Sandhill Cranes

[duckchuck]

New to the site and came across a article on Sandhill cranes.Most people in Michigan don't know much about them, not that I'm a Doctor of Cranes. I'm 62 and have enjoyed hunting and fishing all my life, and I wouldn't think of killing something if I wouldn't eat it,at my age I know what is good.
I've hunted waterfowl form Texas to Saskatchewan, and the cranes in these 2 places.
To start with they are hunted different in Texas, everything in Texas is different you have to pay somebody to hunt.The few times I've hunted them down there its in addition to goose hunting. with decoys and real good callers.In Saskatchewan it's a different game you'll stand around in feeding areas or roost sites and hope you can get a shot off. In these 2 areas where they are hunted they are people shy, they won't come with in shooting range.
I've read that some people think they smell, to me they smell just like any other animal, especially if shot in the wrong spot or cleaned poorly.
As for palatable I've cooked for alot of people, and it the number of ladies that well eat it. My sister-in-law who hasn't eaten any wild game probably had 3-4 servicing. Had another lady refer to it as filet mignon. I would put it on the same level as Elk back staps. Don't cook it well done it gets tough.;)

[Michihunter]

Never had it but I bet it tastes like chicken right?:D

[Vicious Fishous]

I thought it tasted more like platypus with a twang of city pigeon.
Not really. Ive never had it.
But I was driving by some feeding in a field the other day and thought "I wonder what it tastes like?" They are "carnivorous" (Mice, baby birds, etc.)for the most part aren't they? That has to affect the flavor in some way, I mean you are what you eat.
Is it dark or white?
PETE

[White Pine]

Ribeye in the sky there great

[griffondog]

I've hunted cranes quite a bit and they are a fun animal to hunt. I would rather eat them than geese anyday.

Griff

[HTC]

I lived outside of Corpus Christi for 9 years. Shot several Sandhills over the years while chasing the snows. Mostly them passing over our spread, pretty easy shooting.

[Shlwego]

They are "carnivorous" (Mice, baby birds, etc.)for the most part aren't they?

Actually, no, they eat a lot of vegitation. When you watch them in fields this time of year, they will walk down a corn row eating the seeds and new shoots. They do a LOT of crop damage in certain areas, and the DNR has even issued a few "depredation" permits. Do a search on the Waterfowl site here, and you'll read about a depredation hunt (though I'm not sure it's happened yet).

Cranes are dark meat, and by all accounts they're Flying Ribeye! I'd love the chance to try it.