We put goggles on our dogs.
A large adult will weigh about 12 pounds.
We've cooked several different ways but one of my favorites is Chicken Fried Steak.
Definitely put goggles on your dog, or leave the dog home.
When I was an impoverished graduate student living in Manitoba, I hunted these birds whenever I could - they tasted better than geese, and better than nearly every duck species (Canvasback ducks being the exception).
The cranes definitely go for the eyes so the goggles will help, but I do recall one particular wounded crane that missed the eyes and jabbed a black lab in the side of the nose. After a few days, the dog's owner had to take the dog to the vet because the wound was starting to get infected (I think the vet put a drain in, dog recovered well).
I ate sandhills many different ways, but eventually I mostly ended up butterflying the breasts, beating my meat (there, I said it!) then cooking the thinner slabs of meat on the barbecue (usually with bacon to keep them from getting dry),
John
