Sand Hill Cranes

[DavidRamey]

I spent 3 days tracking Sand Hill Cranes. I heard them from my backyard and took a compass reading of the direction I heard them. I tried to find them in my Van by driving the roads around my house. Then I decided I own Hi Tech equipment, so why not use it? I took a GPS reading of where I took the compass reading in my backyard. I went on my laptop for my Garmin topo map program and marked my GPS location. Then I added the compass reading and found where that direction would intersect 2 different roads and noted the GPS co-ordinates. I drove to the first road that my compass reading would intersect, the GPS got me to within 10 feet of where it should have been. I stopped the car and listened and found the Sand Hill Cranes were feeding in a horse pasture. I then did some research and found out who owned the pasture. I gave them a call to get permission to set up a portable blind to photograph the Sand Hill Cranes. I was denied because they didn't want to get sued if a horse stomped me. I HATE LAWYERS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO RUIN THIS COUNTRY!!!!!!! Now I start over and try to find out where else this flock of Sand Hill Cranes go.

[ChasHicks]

David:

How far from home are you talking? I love to use my GPS but don't understand why you needed GPS for that purpose. Don't you already know the roads in your area?

It's fun to use the technology but you may be focusing on that more than a good understanding of the cranes and a working relationship with the landowners.

We have tens of thousands of cranes that migrate through this area (Nebraska). Over the years I have made contact with multiple landowners about getting access for shooting. Each year I contact them, ask them if it is still OK to come out and setup a blind, etc. Be responsible, thank them, give them an 8x10 or two now and then, etc.

I would suggest going out and meeting these landowners face-to-face and ask permission. As a landowner myself, if someone just called me up and asked if they could setup in my field without me knowing who they were, I'd refuse them, too.

Also, if you are planning on setting up in the pasture where horses are the landowner is correct - horses are curious and they will paw at things and push things around/over with their noses. I would never consider setting up a blind where horses were!

You could setup your blind outside the fenceline.

One more thing as a suggestion - find a place where the birds frequent and setup at least a day before and leave your blind there. In my case we setup a blind, brush it out and then get into the blind way before sunlight. (This is in the roosting areas).

Study the bird's behavior. Where they roost, where they feed, their travel patterns, etc. You'll have much better results in the long run.

Charlie

[DavidRamey]

[ QUOTE ]
David:

How far from home are you talking? I love to use my GPS but don't understand why you needed GPS for that purpose. Don't you already know the roads in your area?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I know the roads in my area, behind my house, there are only 3 roads and only one of them can be seen from the house. The other 2 roads can not be seen because of hills, valleys and woods. I used the GPS to see where the location of the Sand Hill Cranes would be on the other roads that can't be seen, so that I would know where to drive to on those roads. This is Alaska without any straight roads and varied terrain on the edge of wilderness.