[Nervous Tick]

Are cranes good to eat?

[SJackson]

If you’d like to be on or off this Upper Midwest/outdoors/rural list please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

I've read that cranes are good eating, almost like steak. I'm sure this is going to upset a lot of people. I hope Wisconsin copies Minnesota. Texans shoot them when they head south anyway, and why should they suffer the oil.

[cripplecreek]

Now if only we could open up a mute swan season.

[EGPWS]

Why a crane hunting season?

To create government revenue via permit fee's, the only reason for any created allowance these days.

[Hot Tabasco]

Country wide Canada Goose, open season, no limits would be fine with me..........and no restrictions on where they can be shot.

In about 5 years they would learn where it's safe to land and how to fly south for the winter.........

[EGPWS]

My ancestors claim this as being the best!

[steelyourfaith]

Photo from my back yard. A pair will visit my bird feeder from time to time. They emit a piercing sound and are somewhat aggressive.

[BatGuano]

I live in Florida and the Sandhill Cranes are almost tame! They populate our golf course and conservation areas, When the hatchlings are able to trek a good distance, the proud parents come by our house to show them off! The male and female mate for life and the youngsters are called “colts”.
We have “Sandhill Crane Crossing” signs!!!

The large flocks of the midwest may need a hunting season, but, here in Florida, we need to protect.

[Trteamer]

I have first hand knowledge. Sandhill Cranes are a great gamebird and are fantastic table fare. Tasty.
Good for Minnesota! Good for the local economy, good for the family freezer, and the money the hunters spend on wildlife habitat is good for the cranes too. Nothing wrong with harvesting the surplus of natures bounty, the crane populations are very healthy and well managed. Now for my favorite Sandhill Crane recipe: Crane breast cubed into 1 inch cubes. Marinate in Lowry's 30 minute "Southwest Chipolte with Lime Juice". Mix flour, garlic powder, pepper, basil to taste and coat marinated craned cubes. Pan fry in butter until golden brown. Crane nuggets, mmm...mmm....mmm...good!

[mylife]

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.

[DefeatCorruption]

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.

[DefeatCorruption]

A couple of quotes and then I’m through...

“Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.” (James Anthony Froude)

“When I was twelve I went hunting with my father and we shot a bird. He was laying there and something struck me. Why do we call this fun to kill this creature who was as happy as I was when I woke up this morning.” (Marv Levy)