Arizona Sandhill Crane - Archery
Sandhill Crane populations in parts of the US and Canada have been expanding in recent
years, and are the world’s most abundant crane species. Most Sandhill Cranes are migratory
and occupy a range spanning as far north as Siberia, and as far south as Cuba.
In Arizona, permits for Sandhill Crane hunting are issued on a lottery basis. Hunters who are
successfully drawn receive permits to shoot two birds during the brief three-day season.
Day One: Four of us have permits and meet up shortly before daybreak to make the drive
into where we are going to hunt. We are near a huge water area called a playa. The playa
itself is part of a bird refuge but the surrounding areas are open to hunting. Much of the land
is privately held and preseason scouting, and requesting permission to hunt, is a must. We all
set-up in makeshift ground blinds near an irrigated cornfield that has been harvested. We
take up positions along a brushy fence line under whatever cover we can find. At daybreak
the call of the birds begins. With binoculars we start to see huge flights of crane lifting off the
playa. Soon the birds are swooping overhead by the hundreds, and before long we start
launching arrows into the air. Within a few hours at least 2,000 birds have passed overhead
and everyone is out of arrows. Another one of the hunters hit a crane but it continued flying
with the arrow hanging and we were not able to recover it. The overall sight of the cranes in
the air was amazing and the birds were simply spectacular. They looked like massive flying
bats and would darken the sky with their sheer numbers. The sound of their calls filled the air
with excitement. Given that the day was still early several of us broke away for some quail and
dove hunting. Later back at camp we grilled our birds up for a fabulous dinner.
Day Two: What a bust. We spooked the birds too much the prior day and they simply went to
other fields to feed for the day. All of us are convinced that the cranes debrief with each other
at the end of the day to share information about where to go and not go. We spend most of
the day driving around looking to see were the birds have gone. And we saw a lot of them on
the ground but they always spooked whenever we would near the flock. But we did see
several small desert mule deer bucks and got into more quail and dove so the day was a
success regardless. And we also located a big flock of crane and figured out where we were
going to set-up the following morning.
Day Three: This morning it is just two of us in the cornfield where we saw the birds yesterday
afternoon. We have set-up right out in the field using the irrigation equipment for cover.
Before we head out the two of us agree to let much of the flock land before we start launching
arrows. The weather is cooler and the birds get a late start. Both of us are getting worried
that we are going to blank again. But pretty soon the cranes start flying. And before we know
it both of us are surrounded by several hundred birds on the ground. Cover is almost non-
existent and it is really tricky to shoot without giving away your position. We wait and wait but
the cranes will only come within 100 yards of our position and we finally make the decision to
shoot. We start our ambush and launch arrows into the flock and soon they are all up in the
air. I’ve wounded one and I watch as he limps away. While waiting to see if it will fall I watch it
lift off the ground and fly away we are not able to recover it. But my partner has done much
better and he has one on the ground about 120 yards out. Archery hunting for Sandhills is
one crazy pastime!
years, and are the world’s most abundant crane species. Most Sandhill Cranes are migratory
and occupy a range spanning as far north as Siberia, and as far south as Cuba.
In Arizona, permits for Sandhill Crane hunting are issued on a lottery basis. Hunters who are
successfully drawn receive permits to shoot two birds during the brief three-day season.
Day One: Four of us have permits and meet up shortly before daybreak to make the drive
into where we are going to hunt. We are near a huge water area called a playa. The playa
itself is part of a bird refuge but the surrounding areas are open to hunting. Much of the land
is privately held and preseason scouting, and requesting permission to hunt, is a must. We all
set-up in makeshift ground blinds near an irrigated cornfield that has been harvested. We
take up positions along a brushy fence line under whatever cover we can find. At daybreak
the call of the birds begins. With binoculars we start to see huge flights of crane lifting off the
playa. Soon the birds are swooping overhead by the hundreds, and before long we start
launching arrows into the air. Within a few hours at least 2,000 birds have passed overhead
and everyone is out of arrows. Another one of the hunters hit a crane but it continued flying
with the arrow hanging and we were not able to recover it. The overall sight of the cranes in
the air was amazing and the birds were simply spectacular. They looked like massive flying
bats and would darken the sky with their sheer numbers. The sound of their calls filled the air
with excitement. Given that the day was still early several of us broke away for some quail and
dove hunting. Later back at camp we grilled our birds up for a fabulous dinner.
Day Two: What a bust. We spooked the birds too much the prior day and they simply went to
other fields to feed for the day. All of us are convinced that the cranes debrief with each other
at the end of the day to share information about where to go and not go. We spend most of
the day driving around looking to see were the birds have gone. And we saw a lot of them on
the ground but they always spooked whenever we would near the flock. But we did see
several small desert mule deer bucks and got into more quail and dove so the day was a
success regardless. And we also located a big flock of crane and figured out where we were
going to set-up the following morning.
Day Three: This morning it is just two of us in the cornfield where we saw the birds yesterday
afternoon. We have set-up right out in the field using the irrigation equipment for cover.
Before we head out the two of us agree to let much of the flock land before we start launching
arrows. The weather is cooler and the birds get a late start. Both of us are getting worried
that we are going to blank again. But pretty soon the cranes start flying. And before we know
it both of us are surrounded by several hundred birds on the ground. Cover is almost non-
existent and it is really tricky to shoot without giving away your position. We wait and wait but
the cranes will only come within 100 yards of our position and we finally make the decision to
shoot. We start our ambush and launch arrows into the flock and soon they are all up in the
air. I’ve wounded one and I watch as he limps away. While waiting to see if it will fall I watch it
lift off the ground and fly away we are not able to recover it. But my partner has done much
better and he has one on the ground about 120 yards out. Archery hunting for Sandhills is
one crazy pastime!
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