North Texas Sandhill Crane opening weekend

[SFRanger7GP]

I have been curious about the "ribeye in the sky" for quite sometime. I was watching YouTube videos at our place in Colombia and a Sandhill crane hunt in Texas was on when Mama walked by and told me to stop watching and go do it. I booked with #dustdeviloutfitters out of Lubbock. Had a great time and the cranes were flying steady. Day 1 everyone in our group was limited in just under an hour. On day 2 in took about 2 hours for everyone to get their limit. The limit is 3 per day. I was shooting a Beretta 12ga Perennia SV-10 OU and using 2 3/4" Tungsten Hevi Shot #4. They absolutely crush the cranes.

Nice sunset out my hotel window

trailer blind covered in tumbleweed

All the birds from our group on day 1

Safe hunting

 

[Josh P]

Fantastic! Well done on the work, medium rare on the meat?

 

[Altitude sickness]

Congrats on a great hunt. Do you put googles on the dogs to protect their eyes from the beaks?

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Medium rare on the meat is perfect. Easy birds to clean as well. I cleaned them with my Opinel.

Safety first!

 

[Altitude sickness]

It takes a heck of a dog to retrieve those birds

 

[Green Chile]

Excellent. Cranes can be feast or famine. I've been skunked on days when they just didn't want to cooperate. Your heart will skip a beat when you go out and one stands back up.

 

[Rumrunner]

Looks Ike a great hunt. Congratulations. Chicken fried breast is fantastic.
The coffee is great.

 

[mdwest]

Super jealous! Looks like you guys had a big time!

 

[Altitude sickness]

We just drove back from Colorado last week. I saw a lot of cranes headed towards Texas. Wishing I could hunt them in Michigan. No Dove or Crane hunting.

Very liberal voters.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Absolutely magnificent ! Do consider grilling one in a tandoori marinade.

 

[Hunt anything]

I love hunting cranes and eating them even more! Congratulations.
Did you get put in a group or have a group of guys that you booked together? The reason I asked I have a group of 4 others that have been hunting together for around 30 years and like to hunt by ourselves, but most of the crane outfitters like to run big groups and we are very particular with the people we hunt with. A few years ago we ditched Texas and started hunting in New Mexico.

 

[mdwest]

We just drove back from Colorado last week. I saw a lot of cranes headed towards Texas. Wishing I could hunt them in Michigan. No Dove or Crane hunting.

Very liberal voters.

No crane I suppose I can understand if numbers are limited there..

But no dove??? I do t think there is a state in the union that doesn’t have an abundance of dove..

Craziness!

 

[Altitude sickness]

It was actually put on a ballot years ago and failed. People think of them only as a songbird on the feeder. Not a very challenging game bird.

Michigan not is as bad as Minnesota, California etc. But we are gaining ground as a very liberal state.

Like most. Geographically it’s Red. But Detroit, Flint, Saginaw/Bay City etc all vote Blue. And use questionable tabulations.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I love hunting cranes and eating them even more! Congratulations.
Did you get put in a group or have a group of guys that you booked together? The reason I asked I have a group of 4 others that have been hunting together for around 30 years and like to hunt by ourselves, but most of the crane outfitters like to run big groups and we are very particular with the people we hunt with. A few years ago we ditched Texas and started hunting in New Mexico.

Good morning.

I went by myself and was put into a group. There was 10 in the group. I saw no safety issues or any "bird hogs/sky busters". I would love to put together a group and return with people I know.

Safe hunting

 

[mdwest]

Good morning.

I went by myself and was put into a group. There was 10 in the group. I saw no safety issues or any "bird hogs/sky busters". I would love to put together a group and return with people I know.

Safe hunting

If you do that, let me know… my wife and I would join you and mama for sure…

We could probably convince that cad @roverandbrew to join us as well…

We’re already at 5!

 

[Hunt anything]

If you do that, let me know… my wife and I would join you and mama for sure…

We could probably convince that cad @roverandbrew to join us as well…

We’re already at 5!

I would be up for that as well.

 

[Green Chile]

If you do that, let me know… my wife and I would join you and mama for sure…

We could probably convince that cad @roverandbrew to join us as well…

We’re already at 5!

I'm interested in hunting cranes again and would like to be on a group list from here.

 

[Hunt anything]

It was actually put on a ballot years ago and failed. People think of them only as a songbird on the feeder. Not a very challenging game bird.

Michigan not is as bad as Minnesota, California etc. But we are gaining ground as a very liberal state.

Like most. Geographically it’s Red. But Detroit, Flint, Saginaw/Bay City etc all vote Blue. And use questionable tabulations.

That’s what happens when you let the ballot box make scientific Wildlife management decisions.
There was a rare win this year in Colorado on cat hunting, but I don’t trust the electorate to make these decisions and not wildlife professionals.

 

[roverandbrew]

If you do that, let me know… my wife and I would join you and mama for sure…

We could probably convince that cad @roverandbrew to join us as well…

We’re already at 5!

I had to google cad…. I’m in if Clara packs venison empanadas.

 

[Datchew]

Good morning.

I went by myself and was put into a group. There was 10 in the group. I saw no safety issues or any "bird hogs/sky busters". I would love to put together a group and return with people I know.

Safe hunting

I'd be up for it.
Have never hunted these birds. And they look tasty.

Also... That's an impressive dog that will retrieve AND wear goggles.