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Shot size for Sandhill Cranes #8718576 10/26/22 02:41 PM
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bill roberts Offline OP
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What size shot do you use for Sandhills?


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Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes [Re: bill roberts] #8718585 10/26/22 02:47 PM
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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
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Originally Posted by bill roberts
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
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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
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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
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john paul Offline
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#5 lead choked tighter than modified.


Originally Posted by garrett
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
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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
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Originally Posted by john paul
#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
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00 buck!

Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes [Re: bill roberts] #8719553 10/27/22 04:20 PM
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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
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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
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Re: Shot size for Sandhill Cranes [Re: bill roberts] #8719623 10/27/22 05:48 PM
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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
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Originally Posted by jnd59
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
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Originally Posted by Sewer rat
Originally Posted by jnd59
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.


Originally Posted by garrett
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
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