Waterfowl

Sandhill Crane hunting regulations.

Huntable in 20 states · 1 with a general season · 19 draw / limited entry.

Verify before hunting

Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with your state wildlife agency. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.

State by state

Where sandhill crane is huntable.

Tap a state for sandhill crane-specific regulations and a link to the agency. Bield does not yet ship specific season dates or bag limits — verify with the agency before hunting.

About the species

Sandhill cranes are tall, gray, long-legged migratory birds that breed across the Northern US and Canada and winter from Texas and New Mexico into Mexico. Continental populations have rebounded to the point that several states now offer hunting seasons, primarily targeting the Mid-Continent population. Mature birds weigh 8-12 pounds.

Quota-restricted draw permits are the norm. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky run various crane hunts. The hunt is similar to goose hunting — decoys, blinds in flooded ag fields, calling. Crane meat is highly regarded and widely called "ribeye of the sky."

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