Wings Over Texas: The Ultimate Sandhill Crane Hunting Adventure

Updated: Jul 21

Sandhill Crane Hunting is a growing sport in North America. These large, beautiful birds feature a bright red forehead, dark-colored beak, long neck, feathers in varying shades of gray with dark wingtips, and long-thin legs. They are hunted both for food and sport. A notable trait of this crane is its taste. A notable trait of this crane is its taste, earning it the nickname “ribeye in the sky” among Sandhill Crane hunters.

Fun Facts:

Average Weight:
Males: 10 lbs.
Females: 8.9 lbs.
Average Height:
4 ft (TPWD)
Wingspan:
6.5 ft (TPWD)
Social Behavior:
- Live and gather in large flocks (hundreds of birds)
- Their calls include a loud bugle call heard up to 2.5 miles away, plus 20 other distinct sounds
Roosting Habits: Shallow lakes, wet areas, or sandy stream beds
Habitats: Various environments, including agricultural croplands, coastal plains, wet marshy meadows and grass succession, with wetlands or streams, South Texas brush country during the winter
Diet: Wheat, grains, peanuts, berries, invertebrates, small animals, insects

Hunting Sandhill Cranes in Texas:

The Challenge:
- Cranes are weary birds with great eyesight.
- Successful hunting requires crane calls, total concealment (brushed-in blinds), and dozens of crane decoys to attract them.
- Cranes tend to fly low from their roosts to feed, so positioning yourself in their path can lead to reaching the daily bag limit

License Requirements:
- To hunt Sandhill Cranes in Texas, you’ll need a--
  - Texas Hunting license
  - Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
  - Harvest Information Program (HIP) Certification
  - Free Federal Sandhill Crane Permit
Equipment:
- Shotguns (10-guage or smaller, no more than three shells), lawful archery equipment, trained dogs (helpful), artificial decoys, and manual bird calls