What round for sandhill cranes?

[Vaquero]

Waterfowl loads?
Turkey loads?

I haven't hunted cranes before.
I've got a wide assortment of shot sizes to use.

Thanks.

 

[FireInTheWire]

https://sandhillcranehunt.com/faq#:~:text=We%20recommend%2012%20Gauge%203,SHOT%20for%20Sand%20Hill%20Cranes.

 

[Sam Colt]

BB or T if you shoot for the body. They are not as resilient as geese, but they are big.

But here's the secret. If you hunt dove, picture the head as a dove. While the body can take some punishment, the head cannot. Far fewer wounded birds if you shift your perspective and point of aim. 2 or BBB.

 

[Fishkiller]

Well I do believe that they're considered waterfowl so steel shot is required. If you are over decoys with them coming in then No. 2 is fine. Pass shooting go with BB or T. Good luck and post the pics when done.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

This place says bring BB

 

[Charlie]

I didn't realize cranes were legal to hunt in Texas. Just never thought of it.

 

[TreyG-20]

I didn't realize cranes were legal to hunt in Texas. Just never thought of it.

"Ribeye of the sky" or so says Steve Rinella. I would try one.

 

[1911'S 4 Me]

How would you cook it?

 

[Sam Colt]

How would you cook it?

Rare.

 

[Sam Colt]

Sandhill are not waterfowl so lead is legal; however, if anyone in the group is using lead you cannot shoot ducks or geese.

 

[baboon]

I didn't realize cranes were legal to hunt in Texas. Just never thought of it.

Eat one and you will know why they are hunted. It’s the rib-eye in the sky.

 

[gdr_11]

I have never hunted sandhill, but if you take the advice above and focus on head shots, smaller shot size means more pellet density in the pattern. A load of 3" #4 shot will put more than enough shot in a 24" shot pattern to bring down any bird and the pellets are large enough for good penetration and energy delivery. I would use #2 and nothing larger

 

[deemus]

I think the migratory bird act requires steel shot. I have some 3" #4 steel shot for those.

People I know that hunt them all use #4.

 

[Vaquero]

I think the migratory bird act requires steel shot. I have some 3" #4 steel shot for those.

People I know that hunt them all use #4.

Dove are migratory.
Anyway, I'm using lead, cuz that's what I've got.
Some waterfowl loads aught to be fine for headsets.
Now, if the birds would show back up.

 

[deemus]

Found this on my TPWD app

 

[Lost Spurs]

Are they red meat like Canada snow geese? I have done the latter several times and it is good.

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[Sam Colt]

Red meat, yes. Not like goose. More like ostrich.

 

[Lost Spurs]

Red meat, yes. Not like goose. More like ostrich.

I always slow cooked goose. Never had ostrich.

Brings in the next question, it feels like something @baboon will know for sure. Someone had mentioned cooking it rare. Is it red meat, either beef or poultry that can be cooked rare, white meat should then be cooked to proper temp?

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[Sam7sf]

.416 Barrett

 

[deemus]

Red meat, yes. Not like goose. More like ostrich.

Its called ribeye of the sky for a reason. I pan fry mine with salt and pepper to medium rare. Its better than any goose you have ever eaten.