</a JR Holmes Oil Company </a Shark Guard Southeast Woods and Whitetail Mayer Insurance Services LLC
Aldeer Classifieds
Looking for Lowrance Ghost or 24v Ultrex
by bradbathome. 03/28/24 08:17 PM
Turkey loads/decoy
by Rem870s2. 03/28/24 04:41 PM
Wtb Browning 300 Mag
by desertdog. 03/28/24 03:36 PM
WTB Chevy 1500
by Okalona. 03/28/24 07:44 AM
Iso ruger american ranch
by AustinC. 03/27/24 08:20 PM
Serious Deer Talk
The Hollywood Buck.
by Mbrock. 03/28/24 08:56 PM
For the Don’t Shoot Does Crowd
by SEWoodsWhitetail. 03/28/24 10:45 AM
High Fencing
by RareBreed. 03/26/24 10:45 PM
Who's got the best deer hunting in AL
by TensawRiver. 03/26/24 01:26 PM
What makes you happy?
by Fishduck. 03/26/24 10:25 AM
March
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Land, Leases, Hunting Clubs
West Jefferson County hunting club
by Jmfire722. 03/18/24 08:36 AM
Western Ky farm
by todd w. 03/15/24 01:23 PM
Information on bibb county hunting club
by quickshot. 03/10/24 01:46 PM
Hunting Club
by Hibby. 03/08/24 04:34 PM
Mississippi club
by Gobl4me. 03/07/24 09:55 PM
Who's Online Now
9 registered members (Gulfcoast, jaredhunts, Frankie, dirtwrk, apolloslade, BRP549, Jstocks, 2 invisible), 500 guests, and 0 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane #2874210
08/09/19 01:46 PM
08/09/19 01:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,043
AL
BamaGuitarDude Offline OP
12 point
BamaGuitarDude  Offline OP
12 point
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,043
AL
Alabama Sets First Sandhill Crane Season in Century
By DAVID RAINER

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Alabama hunters will have their first opportunity in 103 years to hunt a migratory bird that has been making a steady comeback for the past few decades.

The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division will conduct a draw hunt of 400 permits to hunt sandhill cranes, becoming the third state east of the Mississippi River to hold a sandhill hunt.

“The last sandhill crane hunting in Alabama was in 1916,” said Seth Maddox, WFF Migratory Game Bird Coordinator. “This is the first time in 13 years that we’ve had a new species open to hunting. The last was alligator in 2006. It’s pretty exciting.”

The sandhill crane season will be split with the first segment from December 3, 2019, to January 5, 2020. The second segment will be January 16-31, 2020.

The daily, season and possession limit will be three birds per permit. Hunters can harvest all three birds in one day if they choose.

“This sandhill crane season came about through the feedback of hunters,” Maddox said. “They started seeing increased numbers of sandhills while they were out hunting other species, especially waterfowl. Hunters wanted the opportunity to hunt this species in Alabama. They’d heard about the seasons in Kentucky and Tennessee from their friends. Hunters have paved the way for the species recovery of sandhill crane. We want to provide hunting opportunities when they are available.”

In the early 2000s, discussions began about possible sandhill crane seasons in the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways. In the Eastern U.S. the subspecies is called the giant sandhill crane.

Maddox said by 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved a sandhill crane management plan that included a hunt plan for the Mississippi Flyway, which includes Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

“Kentucky was the first state to take advantage of that,” Maddox said. “They opened their season in 2011. Tennessee opened their season in 2013. We’ll be the third state east of the Mississippi to have a sandhill season this year.”

Thirteen states west of the Mississippi River have sandhill crane hunting seasons.

“We started counting sandhills in 2010 in conjunction with our aerial waterfowl surveys,” Maddox said. “We conduct the aerial surveys each fall and winter. Since 2010, we’ve seen a 16% increase on average per year in the state.”

In 2016, WFF staff began discussions about the possibility of a sandhill season and began the tedious process to get a hunting season approved by USFWS.

“We had to go through the Flyway (The Mississippi Flyway Council) process, just like any other state that wants to add a new season on migratory birds,” Maddox said. “We began discussing that with the Flyway. We gathered all of our data and put together a proposal for a hunt plan. It took a couple of years to get through that process.”

When that effort was completed, Alabama was granted a three-year experimental season, beginning in 2019.

WFF opted to make the season a limited draw with 400 permits that will be issued through a computer-controlled random draw. Those drawn must complete the process. Once approved, each permittee will be issued three tags for a maximum total harvest of 1,200 birds.

The registration process is limited to Alabama residents 16 or older or Alabama lifetime license holders. Applicants must have their regular hunting license and a state waterfowl stamp to apply.

Maddox said the registration process will open in September and be open for several weeks. The drawing will occur in October.

