" Can you be in Lubbock by 2? We've got 15,000 cranes on a field and it should be a good one." Yes. Yes I can.
That's how my weekend started off. I got to spend some time out in the south plains near Lubbock, taking pictures for Crooked Wing Outfitters. This was my first time crane hunting and it was awesome. These guys run a great operation and I can't even begin to count the amount of birds that I saw.
I made it there by 2 and we were in the field setting up by 2:30. We were hunting a peanut field surrounded by cotton fields and birds were already in the air by the time we drove up. We started setting up our flock of decoys, brushing in our laydowns and getting ready for the action. There isn't a ton of natural cover so we brought our own.
The attention to detail that these guides exhibit is always impressive to me. The results say it's worth it.
It always amazes me how into "setting up the spread" these duck and geese guys are. One decoy just out of place makes all the difference and I guess that's why they make a living doing it.
Once we got set up, moved the trucks and covered up ... it didn't take long. The birds came rolling in. If you've never done it, just imagine a bunch of baby pterodactyls headed your way and you aren't far off.
I did learn that a crane that's 100 feet away sounds the same as one about 10 miles away. I never stopped hearing cranes.
"Get em" ... and then it starts raining down cranes. 8 or 9 in the first volley and then we start picking and choosing. It all worked perfect. These birds were toe draggers. The wind was perfect and they just sat right down in the decoys every time... just like they're supposed to.
We picked up, cleaned up and enjoyed the golden hour for some pictures before we headed home for the evening.
'
The next morning we were back at it. Same setup .. but in the dark.
The first set of 4 cranes came in like they were on a string. They didn't all make it out.
There wasn't much wind so the cranes were all a little higher and more selective. We didn't have as many big groups come dive bombing the spread but the amount of birds around us was still staggering. If one group passed we didn't have to wait long to see if the next one was gonna commit. Steady action all morning long.
Bands. The drug that drives the bird guys crazy.
We finished up around 10 am, broke down the spread, packed up the tumble weeds and headed back to town. Overall it was an awesome experience and we're already working on finding time to do it again. I'll be waiting on the phone to ring.
That's how my weekend started off. I got to spend some time out in the south plains near Lubbock, taking pictures for Crooked Wing Outfitters. This was my first time crane hunting and it was awesome. These guys run a great operation and I can't even begin to count the amount of birds that I saw.
I made it there by 2 and we were in the field setting up by 2:30. We were hunting a peanut field surrounded by cotton fields and birds were already in the air by the time we drove up. We started setting up our flock of decoys, brushing in our laydowns and getting ready for the action. There isn't a ton of natural cover so we brought our own.
The attention to detail that these guides exhibit is always impressive to me. The results say it's worth it.
It always amazes me how into "setting up the spread" these duck and geese guys are. One decoy just out of place makes all the difference and I guess that's why they make a living doing it.
Once we got set up, moved the trucks and covered up ... it didn't take long. The birds came rolling in. If you've never done it, just imagine a bunch of baby pterodactyls headed your way and you aren't far off.
I did learn that a crane that's 100 feet away sounds the same as one about 10 miles away. I never stopped hearing cranes.
"Get em" ... and then it starts raining down cranes. 8 or 9 in the first volley and then we start picking and choosing. It all worked perfect. These birds were toe draggers. The wind was perfect and they just sat right down in the decoys every time... just like they're supposed to.
We picked up, cleaned up and enjoyed the golden hour for some pictures before we headed home for the evening.
'The next morning we were back at it. Same setup .. but in the dark.
The first set of 4 cranes came in like they were on a string. They didn't all make it out.
There wasn't much wind so the cranes were all a little higher and more selective. We didn't have as many big groups come dive bombing the spread but the amount of birds around us was still staggering. If one group passed we didn't have to wait long to see if the next one was gonna commit. Steady action all morning long.
Bands. The drug that drives the bird guys crazy.
We finished up around 10 am, broke down the spread, packed up the tumble weeds and headed back to town. Overall it was an awesome experience and we're already working on finding time to do it again. I'll be waiting on the phone to ring.
