Posted on 02/01/2012 4:50:24 PM PST by SJackson
A Wisconsin lawmaker wants to let hunters go after sandhill cranes.
Sandhill crane populations have grown dramatically across North America over the last 30 years. Wisconsin is a key nesting area for cranes that migrate up and down the eastern United States, and the International Crane Foundation is based in Baraboo.
But state Rep. Joel Kleefisch says the population has grown so much that they're causing too much damage to farmers' cornfields. He has introduced a bill that would require the Department of Natural Resources to set up a limited hunt.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
The relevant quote from this story:
“Thirteen states already allow people to hunt sandhill cranes.”
So sad. It may be necessary, but I find it sad when an animal that lives in security must go through the terror of being hunted.
If I can’t eat it why hunt it?
Hunters eat their kills. If they just kill for fun, they aren’t hunters.
You can eat cranes, I’m told they’re very good. Lots of receipes on the web.
Why do you think they would not be eaten?
Everything that I have read about the cranes indicates that they are excellent if prepared properly.
If ever you find you're self in a position to hunt Sandhill cranes you will have found your self hunting one of the best tasting bird there is. This long legged wading bird looks as if was a Blue Heron but don't be fooled this is no fish eater. This astounding bird that stands over three feet in height and has a wing span of over six feet eats grain from the same fields as do Mallards, Snow geese and White Fronted geese and has been nick named the flying Rib eye of the sky. Try this recipe out, it was given to me in the northern plains of Saskatchewan by a farmer friend some years back.
* Start with: 1-2 Lb = two Sandhill cranes breasts, thinly sliced Sandhill crane breast
* 10 TBS Kikkoman Soy Sauce
* 4 T
* 4 Tsp Minced Garlic
* 1 1/4 TSP Cayenne Pepper
Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic & cayenne pepper. Marinate crane breast meat in marinade for anywhere from six hours to over night in the refrigerator depending on how spicy you like it. Remove from marinade and place on plate you need to let the meat warm just a bit before placing on hot coals, once warmed to room tempter it's time to cook. Grill on BBQ using a flat screen style tray, other wise the thinly sliced crane will fall on to coals. Cook crane until nicely browned just as with all waterfowl do not over cook as meat is thin it will cook very quickly depending on how hot your coals are. This pre meal entree goes very well with a fine bottle of your favorite beer. This makes a wonderful appetizer and I use this only on the Sandhills I get but I am sure it would work just as good on geese.
By at least $10,000, possible time, and loss of hunting license for years. I'd consider hunting sandhills, but I'd certainly brush up on identification first. Other than maybe color, I can't tell them apart very well. I say maybe cause some whoopers appear brown at times.
Expensive difference. Have to get those identification cards you'd see in the WWII movies
Don’t tell the cranes they’re secure, they’ll ignore the coyotes.
They do not live in "security". They are constantly hunted, and they constantly hunt smaller creatures. It is known as the "state of nature".
Next thing we’ll be eating is coots!
“So sad. It may be necessary, but I find it sad when an animal that lives in security must go through the terror of being hunted.”
How anthropomorphic of you. Your mistake is assigning human emotions to wild animals. No wild animal lives in “security”. Animals live by instinct. One such instinct is to be tenacious of life. There is nothing more “terrifying” than survival of the fittest out in the wild. There are no veterinarians on call in the woods.
If these cranes can be taken/harvested in a properly regulated hunt for the good of the overall health of the species and it’s habitat, I’m all for it. Cheer up and don’t be sad.
I forget about them varmints, somewhat a new appearance in the last 15 to 20 years maybe. The cranes look so peaceful when you see them out in the fields it is hard to imagine them as hunted. Since the coyotes are on the increase they probably have to be on the watch for their lives these days.
I have heard that cranes can be quite vicious when cornered. Their very sharp beaks can turn into bayonets and their claws are also sharp. They can do some serious damage but not sure if they can hold up very well against coyotes.
As far as hunting they seem a bit like sitting ducks as when I get close enough to take their pictures they usual just walk away. Maybe if they are hunted they will be a bit quicker at getting away.
I'm looking forward to the coming of The Kingdom of God when all things will again live in security and peace.
I like watching the cranes too. Untill the Kingdom comes, we may have to depend on the DNR. I doubt that if there was a season, we’d be talking, well I haven’t a clue. I see them out there too, and could take them with a rifle. Shotgun, like most fowl, probably a different story. Walking up to them, they’ll learn about that quickly. I’ve not an opinion about how a hunt should be managed. I do enjoy watching them.
“We nearly ran down a 3 ft tall buzzard of some sort who was dragging a cat’s dead body off the road.”
3 ft tall?? The only ones that big I know of are California Condors. Mebbe you meant 3 foot wing span?
JC
Can sandhill cranes be good to eat?
Don’t know, I’ve been told they’re very good, I’ve never tasted one. Like goose, they say the breast is the best part. I can’t easily find citations, but I know I’ve read of crane being an early food source in what now is the midwest.
The fall of 2010 was the first time I've ever seen any here in S.E. Michigan. I was pheasant hunting in the thumb when a small flock flew over really high. I thought they were whooping cranes so had to look them up in my books when I got home.
I saw another flock this past fall but thats the only time I've seen them. Never on the ground.........
As a side note, I'm seeing more and more white egrets. And another thing, I always thought that blue herons nested on the ground until I discovered a rookery of them in a wooded area in Troy about 10 years ago......
They’ve always been common here in Jackson county but they were endangered at one point despite the fact that they congregated here.
I assume the similarities in the appearance is the reason they don’t allow a mute swan hunt. The much rarer native trumpeter swan is nearly identical. Mute swans have an orange bill and trumpeter swans have a black bill.
When we were fighting for a crow season the antis said we would mistake eagles for crows.
The argument that you might mistake them for something else is just another anti hunting blue herring.
The biggest tribe of the most common species in the Eastern US can be an average of 32 inches tall ~ and some members can be even bigger.
I gauged him with the height of my car at different points.
We've had a great deal of major construction in this area the last 3 or 4 years so a young'n would have plenty to eat.
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