However, the process is not complete even if you are lucky enough to be drawn.

“If drawn, they will have to take an online test that includes species identification and regulations,” Maddox said. “Once they pass that test, we will issue the permit and tags. Then they must purchase a federal duck stamp and HIP (Harvest Information Program) license, and if hunting on a WMA (wildlife management area), a WMA license. Once they have all that, they are good to hunt.”

Maddox said the number of permits was derived from the number of sandhill cranes counted over a five-year average. The guidelines under the hunt plan allow a state to harvest 10 percent of that five-year average.

“Our five-year average is 15,029 birds,” he said. “For the experimental season, we elected to keep the harvest below 10 percent because we wanted to take it slow and ensure hunting will not be detrimental to the population.”

Maddox said the majority of migratory sandhill cranes are found in the Tennessee River Valley with some birds wintering in Weiss Reservoir on the Coosa River.

Sandhill cranes prefer wetland habitat with emergent vegetation. Unlike other wading birds, sandhills don’t target fish or other aquatic species for forage.

“Sandhills mainly eat small grains,” Maddox said. “You see them feeding a lot in harvested grain fields, corn fields particularly in Alabama. They normally roost near water and forage during the day in the harvested grain fields. They typically roost in water to stay away from predators. But they roost in large numbers to give them more eyes to watch for predators.”

Sandhills stand 4 to 5 feet tall with a wingspan of 4 to 6 feet. Maddox said those who have harvested sandhills rave about the taste of the bird, although he’s never eaten it.

“I know they call them the ribeye of the sky,” he said. “They’re known as one of the best-tasting migratory birds out there.”

Hunting will be limited to north Alabama in a zone that runs from the Georgia state line down Interstate 20 to Birmingham, then north of I-22 to the Mississippi state line.

Maddox said the typical migration route for sandhills is to enter north Alabama before moving east into Georgia and then south to Florida.

“There are areas south of Birmingham associated with non-migratory populations in southeast Mississippi and in Florida,” he said. “Those birds are protected. That’s why we chose to keep it in north Alabama.”

After the season, all permit holders will be required to take a postseason survey provided by WFF. If those permit holders fail to complete the postseason survey, they will not be eligible for the drawing in the future. WFF is required to provide that information to USFWS to continue the experimental seasons.

As expected, Maddox said WFF received some negative feedback when the sandhill season was announced.

“We have received some negative feedback,” he said. “Mainly, the callers did not know much about the species. We try to provide them with information about what the hunt is going to be like, the data we have collected, and the vetting and thought process that has gone into this. Conservation efforts funded mostly from hunters is one of the main reasons for the rebound of the crane, similar to many other species of wildlife. Most of the people I have talked to have changed their minds by the end of the conversation, or at least been okay with it. There will still be people who are not going to be swayed because they don’t want to see this species hunted.

“But sandhills are like any other game species. A hundred years ago, deer and turkey were rare in the state. We had to build those numbers back up. It just took sandhill cranes a little longer.”

Maddox said this likely won’t be a slam-dunk for those who get permits.

“Sandhills have great eyesight and are pretty wary,” he said. “It can be tough hunting. Some people will pass-shoot them and others will use blinds and decoys. It will be interesting the first couple of years to see how hunters adapt.”

A friend of mine from Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., just outside Chattanooga, shared some insights on the Tennessee seasons, at least the first five. To his chagrin, he didn’t get drawn for last year’s season.

Tony Sanders, an outdoor writer and radio host, said, without a doubt, it’s the most exciting hunting he’s ever done.

“I’ve hunted two ways, and both are fun,” said Sanders, who also is the District 4 Wildlife Commissioner for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “I’ve hunted just pass-shooting, coming off the water going to the fields to feed. It was almost like a big dove shoot.

“But sandhills are deceptively big and extremely tough. I didn’t realize that the first year. I feel like I’m a pretty good shot. There was a group of five birds coming by. I’m on the first bird in the group. When I shot, I dropped the third bird. It didn’t make any sense. Ten minutes later, I walked to my car parked in a small food plot. The birds were flying over, and I realized how fast they were flying. These birds are so big and deceptively fast.”

Sanders most often opts to hunt cranes another way, which is in a blind with a decoy spread.

“The second way is more fun,” he said. “You set up a decoy spread and call them in. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to see them cup their wings several hundred yards away, knowing they’re coming to your spread. But they are extremely wary birds. They’re like ducks on steroids. Everything has to be right, and you’ve got to be hidden.

“I hope the people of Alabama really love it. I can’t wait for our drawing. It’s our anniversary. I told my wife I had to be at the drawing. She’s great. She understood.”


