Forums46
Topics538,313
Posts9,735,695
Members87,082
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
#7658985
11/11/19 11:17 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 11
RcostaK
OP
Light Foot
|
OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 11 |
When scouting for crane I always look for peanut, wheat, millet, etc fields but will the Crane land and feed in cotton fields as well? Not sure if they eat cotton seed or not? Anyone know if Sandhills like cotton?
RcostaK Long Live TX
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: RcostaK]
#7659040
11/12/19 12:20 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 474
ken starling
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 474 |
Yes. I am not a Crane hunting expert but can attest we had a awesome hunt over a cotton field.
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: ken starling]
#7659390
11/12/19 01:42 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387
john paul
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387 |
No. They are either being lazy and loafing, scratching up weeds and eating the root system, or there has been winter wheat sewn in and they are eating it.
Last edited by john paul; 11/12/19 01:43 PM.
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: RcostaK]
#7659434
11/12/19 02:19 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,287
BradyBuck
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,287 |
They will land in cotton by the thousands but they don't eat it..
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: RcostaK]
#7659575
11/12/19 03:55 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 474
ken starling
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 474 |
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: RcostaK]
#7662522
11/15/19 04:37 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,601
sig226fan (Rguns.com)
duck & cover
|
duck & cover
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,601 |
They will eat the rye grass and other crap weeds that are first back up after defoliating cotton.... I don't think they are actually eating the cotton, rather the fresh growth under it
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: john paul]
#7671627
11/25/19 05:53 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 149
blackfoot
Woodsman
|
Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 149 |
No. They are either being lazy and loafing, scratching up weeds and eating the root system, or there has been winter wheat sewn in and they are eating it. Wrong. I hunted 7 cotton fields last season and shot limits every time. No wheat drilled in the field. Cotton seed is 20% protein. Ranchers feed It to cattle, hunters feed It to deer. Cranes eat It too. Times are changing, especially when food is in short supply. Number one rule of bird hunting, be where they want to be. Take advantage of the situation, it’s really easy to get permission for a cotton field.
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: RcostaK]
#7681258
12/06/19 04:33 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 115
GMG1
Woodsman
|
Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 115 |
|
|
|
Re: Do Sandhill Crane eat cotton
[Re: blackfoot]
#7681543
12/06/19 03:21 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387
john paul
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387 |
No. They are either being lazy and loafing, scratching up weeds and eating the root system, or there has been winter wheat sewn in and they are eating it. Wrong. I hunted 7 cotton fields last season and shot limits every time. No wheat drilled in the field. Cotton seed is 20% protein. Ranchers feed It to cattle, hunters feed It to deer. Cranes eat It too. Times are changing, especially when food is in short supply. Number one rule of bird hunting, be where they want to be. Take advantage of the situation, it’s really easy to get permission for a cotton field. You show me a crane with cotton seed in his craw and I will believe you. I guess they could be gritting out there also?? It is my understanding that it is very difficult for all birds to digest cotton seed, hence the reason they don’t eat it. Maybe a crane every now and then eats a cotton seed but that is not the main reason they are out there, even when some type of cover crop isn’t sewn in on top.
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|