GDG***Sandhill Cranes***GDG

[huntinman]

Robert, great words thank you for posting. UB, at your age, I would suggest you sit in your window and watch the leaves blow and the snow swirl. You have no idea how many Moose in Wyoming get shot because some Yahoo thought it was an Elk or how many Mule deer get shot because the Yahoo thought it was an elk etc. it happens and happens often. If the great state of Nebraska can offer these cranes peace and quiet and other states offer you a chance at harvest, we will keep it this way if that is okay with you... I was fortunate enough as well to witness the migration this year, natures best spectacle. I had my first taste of sandhill crane in Tx last Feb while dog training, it was everything plus "ribeye".

How do we know you aren't one of those yahoos, and shot a whooping crane thinking it was a sandhill?

Another point.... One of my hunting partners is in his 70's and can out hunt most men in their 20's... He is up every morning all season long, dragging decoys into the marsh. You better hope to reach that age rather than disrespecting people due to their age.

[M&K's Retrievers]

Since Whooping cranes migrate through the Central Flyway (North Dakota, South Dakota, eastern Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma), and when traveling as singles they join groups of sandhill cranes, I'm actually pretty surprised that there is a season in any of those states. With only about 200 birds left, just a few yahoos could put a serious dent in their population.

The Game Wardens have closed the season by county if they see WC in with a flock of SC. I'm not sure if they are State Rangers, Federal boys or both. WC stick out like a sore thumb when standing in a wheat field. I don't believe I've see one in flight or if I did, I didn't realize it.

SC are amazing to watch. They come in wave after wave. They are spooky as hell. A truck driving down a section road will flare a flight about to cross the road as well as several following flights.

[charly_t]

Yup, and I was out in that and got to see these birds.
No one else in the marsh except me & Elvis.
Something I will never forget.

I thought more folks would think this was cool, I guess it's just the "YAHOO" in me!!

Wish you could have been there Ken!

It was way cool. I would guess that a lot of folks on here would be in awe of seeing something like this. It is not often that nature treats us to one of these "moments". The true hunter treasures something like this all of their lives.

[Sharon Potter]

Wow...would have loved to have seen that! They gather up around here in the crop fields next to my place, but the most I've seen at any one time is about three hundred. Usually more like 100-150. One time there was a pair in my field, and I quietly walked parallel to them getting closer a bit at a time. I ended up about fifteen yards away, and when they make that noise that close, it is deafening. Cool birds...I enjoy having them around.

[HPL]

You can't mean this???? Have you seen the stark difference between whoopers and sandhills??? How is it we hunters can limit ourselves from shooting too many suzies...or too many sprig, or cans??? Or are you into calling us hunters "yahoos"?

Until proven differently, I'll chaulk this up as a brain fart...or certainly a subject you are ill-informed about.


UB

1. the reason we didn't have a crane season here until a few years ago was that very fear, since the cranes winter less than 100 miles from here (as the crane flies) and it took significant research to prove that they didn't come into this specific area (there is still an exclusion area just north of here).

2. only takes a couple of knuckleheads (you've met some if you have hunted more than once or twice) to put a significant dent in the population.

3. dark morning, grey sky, immature whooper, inexperienced hunter, oops.

[HPL]

Yup, and I was out in that and got to see these birds.
No one else in the marsh except me & Elvis.
Something I will never forget.

I thought more folks would think this was cool, I guess it's just the "YAHOO" in me!!

Wish you could have been there Ken!

Actually VERY cool!! I love to see and hear sandhills. Beautiful birds. We see quite a few, but by the time they reach our area, they have dispersed some. Don't usually see them in the hundreds or thousands. Often see 20 or even 50 though.