Posted on 07/19/2010 5:16:34 PM PDT by SJackson
It's official: Minnesota will have a sandhill crane hunting season this fall for the first time in 94 years.
The season will run from Sept. 4 to Oct. 10 and only in the northwest goose zone, which includes parts of about six counties in far northwestern Minnesota. The daily bag limit will be two birds, with a four-bird possession limit. Nontoxic shot will be required.
Why a crane hunting season?
Ten other states in the flyway already allow crane hunting, some since 1960, and Minnesota was one of the few holdouts. The midcontinent crane population, averaging over 450,000 birds, has been healthy and above goals.
"It's an additional hunting opportunity we can provide," said Bill Penning of the Department of Natural Resources.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
In Texas they’re called a Rib-eye in the sky, we’ve been hunting them since the mid 60’s. They’re not fish eaters, around here it’s the corn and milo fields that really draw they’re attention.
The large flocks of the midwest may need a hunting season, but, here in Florida, we need to protect.
>> we’ve been hunting them since the mid 60’s
Do they have a season? Bag limit?
Great blue heron in blue cheese sauce.
Do they eat your garden and flowers like deer do? And ram into cars. We can send some!
That’s what I was gonna say.
Tastes kinda like a Trumpeter Swan.
Would you settle for urban areas only?
Sandhill crane bag limit (TX):
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/season/migratory_game/crane_limits/
Zone map:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/season/migratory_game/crane_zone/
Looks like the open season dates are “to be announced”:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/season/waterfowl/#crane
(scroll to the bottom)
I’m getting hungry now!
Are those decoys in that field behind you?
Yes. LOL!
Cranes have pink meat very similar to pheasant. Like ten pound pheasants!
I have to admit I did a double-take on that one.
Some of ‘em look pretty real. Then again, some of ‘em don’t even fool *me*!
Hey, whatever works!
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 TBS Brown Sugar
* 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.
In Florida, we love our Sandhill cranes...traffic stops to let mom and dad and usually two little ones cross the road. No one here would even think of killing them. Some people carry the mentality of if breathes and walks, let’s kill it. Never could understand that concept. If this is a sport then all sides should understand the rules of the game.
>> Cranes have pink meat very similar to pheasant. Like ten pound pheasants!
I don’t hunt myself (yet). But we have lots of hunters in the friends ‘n family circle. (Central TX) I’ve never heard them talk about crane — and as a hunter, you yourself know hunters ALWAYS talk about what they’ve bagged! :-) So I’m going to ask around and see if anyone has ever hunted crane and try to wrangle a taste for myself! Sure looks good!
FRegards
One thing about hunting cranes. When you down a cripple, you never send your retriever after it. A wounded crane will go for your eyes with that big sharp beak. A seven iron dispatches them instantly.
Spotted owl will spoil you for life, though. Bald eagle taste like chicken, in comparison.
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Then go buy a chicken and eat it.
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