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Help With Sandhill
#5933465
09/17/15 08:32 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 146
Nakraik
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 146 |
I am looking to try and hit the Sandhill pretty hard this year when the season arrives.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for decoys?
I've looked at a few to buy, but some people like their stuff too much.
Looking for suggestions on bought ones you like the most, suggestions/designs for making my own, and your thoughts on how many deeks per hunter.
Any other tips are appreciated too!
Thanks in advance guys and gals.
Shot my first turkey today...Scared the crap out of everyone in the frozen food section, it was awesome!
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5933549
09/17/15 09:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 746
TTUhunter4
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 746 |
Here is what I did when I was in college at Tech, and it worked very, very well.
- looked for the cheapest used goose shells I could find. Beat up, no paint...doesn't matter. - Painted all of the goose shells to look like cranes, grey with a red stripe on the head and a black beak. - Drilled holes in the center of each shell just big enough for piece of whatever size rebar to fit through. - Bought rubber stoppers and drilled slightly smaller hole through each of those as well.
Push stopper onto rebar, and then slide the "crane" shell onto rebar. The stopper keeps the shell from sliding down the rebar, and the rebar holds it high off the ground mimicking a crane's long legs.
We hammered the cranes over these things, and they were CHEAP! Real crane decoys are pricey to say the least.
"God made man, but Samuel Colt made them equal."
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5933559
09/17/15 09:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294 |
I've killed a few of them over cut outs with salted dry skin stretched over them.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934142
09/18/15 04:18 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721
Dave Speer
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721 |
The best production crane decoys are the ones by Deception Outdoors. They run $550 for 6 with a lifetime guarantee. Most other crane decoys unless they are handmade (stuffers or flocked foamers) are pretty bad. The silo socks work for some guys in a pinch but they're really the wrong color.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Dave Speer]
#5934442
09/18/15 01:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466 |
We are still trying to figure out the DIY crane hunt too. Couple of years ago one of the guys on my lease bought some silosocks and spray painted them grey. The cranes definitely decoyed to them.
Spray painting some goose dekes like the other poster mentioned is a good idea too.
I checked out the Deception Outdoors website, those are nice and look pretty durable. I'm even more interested in the turkey decoys though
Good ideas guys, thanks.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934571
09/18/15 02:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294 |
Guys another way that really works without decoys is just scout 3 to 4 days every morning early. You want to really figure out their flight path and destination, WITHOUT spooking them, good binos are needed. If the food is there and they don't get pressured they will land in relatively the same location everyday. Set up early, down wind of the X, and hide extremely well. It's not as good as having $1000 in suffer deeks, but you'll be surprised how effective it can be when it works.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: 8pointdrop]
#5934597
09/18/15 03:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466 |
Guys another way that really works without decoys is just scout 3 to 4 days every morning early. You want to really figure out their flight path and destination, WITHOUT spooking them, good binos are needed. If the food is there and they don't get pressured they will land in relatively the same location everyday. Set up early, down wind of the X, and hide extremely well. It's not as good as having $1000 in suffer deeks, but you'll be surprised how effective it can be when it works. This is the method we try to employ but passing shots on sandhill cranes is harder than it sounds, hence the interest in decoys. I also am going to try and go on a guided hunt, there are good outfitters in the area that I could get an education from.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934619
09/18/15 03:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,645
garrett
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,645 |
pass shooting cranes is a blast, the sound they make when they hit the ground never gets old
Attention rickym, this is not a troll post, just a good hearted fun type of post
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934626
09/18/15 03:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 716
Gary Willmann
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 716 |
I've hunted over silo socks multiple times, great success.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: garrett]
#5934643
09/18/15 03:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466 |
pass shooting cranes is a blast, the sound they make when they hit the ground never gets old Like lawn furniture falling from the sky
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934654
09/18/15 03:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777
GravyWheels
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777 |
We used painted goose shells. We used the gray primer for the base with a little red on the face and top edge of the head and a black beak. Misted a little black over the back section and we killed 40 limits over them in one season.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934655
09/18/15 03:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,645
garrett
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,645 |
and dealing with cripples is fun
Attention rickym, this is not a troll post, just a good hearted fun type of post
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934663
09/18/15 03:34 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777
GravyWheels
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777 |
Crips always got a good helmet shot of #6.....
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934670
09/18/15 03:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,645
garrett
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,645 |
that takes all the fun out of it
Attention rickym, this is not a troll post, just a good hearted fun type of post
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: garrett]
#5934677
09/18/15 03:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294 |
Crips always got a good helmet shot of #6..... that takes all the fun out of it Yep you gotta get out there and go toe to toe with them.
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934691
09/18/15 03:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777
GravyWheels
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777 |
Not with that dagger of a beak on them dudes....
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5934723
09/18/15 03:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294 |
I think your friends are possessed, you better watch out..
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: 8pointdrop]
#5934917
09/18/15 05:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 413
texassippi
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 413 |
I think your friends are possessed, you better watch out..
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5935252
09/18/15 09:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777
GravyWheels
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777 |
That's what a lot of early mornings will do to you.....
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5936728
09/20/15 01:48 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 146
Nakraik
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 146 |
Thanks everyone for the tips. I like the idea of trying painting old goose shells. Will keep me busy while I chomp at this bit.
Shot my first turkey today...Scared the crap out of everyone in the frozen food section, it was awesome!
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: garrett]
#5936779
09/20/15 02:14 AM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,426
Ramball36
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,426 |
and dealing with cripples is fun The last punch I took to the face was from a crippled crane
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Re: Help With Sandhill
[Re: Nakraik]
#5937012
09/20/15 11:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,607
Revoman
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,607 |
Hmmm, some of those pics look familiar GW. Looking forward to this season.
Call'm an Kill'm
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