Island farmers how they feel about cranes...

I have decoys ready to go when they "green light" the season... but the dekes have been gathering dust for years.
Click to expand...

Given the neck of the woods you live in I assume you have seen how many stage at the Hilliardton DU project as well?

bearkilr said:
No, it's not at all greasy, but notice the common trend among those who do eat it? They make jerky. There's your answer.
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I have never eaten a Sandhill Crane though I have shot a couple on a farmer's nuisance permit I was named on. The permit did not allow the harvesting of them so never had the opportunity to try them and since moving here to SK I have not harvested any yet. A friend of mine made it a point each year with his group to take two on their annual hunt in SK. He claimed that if you shot only juveniles, easily identified by their lack of plumage by the way, that they were pretty good table fare but that the adults were horrible? I have heard many guys call them "sirloin of the sky". I am curious to try it.
 
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The story in Sask. Is that to cook Sandhills crane you boil some water with 3 large rocks. After several hours season the water, throw away the bird and eat the rocks!
 
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