Sandhill Crane with Pedersoli 10 gauge.

[Conrad Alan]

So a few years ago a really good waterfowl hunting buddy and I got permits to hunt Sandhill Cranes here in Tennessee. He had been hunting them with his Pedersoli 10 gauge SxS muzzleloader. We went out and killed four cranes one day. He actually doubled and I borrowed his 10 gauge to kill one. Needless to say I was hooked. I finally found one of big pedersoli’s and bought it. It is the one with screw in chokes and chrome lined barrels. As you can see in the pic I was successful this morning. I missed with the first barrel but connected with the second. My load consisted of 110 grains by volume of Goex ffg black powder. My wad combo is a little different. First I seat a thin over shot card over the powder. Then two 1/8” lubed felt wads then another thin over shot card. 1-1/2 ounces of bismuth #B is poured in for shot. Then a thin over shot card seated to hold the shot in. Capped with CCI #11 magnum percussion caps. I use the modified choke tube in right barrel and the IM choke tube in left barrel.

A picture of the load sequence.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Well done.
What do them birds taste like?

 

[Conrad Alan]

Well done.
What do them birds taste like?

They really are tasty. They don’t have the dense meat like a duck or goose. It’s more like a sirloin steak. Very good cut into steaks. Then wrapped in bacon and grilled to medium rare.

 

[curator]

Well done.
What do them birds taste like?

It does depend on what the bird has been eating. Sandhills usually eat a lot of freshwater crayfish and small fish. I once had Sandhill crane in northern Michigan that tasted like moldy cat food soaked in Cod liver oil, but not that good! The Yoopers I was with swore it was fantastic!

 

[Britsmoothy]

They really are tasty. They don’t have the dense meat like a duck or goose. It’s more like a sirloin steak. Very good cut into steaks. Then wrapped in bacon and grilled to medium rare.

So they don't taste of sand then...

Kidding ya. Good on ya friend

 

[Conrad Alan]

It does depend on what the bird has been eating. Sandhills usually eat a lot of freshwater crayfish and small fish. I once had Sandhill crane in northern Michigan that tasted like moldy cat food soaked in Cod liver oil, but not that good! The Yoopers I was with swore it was fantastic!

The birds around here eat in the grain fields and also eat something out of the mud flats along the river. I have no idea what they get out of the mud.

 

[spudnut]

I saw some picking up and tossing around something as big as a cat and bloody, killer cranes from outer space

 

[No Deer]

So they don't taste of sand then...

Kidding ya. Good on ya friend

No, they taste like spotted owl.

 

[fleener]

I believe they are called "the ribeye of the sky" I have eaten sandhill crane many years ago.

Fleener

 

[Juice Jaws]

tasted like moldy cat food soaked in Cod liver oil, but not that good! was fantastic
!

How do you know what moldy cat food taste like??

 

[Sparkitoff]

That is awesome! Taking a Sandhill Crane with a ML is on my bucket list. We have them nearby, but I have been hesitant to use my 20b shotgun for it. I do not have a public or personal spot so I would be paying a landowner or a guide a few bucks for the hunt and would like to make sure my equipment is up to the task. Great hunt for you, congratulations!