Hunting partner couldn't make it so I get to put these out by myself tonight.100s of cranes in the area so hoping for a good morning.

Good luck.

Well that sucks.

Hope the hunt is incredible, and you can leave them out for a few days to get your limits.

.

I patterned them today and I'm on the hub field in the middle of 3 others they are moving back and forth to and from. And I'm on the flight path from roost. But the bad is the wind is changing and eventually gusting to 35mph. It could send my birds in a different direction. I doubt I can leave my decoys out all day. The wind would take them. But the best time to hunt is when you can. All 75 decoys are set up and staked extra deep so I will hold out as long as I can.

Good luck. Cranes are fun, but can also be extremely frustrating.

The limit is only 3, whats taking so long

Will stake decoys for hunt....just sayin. Good luck

Good luck! What area are you in?

Where da pics?

No cranes taken, but it was eventful. Man and dog falling asleep and fumbling for gun when two cranes waited till they were almost in decoys before making noise and waking me. A single stopping to hover directly overhead at guessing 100 yards for what seemed like forever. I should have dropped in a buckshot and tried it. A group of 5 passing by low just out of range ignoring me. The lost pair coming back two more times but not liking my dancing decoys. And wind breaking decoy stakes before I called it. The numbers from yesterday were not present today. But I should have had two birds down. They were in front of me and just a few feet over the decoys when I woke up. Not the first time that has happened to me. Makes me wonder how many times I have had birds come and go that I never knew about.

::

Heck of a deal

One more time

Good luck!

Wish I was there. Good luck!

I suck

IMO better than no hulls on the ground

Every wave has a story and excuse, but best yet a group of six pealed off and came down straight to me. I should have shot into them head on for the sure thing, but it looked like they would commit and land so I waited. They flared. I missed the first shot. Too close really for my choke. Shooting that low angle on my back 10 GA stove piped and it was too late by the time I picked up the 12GA. Today there are too many birds. It's difficult to turn and commit birds out of flocks 10 times bigger than my decoy spread .

Lucky man you are. You get to see them, shoot at them and not have to clean them. Have fun and enjoy it.

I'd be happy to help disperse flocks and create confusion if you know what I mean

Good luck John!

But I bet it was a great nap.

Hunting cranes from a layout blind has to be difficult

I was thinking the same thing!

Thought my hunting was over. Truck repairs at home went from bad to worse so was leaving for home to pay for a new engine. Was carrying my full bodies up to the house just now and three cranes landed next to my decoys. I quickly put Dash up,, grabbed a shotgun at the house, and deployed the cow. Crossing the field I got within 100 yards, but no shots fired. Regardless the cow is always fun. Good news is the wife got the new engine paid for so I get to try again in the morning. Or suck again in the morning
.

I'm sure that layout and hide didn't help you. Cranes are stupid finicky.
I've learned trying to set up at a 45 degree cross wind and running decoys perpendicular works great.
But, the hide has to be impeccable.
If you're gonna hide in the decoys, you might look at getting some divebomb socks.
Cranes are just tough to hunt compared to ducks and geese from what I've experienced.

I here ya, but I have been hunting this way in this field for many years with great success. I had two birds within 35-40 yards yesterday when I woke up. I had 6 breaking to land at under 30 yards a few feet off the ground today, but I missed and stove piped. My full choke #2 tungsten probably had a 10 inch pattern on that shot.i just screwed up is all. It's a small deer lease valley field long and narrow surrounded by bluffs, Tall creek bottom trees and mountains. The cranes don't naturally land in this field. They fly past or near it from the Brazos headed to big fields far to my west or north. No one else in the area targets them.From years of trial and error my decoys have to be in the middle low areas, not be shaded and not hidden to distant birds due to surrounding terrain¹. I often have to turn the birds with a call to get them to notice them. They will not come to me if my decoys are spread out either. I match the hatch in that the decoys are set up in the same way I have watched the live birds for hours in the field to my west. Bunched up in the low spots. Normally the flocks here are very small and easier to decoy. The current conditions with the big numbers is unusual for here. Shots are normally 30 to 60 yards, but I have had a bird land three feet from my head before. And yes that one woke me up too. I know my 75 decoy mix is outdated, and my hunting conditions are not optimal, but it's what I have to work with.
Good enough for me.