Ribeye of the Sky

[BobGBA]

Have any of you hunted Sandhill Crane?

I've been somewhat interested in trying it, ever since I saw the MEATEATER episode (S5 E10) years ago.

A friend called yesterday and he wants to go to Texas next year to hunt them.

 

[Husker415]

I've always wondered about this. These birds migrate by the thousands through Nebraska each Fall and Spring, they travel through Desoto Bend Preservation. A sight to see. Anyhow, I have never seen crane on the menu. I love ribeye though. Good luck.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

Nope. Gross. Beef ribeye is good enough for me. I guess Im a simple man.

 

[PoorRichRichard]

Been wanting to try them for years. I’ve seen a few out around the Salton Sea while whackin’ ducks.

I’ll admit I’ve done the left to right double-take to see if a warden or anyone else is within eyesight, but my moral compass has always got the better of me, and the winged ribeyes have escaped unscathed.

 

[BobGBA]

I hunted geese at Cibola a long time ago and we had a couple large flights of sandhills fly over.
I sure wished they were legal to take.

 

[tonyoverthere]

I did a crane hunt in the Texas panhandle a couple years ago with some buddies. It was the middle of winter and about 20 degrees. Laying on the ground in layout blinds...soooo damn cold. But, it was the funnest hunt we've ever done. Tons of birds. The sound they make coming in gets you pumped. They kind of hover straight downward over the decoy spread and when they get close enough, you go to work. It was awesome. If you only clip one and it's still up and walking around, you have to go get it, and they will fight back at you. I marinated mine for 24 hours and cooked it to medium rare. Came out great, just like a ribeye. The second time, I overcooked it past mid rare and it was not very good. Highly recommend!

 

[NATEWA]

Yes, also in Texas. Go do it!

If I had to do it again, I’d do morning hunts only. The evening hunts sucked for us. Went right before Covid in Jan 2020.

Send me a PM if you want more details.

 

[RustVendor]

Never done cranes but I got a few Whitefront geese this year which are also known as "Ribeye of the sky" though I don't really see the connection as the fat isn't marbled it's under the skin like any other bird. They are really really good though. But to do an out of state crane hunt you will be paying more per pound than kobe beef haha

 

[NATEWA]

Never done cranes but I got a few Whitefront geese this year which are also known as "Ribeye of the sky" though I don't really see the connection as the fat isn't marbled it's under the skin like any other bird. They are really really good though. But to do an out of state crane hunt you will be paying more per pound than kobe beef haha

Yep, those are good eating! Hope to get some more during the late season hunt.

 

[NATEWA]

Years ago, I put some steak seasoning on spec breasts, bbq to medium rare and served to a friend.

“Is this Kobe beef? Damn, this is good.”

 

[DuckDawg22]

There's been some brutally slow days in the boat blind out on the delta when a group of those will come in low right over you, and man does that trigger finger get itchy. I'd be the guy that gets caught though

 

[-D.M.-]

I did a crane hunt in the Texas panhandle a couple years ago with some buddies. It was the middle of winter and about 20 degrees. Laying on the ground in layout blinds...soooo damn cold. But, it was the funnest hunt we've ever done. Tons of birds. The sound they make coming in gets you pumped. They kind of hover straight downward over the decoy spread and when they get close enough, you go to work. It was awesome. If you only clip one and it's still up and walking around, you have to go get it, and they will fight back at you. I marinated mine for 24 hours and cooked it to medium rare. Came out great, just like a ribeye. The second time, I overcooked it past mid rare and it was not very good. Highly recommend!

Sounds finicky to cook, like lamb. Overdone lamb is awful.

 

[NATEWA]

Ducks and geese are the same. Anything past medium rare and YUCK.