Minnesota's First Sandhill Crane Hunt in Modern Era
Submitted Jul. 26, 2010, by Dan Small
For the first time in the modern era, Minnesotans will have the opportunity to hunt sandhill cranes, in far northwestern Minnesota. The season will run from Sat., Sept. 4, through Sun., Oct.10. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset until the opening day of duck season on Oct. 2, when shooting hours for sandhill cranes are the same as for waterfowl.
The open area will consist of the "Northwest Goose Zone," which includes portions of Kittson, Roseau, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake and Polk counties. There will be a daily bag limit of two birds with a possession limit of four.
"We're happy to be able to offer this opportunity," said Dennis Simon, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Wildlife Section Chief. "Ten other Central Flyway states have been hunting cranes for years."
Sandhill cranes that occur in northwestern Minnesota are part of the midcontinent population, which is estimated at more than 450,000. This number is above the population goal of 349,000. Sandhill cranes have long been considered "recovered" and have been hunted in some states since 1961.
Hunters will be required to use alternative ammunition. A $3.50 permit will be required to hunt cranes in Minnesota. Permits can be purchased at any of the 1,600 MDNR license vendors across the state. Additional information can be found in the 2010 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations supplement that will be available in August.
No sandhill crane hunting is permitted within 100 yards of surface water through Sept. 22. This restriction also applies to Canada goose hunters in this zone during the early September goose season, which runs Sept. 4-22, with a daily bag limit of five and possession limit of 10.
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