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Im always on a diet. Sometimes im losing. Sometimes im on a seefood diet.... I see food, I eat it. Kinda in the middle right now.

This right here 100%. You can shoot buried in the fence line as they fly over but your chances drastically increase with the use of cranes decoys and a blind. I would not hunt with a guide without decoys. I would assume they would have 50-300 decoys. You can get it done with 5-20 decoys but again its all about the numbers IMO.

For the purpose of accuracy and to correct several misstatements, the following facts are provided for the record: 1. Client Count A total of eight (8) clients participated in the hunt, inclusive of you and your companion. 2. Lodging and Meals Ward’s Outfitters covered the cost of your hotel accommodations. Meals, including dinner, were not included in your hunt package. This is expressly stated in your signed contract, which governs the terms of service. 3. Hunting Setup and Conduct During the morning hunt, your position was oriented facing north. Additionally, statements made regarding a 12-year-old hunter allegedly interfering with your hunt are inaccurate and inappropriate. Youth hunters are legally permitted to participate and were in full compliance with all applicable regulations. 4. Blind Configuration and Hunting Method Placing six to eight hunters in a single blind significantly increases the likelihood of confusion regarding harvested birds. For this reason, Ward’s Outfitters exercised professional discretion to hunt using an alternative method that morning. 5. Duration of Hunt On the second day of the hunt, nine (9) sandhill cranes were harvested. You voluntarily elected to book a one-day hunt, thereby limiting your field opportunity. 6. Nature of Sandhill Crane Hunting Sandhill crane movement and behavior are highly variable and unpredictable. Clients are routinely advised to book multiple hunting days to increase success. 7. Season Results During the current season, Ward’s Outfitters clients harvested a total of sixty-eight (68) sandhill cranes. As is customary in guided hunts of this nature, harvest success is not guaranteed, and some clients did not harvest their full legal limit. 8. Communication of Concerns Ward’s Outfitters encourages clients to communicate concerns directly and promptly so they may be addressed in real time. Public complaints made without prior contact do not accurately reflect the opportunity provided. 9. Good-Faith Resolution While Ward’s Outfitters maintains that services were rendered in accordance with the contract, we regret your dissatisfaction. As a good-faith gesture, should you draw again next season, we are willing to provide a complimentary three-day hunt, during which you would have increased opportunity consistent with the nature of sandhill crane hunting. This response is provided to clarify the factual record. Ward’s Outfitters fulfilled all contractual obligations associated with your hunt.

Figured id post here to reach the largest audience. If anybody is looking for a sandhill crane guide in the future I strongly discourage using Wards Outfitter, calling themselves a crane guide is bold. I have never used them for other hunts so cant speak to that, but after my experience I wouldn't be booking any hunt with them. When booking a few weeks after being drawn I was told they keep blinds at 4-6 people and hunt over decoys. We paid to stay in his hunter lodging which included dinner, day of we were put in a nearby motel, no dinner. Still not major, but two of us paid, hotel room was half the cost of what we had paid him for lodging, so he made money there. Morning of the hunt we meet where we were told to find 10-12 guys loading up. Thinking maybe we are splitting up everybody, hits the road. Arrive at the spot, everybody is hunting together plus 3 “guides”. At this point its almost light out, they say alright lets hike this way. We walk about 100yrds to a fence line and they say “everybody find a bush to hide in” me and my buddy are looking at each other like are they serious? At this point we might as well be dove hunting. No decoys, no blinds, no calls. We are told to wait until the birds clear the fence to shoot, which puts them nearly vertical. Sun comes up, lots of birds are flying, but about 800yrds to the west and 500yrds to the east. They were avoiding the smoke stacks of the plant that the guides had put us in front of. Guides had us move around after about 45min of watching birds fly by, pretty hard to do w that many guys trying to follow. almost had a few birds fly over, but some young kid in the group shot when they were about 2-300yrds away. for the early afternoon guide brings us to another spot and says the birds sometimes hit this pond, its just a little walk. Sends us in the direction, turns out it was 1.75mi. Sat the tank from 11-2:30, no birds in sight. Get back to the truck about 3:30 to ask what the evening plan is, they dont hunt the evenings, they take everybody dove hunting. So at this point me and my buddy are done and take off. Sorry for the long winded read. But was not quite the sandhill crane experience we thought we were signing up for.

I have a nice older model 70 that sits in the safe and needs a new home. S/N indicates a 1952 date of manufacture Very good shape, intact rifle. Bluing is good. Stock still has steel buttplate. It does look like sling swivels were added somewhere along the line. I only took this rifle to the range once and it shot moderate165 gr handloads right at an inch at 100 for me. $850 in Catalina, North of Tucson.

These pics came up in memories. Elk got his head caught in some mule tape and was eaten alive by a lion and a bear.

Usually steel 2 or 3 shot. We have to use steel here in ND. If I could shoot lead I’d shoot 4’s. If they’re real high pass shooting like in the video, lead BB’s would probably be pretty wicked but overkill. I’ve been on a 28ga kick the last 4-5 years and use #4 bismuth for them now. It’ll fold em up like a cheap suit to 50 yards. If it’s long pass shooting I’ll break out the #7 shot TSS and that’ll smash them way further then I wanna even say on here. The take home is cranes are really easy to kill. If you are struggling it’s because they’re too far or you’re missing, likely the latter.

Made a gumbo today. Shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage with red, green and yellow bell peppers, white onion, shallots, celery, garlic, cajon seasoning, cayenne pepper, old bay, diced tomatoes, dry basil, chicken stock and rice!

Sold

Got on a couple 9f bucks over the weekend. On was with two does and sniffing. The other was solo and cruising. Moved a little to quick for my step dad.

Send it to magna port and have them port the barrel. I did my redhawk 44 with the 4.2 inch barrel and what a difference. It's like shooting a 357 and super controllable. Picture for reference

Smoked prime rib (amazing). White sweet tater, cesar salad, 7 and 7. Yes please.

Here is a 3-shot group at 100 yards from this morning. This is with factory Hornady Precision Hunter ammo 162 grain ELD-X

Here is a link to the elk and antelope bonus point report to see what your draw chances are. These are last year's hunt numbers and bonus point numbers. https://azgfd-portal-wordpress-pantheon.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/15151918/2025-Bonus-Point-Report.pdf

No dog in this fight, but I'd also be upset if a guide buried me and a bunch of other dudes in the weeds with no blind, no decoys for a paid, guided crane hunt. Im far from an expert, but every time I've hunted them, we had a great blind and a ton of decoys.

If you've never heard of Dave Ramsey I can take a credit card.

You may not care, I think many others do