Guided Sandhill Crane Hunts in West Texas
Description
Texas winters the largest sandhill crane population in the country, and we hunt the ground where they spend it. Our crew scouts every day, minimum four scouts on the road, so you are shooting a field the birds picked, not one we hoped they would use.
We run private groups on grain fields and playa lakes across Martin, Howard, Mitchell, Scurry, and Nolan counties. The spread is set before you get there. You show up close to shooting time, we call them in low, and you eat the best wild game meat in North America afterward.
Six hunter minimum for a private party. $475 per gun per hunt. Dove combo available at $600 per gun per day during the overlap. Lodging is not included, but Lake Champion Lodge is available for exclusive group use, and we can point you to hotels in Big Spring.
What to Expect
Full guide service, decoys, blinds, and calling included. Professionally trained retrievers on every hunt.
A later start than most waterfowl trips. We set the spread before daylight so you are not standing in a field at 4 a.m.
Birds cleaned, sealed, and federally tagged for transport through our cold storage.
25% deposit to book, non refundable, balance due at the hunt. If you do not shoot birds, you owe nothing beyond the deposit.
Shotgun rental $80 per firearm per day. Bring 2s or 4s, your license, and your federal duck stamp plus a Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit.
Groups meet us in Big Spring. Nearest airport is Midland International, about an hour out.
Gear & Equipment
Everything for the hunt is set before you get to the field. We run top of the line full body crane decoys, no silhouettes, along with blinds, calling, and professionally trained retrievers on every hunt.
Bring warm layers you can move in, waterproof boots, and gloves. West Texas mornings run cold and windy in a stubble field even when the afternoon warms up. Camo or drab clothing only, cranes pick out faces and shine from a long way off.
Shells are not included. We keep the right loads on hand for purchase if you would rather not fly with them or run short.
All birds are cleaned, sealed, and federally tagged for transport through our cold storage. If you are flying home, bring a cooler or we can pack them for the drive.
Weapon Details
12 or 20 gauge shotgun, 3 inch or 3.5 inch, modified or improved modified choke. Non toxic shot is required. BB, 1s, or 2s in a good tungsten or steel load is what we run. Plan on two to three boxes per gun per day.
Shells are not provided but are available for purchase. Shotgun rentals are $80 per firearm per day.
Valid Texas hunting license, federal duck stamp, and a Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit required. We will help you sort the permit before you show up.
Pricing Details
$475 per gun per hunt for sandhill crane. $600 per gun per day for the crane and dove combo during the overlap in December and early January. Six hunter minimum to book a private party.
Lodging is not included. Lake Champion Lodge is available for exclusive group use at $1,200 per night, sleeps 10, typically within an hour of the hunts. We can also point you to hotels in Big Spring at a preferred rate.
Add ons: shotgun rental $80 per firearm per day, shells available for purchase on site. Birds cleaned, sealed, and federally tagged at no extra charge.
25% deposit to book, balance due at the hunt.
Terms & Conditions
Payment information
• 50% deposit required to book. Deposits are not refundable for any reason
• Dates are held 7 days from invoice. No deposit, no hold
• Balance due in full on arrival, before the hunt starts
• Hunts booked within 30 days of the hunt date are paid in full at booking
• Credit card, check, or bank transfer accepted
• Group bookings are contracted as one unit. The total price is owed regardless of no shows or early departures
Cancellation policy
• All payments are final. No refunds or credits unless approved in writing by the owner
• Rescheduling requires 60 days notice and is subject to availability. Deposits transfer one time within the same season
• Poor weather is not a cancellation. We hunt cold, wind, and rain, and cranes work best in it
• If we call a day for unsafe conditions or lost field access, we move you to another day or property in your window when we can
What is included
• Full guide service, decoys, blinds, calling, and trained retrievers
• Birds cleaned, sealed, and federally tagged through our cold storage
• Lodging is not included in any package. Lake Champion Lodge is available separately
Hunter requirements
• Valid Texas hunting license, federal duck stamp, HIP, and Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit required
• Zero tolerance for unsafe gun handling or alcohol during hunting hours. Removal with no refund
• All hunters sign a liability release before hunting
Media
• We film and photograph hunts for marketing. Booking grants us use of images and footage
• Personal filming is welcome. Commercial or sponsored content needs written approval
• No property names, road names, or geotags in anything posted
Gratuities
• Customary but not required
• Guides: 15 to 20% of the hunt price
Camp/Accommodations
Lodging is not included in the hunt price. You have two good options and we help you set either one up.
Lake Champion Lodge. Our main lodge sits on the water south of Colorado City, usually within an hour of the fields we are hunting. You get the whole place to yourself for the night, no sharing with another group. It sleeps 10 in individual beds, so nobody is drawing straws for a couch or bunking up. $1,200 per night for exclusive use of the lodge. Meals are not included, but there is a full kitchen and most groups cook their own or bring a cook.
Hotel Settles in Big Spring. A restored historic hotel and the nicest room in this part of the state. $175 per night at our rate for a two queen room, with a restaurant and bar downstairs so you are not hunting for dinner after a long day. Good option for smaller groups or guys flying in and out of Midland.
Book early either way. The lodge goes first on prime crane dates and it only holds one group at a time.
Accessibility
We have hosted hunters with mobility limitations, prosthetics, and wheelchairs, and we work with you to make it happen. Crane hunts are laid out in flat plowed and stubble fields with vehicle access right up to the spread, so you are not hiking to the blind. We can set a chair blind or a low profile setup instead of a layout for anyone who cannot get down on the ground and back up.
Tell us about the hunter when you book, not the morning of. With notice we can pick a field with harder ground for wheels, keep the truck close, and put a guide with him the whole hunt.
Field conditions are the real limit, not our willingness. After a wet stretch some fields turn to mud that a chair will not cross, and we will move you to a better spot when that happens.
Physical Requirements
Low. This is one of the easier premium hunts you can book.
Walking is minimal, usually a short distance from the truck to the blind. We set the entire spread before you arrive, so you are not hauling decoy bags or driving stakes at 5 a.m.
Most hunters lie in a layout blind and sit up to shoot, which asks for a little core and shoulder mobility. If that does not work for you, we run a chair blind instead.
Expect cold, wind, and a few hours in the field. Dress for it and you will be comfortable.
Kids, older hunters, and first timers all do fine on this hunt. Hunters under 17 stay with a licensed adult.
Permit & Tag Application Process
- Hunter Education certification if you were born on or after September 2, 1971. Texas honors certification from any state. If you have not taken it, the online course runs about four to six hours and you can knock it out before your trip. There is also a one time Hunter Education Deferral for hunters 17 and older, which lets you hunt this season under the direct supervision of a licensed adult who is certified or exempt 2. Texas hunting license, resident or non resident. Non resident five day and annual options are both available 3. Migratory Game Bird Endorsement 4. Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, the federal duck stamp 5. Free Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit from Texas Parks and Wildlife
Buy the license, endorsement, and deferral through the Texas Parks and Wildlife website or any license retailer. The crane permit is free but it is separate from your license, and it is the one people forget.
We send every booked group a checklist with links and walk you through it if you get stuck. Have it all sorted before you drive out, since a game warden check in the field is normal on a crane hunt.