Home Forums Birds & Dogs Waterfowl What size shot?

What size shot do you prefer for sandhill cranes? Thanks.

I've successfully used steel BBB for nearly 30 years in Sasketchawan, Manitoba, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Texas. I've also used bismuth B and BB, tungsten/polymer 2, and BB, tungsten/iron 2 and BB, and lead 2 and BB. They all work if you do your part right.

We shot them with #2 steel in Saskatchewan. No issues at all. Then again, they were decoying in our face in a blizzard, and #6s would have worked. I’ve never raised a gun at one outside of 30 yards.

I typically hunt cranes for 30-40 days each fall and I usually shoot #2 at 1550fps. I started crane hunting with much larger shot but soon realized the wing and neck bones are the most vulnerable part of the crane and a pellet in either will usually bring the bird down. Overhead shots expose those wing bones to my pattern for best results. Some of my friends get good results with #3 steel.

Put goggles on your dog for crane retrieving!

I've always subscribed to the logic that pattern density dictates shot size and subsequently range.

I've always subscribed to the logic that penetration to reach the vitals dictated shot size and one adjusted choke, load, and/or shot type to maximize range.