Hello Guys,
There is a good article in the Fall 2013 issue of Delta Waterfowl called "Big Birds - Big Rewards" on page 50 by P.J. Reilly. This article covers Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes and Common Eiders but I will just comment on the Sandhill Cranes.
The Sandhill Cranes that Duck Soup shot were from the Mid-Continent Population which currently numbers about 600,000 whereas the Eastern Population only numbers about 30,000 according to this article.
Dr. Dave Ankney sent me an e-mail early in 2011 advising me of an opening of a Sandhill Crane season in Kentucky and this article confirmed that the season went ahead as planned with 50 birds being harvested in the 2011-2012 season.
We are probably still a few years away before we get a limited Sandhill Crane season here in Ontario. It will probably be very restrictive in both numbers and in locations but anything is better than nothing!
Jerome