Sandhill Crane 3" Shotgun??!?

[Rivardo]

Local guys are saying no one hunts em with a 3" shotgun here in Saskatchewan. Just wondering if anyone does it with a 3" and what round they are using.

 

[hoytcanon]

You can hunt cranes with any goose load... no need for 3.5" loads. 3" BB would be my choice in the brand of your choosing... they can be killed just as dead with 2 3/4" loads...

 

[Medic-]

I use the 10 gauge and it's perfect for them

 

[dead meat]

A 3" is fine for cranes, use the same shot as you would for geese. A 3.5" shell doesn't make up for poor shooting.

 

[Rivardo]

Basically I was told by one guy you need the extra range of the 3 1/2" because its hard to get close and another guy said you need you extra knock-down power because they are hard to kill. This kinda made me think that your at a disadvantage showing up with a 3" hahah. I kinda believe people can get carried away with having to have the latest and greatest but at the same time I'm all about practicality. The right tool can make a dreaded job really pleasant so if a 3 1/2" is worth the extra great but if not I prefer lighter recoil and cheaper rounds of the 3". Yeah I'm looking at the stoeger m3000 and m3500. And leaning toward the m3000

 

[CoonT]

Would have never guessed in a million tries, that you could shoot sandhill crane. Are they meat birds?

 

[Medic-]

Would have never guessed in a million tries, that you could shoot sandhill crane. Are they meat birds?

Sirloins of the sky

 

[yorgi]

Would have never guessed in a million tries, that you could shoot sandhill crane. Are they meat birds?

Think of them as feathery pterodactyls flying in formation and making god-awful vocalizations, their calls freak me out....

 

[Brutus]

Lots of Saskatchewan residents make jerky out of them. Often they are the earliest migratory bird flocks targeted during their annual southerly trip.

 

[Bluedevil25]

3" #2 Kent FastSteel works well on them over decoys.

 

[DIGGER2]

3" BB is what I used in southern Manitoba waterfowl hunt this past fall. Killed them dead. Came down like a rotating helicopter blade. They are a big bird when you stretch them out.

 

[Raton57]

Recipe for cooking Sandhill cranes is to boil them with a big rock for a few hours and then throw out the crane and eat the rock as it will be more tender.

 

[VictoryXC]

I can remember hunting them many, many years ago with 2 3/4 #2‘s. They are FUN to hunt and remember them falling like helicopters out of the sky. Quite the thud when they land. Would be great if someone would post some pictures.

 

[madtrapper143]

The most accurate description of a crane falling was told to me by an old timer in Manitoba years ago. He said they look like someone threw a step ladder out of a helicopter when they come down. It is very accurate. I shot one last fall for the table and 2 3/4" Xpert #4's at 1550 brought him down. The trick is getting closer than 80 yards.

Darryl

 

[VictoryXC]

I like the analogy of a step ladder being thrown out of a helicopter. LOL

 

[DIGGER2]

I can remember hunting them many, many years ago with 2 3/4 #2‘s. They are FUN to hunt and remember them falling like helicopters out of the sky. Quite the thud when they land. Would be great if someone would post some pictures.

 

[VictoryXC]

Great pictures. They certainly are big birds.

 

[madtrapper143]

That is my nephew holding the big bird. Unfortunately that is his real face.....

Darryl

 

[swinginberrys]

Flying rib eye in the sky. Not sure how some of you lads are cooking them to make them so tough but perhaps you should try some different methods. I've never shot a crane but I've eaten em and they are damn tasty.

 

[H Wally]

Those wing feathers would make great fletching for arrows. Never knew you could hunt sandhills - thought they were endangered for some reason.