ALDeer physics: for every opinion, there's an equal & opposite opinion

A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874217
08/09/19 01:53 PM
08/09/19 01:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 21,443
HSV AL
jmudler Offline
Freak of Nature
jmudler  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 21,443
HSV AL
Ribeye of the Sky - Meateater had an episode about Cranehills


Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874222
08/09/19 01:57 PM
08/09/19 01:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 32,451
North Alabama
YEKRUT Offline
Turkey Nut
YEKRUT  Offline
Turkey Nut
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 32,451
North Alabama
I’m in, they are thicker than ditch chickens up here in the winter months.


Some men are mere hunters; others are turkey hunters. —Archibald Rutledge—
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874226
08/09/19 02:00 PM
08/09/19 02:00 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,379
Albertville
icducks Offline
8 point
icducks  Offline
8 point
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,379
Albertville
I just hope it goes as planned. Gonna be hard to keep people from sniping them with a 22 or killing more than one when they are flying good.


Fins and Feathers
www.tackletrap.com
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874231
08/09/19 02:06 PM
08/09/19 02:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
257wbymag Offline
Boo Boo Head
257wbymag  Offline
Boo Boo Head
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
It’s funner to just shoot em out the truck window with a 223 and just go home


Quietly killing turkeys where youre not!!!
My tank full of give a fraks been runnin on empty
I'm the paterfamilias
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874283
08/09/19 03:05 PM
08/09/19 03:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 51,938
Over Yonder
C
Clem Offline
Mildly Quirky
Clem  Offline
Mildly Quirky
C
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 51,938
Over Yonder

Unless I've missed it, still no news on the cost of applying for the random lottery.


"Hunting Politics are stupid!" - Farm Hunter

"Bible says you shouldn't put sugar in your cornbread." Dustin, 2013

"Best I can figure 97.365% of the general public is a paint chip eating, mouth breathing, certified dumbass." BCLC, 2020
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874293
08/09/19 03:11 PM
08/09/19 03:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,135
Ramer
ronfromramer Offline
10 point
ronfromramer  Offline
10 point
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,135
Ramer
Don't forget cranecheck

Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874317
08/09/19 03:36 PM
08/09/19 03:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 51,938
Over Yonder
C
Clem Offline
Mildly Quirky
Clem  Offline
Mildly Quirky
C
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 51,938
Over Yonder

This news has been out for weeks but today the statewide news media is picking up the story (in the original post) and circulating it, posting on social media and other sites.

As expected, the anti-hunting folks along with misinformed "they're endangered!" people already are asking "Why?" and "Who would do this?" and "How can this be stopped?" They have zero clue about population management, how or why hunting is legal and only think of nothing but stopping or affecting the hunts.

Tennessee had protests when it began its sandhill season years ago. Alabama officials and hunters should expect the same.

Remember to have the phone numbers for the DCNR District offices and/or Sheriff's Department in your phones in order to contact anyone about trespassing, anyone trying to prohibit you from hunting or anyone harassing your legal hunts. It is against the law to harass someone lawfully engaged in a hunting or fishing activity. Be polite, stand your ground and contact the game warden or sheriff's office to get assistance. Video the situation and remember to comport yourself in a good manner. Don't be "that redneck" the anti-hunters can use against this.

Having them arrested - even if they say they don't care - will be the upside.


"Hunting Politics are stupid!" - Farm Hunter

"Bible says you shouldn't put sugar in your cornbread." Dustin, 2013

"Best I can figure 97.365% of the general public is a paint chip eating, mouth breathing, certified dumbass." BCLC, 2020
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: Clem] #2874323
08/09/19 03:45 PM
08/09/19 03:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
JUGHEAD Offline
Booner
JUGHEAD  Offline
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
Originally Posted by Clem

Unless I've missed it, still no news on the cost of applying for the random lottery.

Alligator 2.0. You can count on it. Typical AL DCNR goat roping.


"The only reason I shoot a 3.5" shell for turkeys is because they don't make a 4" one." - t123winters
Re: Move Over Deer/Turkey Talk - It's Sandhill Crane [Re: BamaGuitarDude] #2874457
08/09/19 05:48 PM
08/09/19 05:48 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,509
Luverne
tbest3 Offline
12 point
tbest3  Offline
12 point
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,509
Luverne

I saw 2 in one of our corn fields in Crenshaw county last winter while deer hunting. I’d like to try em to see if they’re as good as folks say they are.

Last edited by tbest3; 08/09/19 05:49 PM.

Aldeer.com Copyright 2001-2023 Aldeer LLP.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1.1
(Release build 20180111)
Page Time: 0.087s Queries: 14 (0.027s) Memory: 3.1763 MB (Peak: 3.3843 MB) Zlib disabled. Server Time: 2024-03-29 08:12:41 UTC