Author Topic: OT Handis and Sandhill Cranes (Read 1293 times)

petemi · « **on:** September 23, 2009, 02:51:29 AM »

I'd really love to hunt Sandhills with my Handis. We have lots of them right here on my farm, but no season. Does anyone here know of any State that allows rifle hunting for Sandhill Cranes?

Thanks,

Pete

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2009, 04:31:52 AM »

Sandhill cranes are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Tim

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/mbta/mbtandx.html#alpha1

petemi · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2009, 04:42:00 AM »

I thought states like Nebraska had seasons on them

Pete

jmayton · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2009, 04:47:24 AM »

They can be hunted in Texas from November until February depending upon the zone you are in.

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2009, 04:52:45 AM »

Shotgun only or are rifles allowed?

Pete

jmayton · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:24:33 AM »

Sorry, looks like shotgun only. I'll check the waterfowl digest (which contains the sandhill regs) when it comes out in October just to be sure.

JustShootin · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:02:44 AM »

This is the hunting area in southeast Minnesota for the sand hill cranes. They arrived just a little bit early. We really don't have a season. Just thought the warm weather Texans might want to see them in a different environment.
Grant

jmayton · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:39:22 AM »

Grant, man ya'll have some white sand up there

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2009, 08:28:29 AM »

Quote

Shotgun only or are rifles allowed?

Pete, you didn't hear this from me, but if you're using one of these:

A Handi Rifle looks one hell of a lot like a shotgun from a distance.

tdd4570 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2009, 08:38:14 AM »

Pete

You can come to New Mexico and hunt them. But, it is shotgun only.

Let me know if you are in the area.

Dave

Kal52 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2009, 08:49:01 AM »

ND also has a season, shotgun only if I recall

Dave

MSP Ret · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2009, 09:20:58 AM »

I heard the tase like chicken, but my buddy the Maine game warden told me the same thing about loons....<><....

knight0334 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2009, 09:30:03 AM »

If I remember correctly, all migratory birds are shotgun only by federal laws/regs.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2009, 09:35:32 AM »

I was just gonna sate what knight said. No rifles on migratory waterfowl.

WESTTX4570 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2009, 10:49:26 AM »

Here in West Texas, they are refered to as "Ribeye in the Sky". Very lean, dark red meat, that taste great chicken-fried or even made into jerky.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2009, 12:48:48 PM »

If you want to hunt long distance with a shotgun check out one of Ed Hubel's monsters.......600 grain slug at 2900 fps!!!!! I think it would bring down a Sandhill - for that matter it may bring down a Cessna......

petemi · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2009, 01:10:06 PM »

Quote from: smokinjoe5150 on September 23, 2009, 08:28:29 AM

Quote
Shotgun only or are rifles allowed?

Pete, you didn't hear this from me, but if you're using one of these:

A Handi Rifle looks one hell of a lot like a shotgun from a distance.

Yeah, but they don't sound at all alike I don't need to go to jail over a bird.

Pete

briannmilewis · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2009, 08:03:50 PM »

OK, hunting sandhill cranes. I don't get it. I am not trying to be a party-pooper here, but they nested on my Michigan properties, and it would never have occurred to me to hunt them. That would be like hunting swans, egrets and herons. I understand hunting duck, geese and turkey, they are just roast dinners on the wing. Nice and fat, a lot more body than neck and legs.

Each to his own. Have fun at it.

Sourdough · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2009, 08:24:20 PM »

We do hunt them in Alaska. They pass through here by the thousands. They fly over from sunup to sundown. They are tough, stringy, and rank. I don't like them. Maybe I just don't know how to cook them.

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 24, 2009, 12:32:40 AM »

Do they taste better than an eagle or spotted owl?

AtlLaw · « **Reply #20 on:** September 24, 2009, 07:35:31 AM »

swan good! goose on steroids!

skifastchad · « **Reply #21 on:** September 24, 2009, 07:56:48 AM »

Quote from: jeepmann1 on September 24, 2009, 12:32:40 AM

Do they taste better than an eagle or spotted owl?

An infamous poacher here in central Wisconsin was busted several years back by undercover game wardens for shooting several sandhill cranes. When asked why he was shooting them he told the wardens that they "tasted like bald eagle".

Here is a newspaper scan. Scroll down near the bottom left.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1290&dat=19951019&id=SsQPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s44DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2464,915799

jmayton · « **Reply #22 on:** September 24, 2009, 11:35:40 AM »

Greater and Lesser Sandhills aren't endangered. Just the Cuban, Missisippi, and Florida sub-species. Basically, the cranes that migrate longer distances have done better then their southern and less-migratory cousins.

And they taste 'bout like owl.

workin man · « **Reply #23 on:** September 24, 2009, 01:52:47 PM »

I could be mistaken Pete, but I think Manitoba has a season for them.

Jim

mechanic · « **Reply #24 on:** September 24, 2009, 01:59:42 PM »

If one were indeed in a legal area and legally hunting these cranes, how would one distinguish the greater, lesser, cuban, etc. etc.

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 24, 2009, 03:00:09 PM »

the cuban rides 25 - 30 per 14 ft boat,sneaks into the us and votes liberal!

mechanic · « **Reply #26 on:** September 24, 2009, 03:15:51 PM »

Quote from: jeepmann1 on September 24, 2009, 03:00:09 PM

the cuban rides 25 - 30 per 14 ft boat,sneaks into the us and votes liberal!

Stands to reason then that they are protected. If I see one I'll say: "Hola. Como estas? Mi nombre es Benjamin. Como se llama?"

kennyd · « **Reply #27 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:23:11 PM »

colorado has a season. Federal law on migratory birds apply so SHOT guns only--no slugs. Never had a chance to hunt them, but they are grain birds.

BTW, a lot of people confuse them with herons.

jmayton · « **Reply #28 on:** September 24, 2009, 05:57:09 PM »

Quote from: mechanic on September 24, 2009, 01:59:42 PM

If one were indeed in a legal area and legally hunting these cranes, how would one distinguish the greater, lesser, cuban, etc. etc.

I think it comes down to location. Areas that allow hunting are in the range of the legal birds. It isn't legal where the endangered species live. The endangered sub-species are endangered because they migrate very little or not at all, so they don't allow hunting where those sub-species live. At least that's how I understand it.