Sandhill Crane - a short blood trail

[Standing Bear]

Wow, this has to be one of the highlights of my bowhunting career, two highly intense days, preparing, planning and executing a great bowhunting spot and stalk !!!!!!

Last night, I was going over possible scenarios and I simply couldn't sleep so I tuned in to the hunting channel and day dreamed alot. I was telling myself, "You can do it Dan, just be patient and wait for your shot". And as time seemed to take forever, the time to leave had finally arrived, pack sack checked, flashlight checked, equipment checked twice, made sure my sharpest Phoenix 150 grain was in the right position on my quiver, rain gear packed, yeap, time to leave.

As I was about to get out the door, I heard Sylvie yell out my name. I thought she would have still been asleep but as if on cue, there she was, she hugged me real hard and wished me good luck. How blessed can I be having such a beautiful soul help me on my quest for the elusive bird, the Sandhill Crane. As I got in my truck, I remembered the numerous occasions where I missed an opportunity due to a branch cracking and seeing the birds fly off, jetting away straight up like a helicopter and taking off like a jet, squawking.

The road seemed much longer and as I got to my parking spot, everything was dead quiet. I packed all my gear and headed towards my blind, darn, I forgot my seat, so back I go. "Man, its hot", I told myself, feeling the sweat rolling down the center of my back. Another inconvenience of being a big man !!!!!!!!! Good thing I brought a fresh shirt and a extra large zip lock back to put my sweaty clothes in.

As the light started to make its way onto the horizon, I felt a feeling of peace inside me, "How lucky can a man be". Oh, I can see the sun's rays hitting the bottom of the scattered cloud layer........then out of nowhere came the sound of the sandhill crane, I couldn't make out how many but they were heading in my general area.....right over me they fly and none landed in my opening. Ahhhh, some more, "Man, are they ever flying low, yeah, they stopped right in front of me". The only problem was they were at least 80 yards away and feeding in the Northern corners of the small bog. That was where the highest concentration of cat tails were located. Nope, they had no intentions of getting nearer so I had to make a decision, either wait them out or try to get closer by sneaking up on them. Where the sandhill cranes were located, there was a lenghty sand bar, approximately 6 feet high and , you know, if I could edge along it without making any noise, I could get pretty close.

I never thought my heart would pound so hard, my breathing quickened and I had to tell myself to calm down so very slowly, I unzipped the corner of my bliind and pulled two Phoenix tipped arrows with me and my bow. I glance down inside my small jacket and I can see my rangefinder, good I'm set. To be quite honest, the thought, "Don't screw this up Daniel" was being played over and over and like if on hunting mode, I started my stalk by locating a huge white spruce tree where the sand hill cranes were lined up with.

This took forever !!!!!!!! But no sandhill crane flying yet. As I got to 10 yards of that spruce tree, I crawled up on my hands and knees to try and locate the heads of the birds, " Holy Moly!!!!!!! There right there 3 yards away". The birds had actually started feeding towards my blind and I was right there, this guys heart wanted to bust open. I looked back 15 yards and seen that if I could get back there without being noticed, I could get to a spot where the sandy ridge lowered in a 'v' shape giving me a quartering shot. Now, I had a dilema, these birds were moving and I had to get there a bit faster than them, I was litteraly shaking thinking, " This can only happen to me ".

In a short time, I was knelt down with an arrow nocked waiting to see if the birds would pass by, one bird walks in the opening not stopping, the second bird stopped but started feeding and walked away, the third bird stopped and looked in my direction then turned around and gave me a 5 yard quartering away shot, without even thinking about it, I drew my bow, set my 20 yard pin 2 inches low and I released. The arrow hit its mark and all I seen was the bird jump up and land again 3 yards away stumbling around, it jumped again and fell down 6 yards away........at that time, I bowed my head and thanked the Creator for allowing me with this incredible experience. The arrow imbedded itself in an old black spruce tree right on the edge of the small bog and it was all over.

I opened a special tobacco pouch and gave a pinch of tobacco in a sign of thanks to both the bird and creator.

I took a few pictures of the damage this 150 grain Phoenix broadhead did and of the blood trail that came of this hunt. I was very impressed !!!!!!!!!
When I located where the broadhead went, it entered the bird busting through the right leg femur, entering at the rear of the rib cage and hitting the heart.

Thanking all of you for your patience and support with my two Sand Hill Crane treads. This was very special to me and I am honoured to have shared it with all of you.

Pictures:












This is what I found when I opened the bird up:

[yoda4x4]

Daniel - AWESOME MAN!!! This couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Way to go. So now I've got 2 questions for you:

1) Did you get your arrow and Phoenix BH back from the tree?

AND

2) So when will you be sharing your story with those guys who told told you that this was impossible?

Originally Posted by Standing Bear

Man, yesterday night, I was told by a couple of local gun hunters of my community that getting a Sandhill Crane with a bow was close to impossible and they started laughing when I told them it could be done.................only thing I did to respond was smile and walked away

David

[05_sprcrw]

Wow Daniel congrats! You made that sound easy and I felt like I was right there along side of you. Thanks for the great story and pictures.

One question how does it taste? We are not allowed to hunt them here in NE.

[Standing Bear]

Thank you David, I am still on cloud 9 reliving my shot over and over again. Made some pretty amazing memories I tell you, the one thing I still can't get over is how bad I was shaking, horribly but I know thats part and parcel part of why I do this !!!!!

Yes I did get my arrow back, its on my wall. Since I am now participating in the Red Feather Archery contest, the original broadhead used in this hunt will go on another FMJ arrow and used in my moose hunt.



And as far as letting these guys know of my hunt, its already done and they were extremely happy for me.

Thank you for your kind words, they are truly appreciated.

05_sprcrw, I will take a picture of the SH Crane stew tonight when its done and I will most certainly let you know how it tasted Can't wait !!!!!!!!!

[Red Feather Archery]

Yeah! Daniel, thank you so much for the story, it was a wonderful read. What a great hunt. Looking forward to pics of the stew

[Standing Bear]

Here is what our stew looks like this evening, will eat and probably crash, a great day.

And by the way, I think this must be one of the best tasting birds I have done, very tender, flakes with a fork and great flavour. The drumsticks do contain lots of these little white bony fillaments but with a bit of patience, they clean very easy

I would also say I would take this over geese, duck and other birds, its pretty tasty.

[Okie101]

Looks really good..way to go SB....

[bulldogg1119]

awesome job man

[Bigtimber]

Great story

[BuckFeverLodge]

Pimpin the Phoenix. You rock Daniel!

[SwampSnyper]

Way to go Daniel. You had my heart pumping reading the story. Great write up!

[Standing Bear]

You know guys, I'm dead tired and I still am having a hard time sleeping. I must thank all of you for your well wishes. I have been hoping this day would come and it did, I am simply blessed and so ever thankful to have been given the opportunity do do this and share my story with all of you.

Daniel

[camoprincess]

That is awesome Daniel. I love how you put the feathers on the arrow. Very symbolic.

I also want you to know, I love to read your telling of your experiences, keeps me on the edge of my seat. Would love to come up there and hunt with you and Sylvie one day.

[cartman308]

Great read! Better shot! and even tastier meal!

[varmint101]

That's cool man congrats! I've heard crane is pretty good, sure looks good!

I hope you get a moose!! That's my #1 if I can ever get the chance.