10 cool Canadian birds that belong that belong on every wingshooter’s bucket list

#6  SANDHILL CRANES

Some hunters refer to these odd-looking birds as pterodactyls, and not entirely without reason. Beyond their somewhat prehistoric appearance, sandhill cranes are among our oldest bird species, dating back some 2.5 million years. Owing to their long neck, bill and legs, you can be fooled into thinking sandhills are awkward, but on the wing they’re strong and graceful—and incredibly challenging to hunt. They also hold legendary status as fine table fare, particularly the sub-adults.

Pass-shooting and decoying are the two most common hunting tactics. With pass-shooting, you scramble to get under their flight path as the birds travel from their watery night roost to a feeding field. This entails using whatever fencelines, hedgerows, treelines and hay bales you can find for cover.

Hunters who prefer to use decoys recognize that cranes have exceptional eyesight, making it essential for blinds to blend into the background. You don’t need a lot of decoys—a couple dozen will do—but the full-bodied versions make a huge difference. Be sure to quickly retrieve any downed birds; unlike geese and ducks, cranes will often avoid your spread if they see dead birds on the ground.