Crane Hunting 101 with Brian Richter

Sandhill cranes are unique. Not considered waterfowl, these wading birds walk shallow waters and forage in dry fields for food. However, like most species of ducks and geese, they migrate annually from Alaska and Canada to warmer winter climates.

Although Nebraska's Platte River Valley attracts thousands of migrating cranes, most hunters focus their attention on Texas and other southwestern states.

Sandhills cranes are remarkable in many ways. One of the coolest, in my mind, is that the species is prehistoric. And aside from being one of the oldest living bird species, the sandhill crane, unlike most bird species, has changed very little over time. Many who chase the sandhill migration refer to the bird as a "living fossil." My hunting partners and I refer to them as "pterodactyls."

Sandhill cranes are impressively large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. They make a sweet-sounding, trumpeting call that can be heard for miles and is easily distinguishable from other calls.

The way they fly is also impressive. Migrating cranes typically fly into the wind, using rising thermals to help carry them up. The birds will circle up to heights as high as 15,000 feet and, using the wind and thermals, fly at speeds of 50 miles per hour.

"They're just so cool and so very fun to hunt," said long-time sandhill hunter and Texas hunting guide Brian Richter.

Richter is a waterfowl legend but is well-known in the crane hunting world. Richter has worked for and alongside legendary call maker Bill Saunders.

"You can't beat crane hunting," Richter continued. "They are a big migratory bird that is twice as wary as ducks and geese, and to be successful on them, you need to be on your game."

Scout More!

I've hunted cranes for 10 years. After the first year, I realized scouting for cranes was more difficult than scouting for ducks and geese. Sandhill cranes are cautious birds. Not only do you need to find the field sandhills are using, but you also need to pull up your favorite digital scouting app and pin the exact location in the field where the birds are feeding. You can't be off the X.

"In addition to knowing exactly where the birds are feeding, you need to know where the birds are roosting and their direction of travel to and from the food source," said Richter. "I write down everything when I'm scouting cranes. I write down their path of travel to the field on different winds, what they have to fly over to get to the field, and what the hide will be in the field the birds are using."

The Hide Is Everything!

Savvy waterfowlers know the importance of a good hide. Cranes, however, require taking it all to another level.

"If your hide is sub-par, even a little bit sub-par, you're not going to finish cranes in the decoys," Richter said. "Cranes have 280-degree vision, and they see in color. Guys that hunt turkeys and cranes typically compare the eyesight of cranes to turkeys, and we all know how a turkey hunt will end if your hide isn't perfect. A-frame blinds and quality layouts are great as long as they are blended in extremely well. Take your time when brushing in any blind."

When hunting sandhill cranes, I take the hide-game super seriously. Whether our crane crew is using an A-frame, a layout, or a natural hide along a ditch bank, several of us walk into the field and look back at the hide. We evaluate everything. We have the guys in the hide move around to see if anything is shining or is ultra-noticeable. If your hide is good, you'll kill cranes. If your hide is bad, you won't kill a bird. It's that simple.

Go Full-Body for Cranes

"Decoys have come a very long way," Richter said. "There was a time when cardboard cutouts, silhouettes, and socks were all crane hunters had. That's not the case anymore."

Richter likes full-body decoys for crane hunting, and I agree. The more lifelike the decoys, the better. Typically, I set a dozen full-body decoys and fill in the gaps with a dozen silhouettes. I've seen crane hunters create massive spreads and achieve success. However, I've found that combining a couple of dozen decoys with an excellent hide and quality calling will get those long black legs to come down.

I like a loose spread with plenty of open areas for the birds to land. Face your decoys into the wind and position yourself at the back of the spread. This allows the birds to concentrate on the decoys rather than the hide.

"We've had great success with the SX Decoys' Full Body Sandhill Crane Decoys. SX offers painted and fully flocked options. They also have an excellent motion system. Simply drop the decoy on a large cone, and you're good to go. Motion helps.

"I feel that, especially when hunting birds that have been hunted in Canada and along their migration route, you need to have some full-body decoys. They will make a difference. You can use silhouettes and socks as fillers, and I like what Dive Bomb has done with their C2 Sandhill Crane Silhouettes and S3i Sandhill Crane Socks. They work well when blended with full-body decoys."

You can watch YouTube or outdoor television and see waterfowl hunters destroying cranes with nothing but socks and silhouettes. However, it's essential to know that those hunts usually occur north of the border on birds that have had little to no pressure.

Calling All Cranes

Early in his crane hunting career, Richter saw a genuine need for calling cranes.

"Cranes are weird, man," he continued. "Early on, most guys would just set up in fields they saw sandhills in or try to get between them and pass shoot them.

"I hated doing everything right and watching the birds fly by. Years ago, I helped Bill Saunders, along with several others, create the Rex Crane Call. We invested a significant amount of time and effort into this call. It sounds excellent and works well. The call is so easy to use, and it's a game-changer. With a little practice, you can easily replicate the sound of the sandhill crane with minimal forward air pressure."

Concerning calling, Richter recommends reading the birds. As with ducks and geese, if a flock of sandhills is bee-lining to your decoys, letting the air out and dropping their feet, you don't need to call much. However, if the birds are acting finicky, or they pass you by and line out in the opposite direction, you need to call.

"You are tricking dinosaurs," Richter said. "These birds are challenging to fool by the time they hit the Southwest states. However, they respond so well to calls. I love it when a flock passes by, and you let him get a little way away and hit the calls. Most of the time, they turn and come right back and drop in."
What About Ammo?

Sandhill cranes are big birds. Standing upright, mature adults can reach a height of nearly four feet and weigh up to 11 pounds. They have heavy wing bones, and for this reason, quality shotshells are recommended. My sandhill go-to is HEVI-Shot's HEVI-Metal 3-inch 1-1/4-ounce BB and 2. The tungsten BB-sized shot leads the way and kills cranes at further distances, while the #2 steel shot provides enough pellets for good-sized patterns at closer ranges.

"I prefer a mix of high-quality steel and TSS," Richter said. "Cranes are big and hard to kill. When we're finishing birds—getting those big bodies backpedaling in the decoys—I want to see lots of birds fall. For this reason, I prefer APEX's TSS/S3 Steel Blend in 12-gauge. For a load featuring high-quality, dense tungsten, it offers a decent price point at just over $50 per box of 25. I like the BB/7.5 and 2/7.5 for cranes. However, when we have the field, the hide, and the wind is perfect, I want to use a 28-gauge and have some fun. My kids kill the heck out of cranes with sub-gauge shotguns when the conditions are right.

Cranes may not be labeled as waterfowl, but the birds are a waterfowler's dream. When a flock of cranes with wingspans over six feet glide into the decoys only a few feet off the ground, it's an extraordinary sight. And while sandhill crane hunting has gained popularity, it doesn't attract the same number of participants as duck and goose hunting. Whether you choose to hire an outfitter, knock on doors to gain private-land permission, or hunt public ground, there's plenty of opportunity for the willing sandhill crane hunter.

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