My bro-in-law hunted cranes for the first time up in Tulia, TX November of 2009. We had a great hunt.

Here is the link to some video I shot.



The birds are huge!

You heard that song about Tulia, TX? Good one. Looks like a fun hunt, I want to shoot a crane so badly!

I worked at a feedlot in Tulia TX in 94, Coldest 2 weeks of my life

awesome hunt !!!

That's awesome watching the dog try to pick up 2 at once...

are those all mounted sandhills you use for decoys?

LHD, tell me about it. I've never seen a dog try to multi task like that! I was pretty impressed with her, and she was only 9 mos old.

DNB, yes, those are mounted sandhills that we used for decoys. Never seen anything like that outside of turkey hunting. They worked pretty good, and they are much sturdier than I would have thought.

I have heard stories about crippled sandhills going after dogs' eyes with their spike beaks. I wouldn't send my dog out for them.

That's too cool! Did you go out with an outfitter or on your own? I'm really wanting to shoot a sandhill!

JF68, I also had heard the same. Before we started shooting, I specifically asked my guide about it. He said that he'd heard of it happening, but never had one of his dogs get beaked, and he'd been guiding for like five years (for the record, he was 24 YO . . .great guide and great person). Several of the birds we shot hit the ground still alive. They flopped around a lot (see video) but none of them seemed to go after the dog's eyes.

Hiodon, I did go with an outfitter . . . Panhandle's Best Inc. They can be found at http://www.panhandlesbest.com/dinosaur.php. I would recommend them to anyone. I did not know it at the time I booked the hunt, but Meissenburg is best known for his crane hunting. If you want to know more, shoot me a PM.

Cool deal. I'll check into them next season. Thanks for the info.

That dog's pretty ambitious trying at a 2-fer on the pickup, of cranes no less. Nice!