Forums46
Topics537,031
Posts9,719,638
Members86,989
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
#8718576
10/26/22 02:41 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 144
bill roberts
OP
Woodsman
|
OP
Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 144 |
What size shot do you use for Sandhills?
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8718585
10/26/22 02:47 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,687
SherpaPhil
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,687 |
For what its worth, I have done it once and had good luck with #2s. That is what I will be using for my second trip next week.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8718634
10/26/22 03:38 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
What size shot do you use for Sandhills? #4 I am a fan of more pellets in a comfortable range. Hitting that head and neck is the key to cranes. No need for giant pellets. The larger the pellet the less pattern you got.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719021
10/27/22 12:07 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,005
Whack n stack
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,005 |
I’ve had good luck with #2 - #4’s. But most importantly, like stated above, shoot them in the head.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719151
10/27/22 02:07 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,512
rickym
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,512 |
Head shot, range matters a ton. They can be killed with 2-6 shot, I would recommend 4
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719310
10/27/22 12:09 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,386
john paul
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,386 |
#5 lead choked tighter than modified.
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719370
10/27/22 01:00 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 88
Hailyeah
Outdoorsman
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 88 |
I used 2 3/4" lead 2s, but the areas we hunted didn't have geese. I have several boxes I could part with if you live close to Terrell. I used to guide, but since leasing took over in our area, I am sticking to ducks around here more.
[Lone Watie hears a gun [censored] behind him; turns and sees Moonlight]
Lone Watie : It's not right, this damn woman doing something like this to me. I used to have power. Now old age is creeping up on me.
Josey Wales : More like old habits than old age.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: john paul]
#8719371
10/27/22 01:00 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
#5 lead choked tighter than modified. Prior to 1983 lead 2 3/4 #5 was the go to round. That load was a killer!
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719532
10/27/22 03:54 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,546
ducknbass
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,546 |
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719553
10/27/22 04:20 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,302
Blank
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,302 |
Winchester Super XX Copper-plated 2's. I have one box dedicated just for pass shooting sandhills on our wheat fields.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719601
10/27/22 05:09 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,419
Sewer rat
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,419 |
If you are just hunting cranes you can use lead and I would. Lead 4's. If you are hunting waterfowl along with them I would use Steel 1-2's.
I guided crane and goose hunts for 6 years and this is what we found worked best.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719622
10/27/22 05:48 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,841
HuntnFly67
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,841 |
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: bill roberts]
#8719623
10/27/22 05:48 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,214
jnd59
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,214 |
I knew you could hunt cranes with lead but is it just what you shoot or what everyone in the group shoots? Six hunters, one shoots lead so no one can shoot geese or just that hunter can't shoot geese. I bet I know the answer...
No matter how high a duck flies a hammer still breaks a window.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: jnd59]
#8719729
10/27/22 07:57 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,419
Sewer rat
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,419 |
I knew you could hunt cranes with lead but is it just what you shoot or what everyone in the group shoots? Six hunters, one shoots lead so no one can shoot geese or just that hunter can't shoot geese. I bet I know the answer... I am sure the game warden would ticket you if you had lead and anyone in your group shot a goose but I am pretty sure that is a battle that could be won in court if you wanted to push the issue. You can not be held accountable for what others do. We all the time had clients who didn't get their crane permit and when cranes came in they didn't shoot but their buddies who had the permits did. Perfectly legal for them to lay there and shoot geese and not cranes so I don't see why one couldn't hunt only cranes and not geese if so inclined. That being said you don't have to actually kill something to be hunting. If you are hunting waterfowl you can't have lead on your person regardless if you shoot anything or not. You would have to prove you were hunting cranes and not geese. That might be tricky to do especially if when the warden rolls up your group has a half dozen geese on the ground and no cranes. Some places they are mixed. Many days we shot limits of both. There are many places though where you only see one or the other. If I thought I would see a goose I would want steel so I could shoot it too.
|
|
|
Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8720099
10/28/22 11:18 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,386
john paul
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,386 |
I knew you could hunt cranes with lead but is it just what you shoot or what everyone in the group shoots? Six hunters, one shoots lead so no one can shoot geese or just that hunter can't shoot geese. I bet I know the answer... I am sure the game warden would ticket you if you had lead and anyone in your group shot a goose but I am pretty sure that is a battle that could be won in court if you wanted to push the issue. This right here. Just not worth the trouble. I always tell everyone in advance that if one person is shooting lead we aren’t shooting ducks or geese.
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
|