Reply by: Ajax5240      Posted: 10/5/2012 1:31:16 PM     Points: 105    

I'd start with a State Wild Life area book available for free at your local DOW office and look through the public hunting areas that hold the type of fish you are looking to go after. With the low water across the state, especially out east it will be a challenging feat to find good duck hunting and fishing in one location.

As for the cranes, I wouldn't get your hopes up.

 Reply by: crazypickles      Posted: 10/5/2012 2:57:59 PM     Points: 2074    

pbfisher send me an email, i live in boulder and am hooked on quack for my first duck season. I can hunt weekends and one or two weekdays.
jtaylorc@comcast.net

 Reply by: walleyeorbust      Posted: 10/7/2012 7:23:29 AM     Points: 260    

This is going to sound crazy but on my way home from hunting last night I stopped to sight in my rifle on the Pawnee grass lands and had several flocks of cranes fly over head. But you are not going to find a drop of rain out there. Try the bigger water lakes jumbo sterling Jackson all are low but may find what you are looking for. Doesn't sound like they plan to start filling till November 15

 Reply by: Tbubb      Posted: 10/7/2012 7:26:17 AM     Points: 3447    

What do you do with a crane if you sheet it anyway?

 Reply by: cookster      Posted: 10/7/2012 11:54:45 AM     Points: 2313    

Blue lake had alot of cranes 2 weeks ago.

 Reply by: elkinthebag      Posted: 10/8/2012 6:54:14 AM     Points: 1500    

the farther east the better

 Reply by: Tbubb      Posted: 10/8/2012 3:12:24 PM     Points: 3447    

So, seriously, disabuse me of my notions by making me a better informed and less ignorant outdoorsman. What do you do with crane that you shoot?

 Reply by: Ajax5240      Posted: 10/8/2012 3:46:31 PM     Points: 105    

Tbubb, you eat it. Much like Duck or Goose. Some strong marinating makes it much more appetizing. I make all of my waterfowl meat into sausage and snack sticks with a good amount of beef or pork added in to dilute the funky taste of the goose meat. If done right, you would think it is store bought sausage. Add in some jalapenos sharp cheddar, etc and you have a tasty snack!

 Reply by: PANMAN      Posted: 10/8/2012 6:03:45 PM     Points: 506    

Ajax5240, I use ot hunt waterfowl but could never find a good recipe. I have wanted to try the whole snack stick idea. I have a smoke and some hi mountain snack stick mix. What is your ratio of waterfowl to pork or beef?

 Reply by: finsnfeathers      Posted: 10/9/2012 4:24:25 AM     Points: 57    

Flocks of cranes flew over my house in Johnstown for about 20 minutes straight last Saturday

 Reply by: fishingfreak      Posted: 10/9/2012 8:17:14 AM     Points: 713    

northeast or east is your best chance for cranes, but good luck though, they fly realy high out there, higher than snow geese

 Reply by: Ajax5240      Posted: 10/9/2012 11:18:49 AM     Points: 105    

PanMan, I do about a 50/50 mix of fowl / filler. One of the things that makes it goon and moist is using a pound of the bacon 'ends and pieces' that are really cheap at most grocery stores. Gives it good flavor and plenty of fat as the bird meat has little to none.

I use the Hi Country kits and add in whatever is in the fridge or i'm in the mood for. If you want to put cheddar in there, and plan to smoke the sausage, you have to get 'high temp' cheese otherwise it just melts and runs out of the sausage. The high temp stuff will remain in there as tasty morsels.

Freeze the meat before grinding so that it stays cold while grinding and doesn't get all 'pasty'. Grind it once with the super course blade, mix in the seasoning 'slurry' then run it through into the casings. Hang it in the fridge for a few days before smoking to let the flavor set in, then smoke to 165 internal temp. Let cool and enjoy.

Before and after below....

 Reply by: Tbubb      Posted: 10/9/2012 3:44:09 PM     Points: 3447    

Cool guys, thanks for answering. I have this reaction about shooting stuff for no reason. Rather than get huffy or presume anything, I asked.

I didn't know that people ate crane at all, or for that matter that it was hunted until this thread.

Cheers and good luck.

 Reply by: PANMAN      Posted: 10/9/2012 4:39:27 PM     Points: 506    

Thanks for the recipe Ajax5240.

 Reply by: pbfisher      Posted: 10/18/2012 7:26:12 AM     Points: 0    

I just looked at the DU migration map and it is showing cranes are starting to really move out of Nebraska and South Dakota a few days ago. I am thinking about seting out some decoys Saturday or Sunday morning. Hit me up if you want to go! Rpetrowsky0782@gmail.com

 Reply by: PANMAN      Posted: 10/18/2012 6:28:27 PM     Points: 506    

Not interested in going . But would like to know how you do? Keep us posted please. Thank you.