Sandhill Crane Policy Resources

We all enjoy the sights and sounds of the sandhill crane spectacle.  But it’s farmers who pay the bill.

These migratory birds caused crop damage of nearly $2M last year, while some farmers paid an additional $2M in mitigation costs.  Airplane strikes and other negative human interactions are on the rise too.

Despite crane hunting in many other states and provinces – including the 1400 cranes killed (and discarded) annually in Wisconsin fields under depredation permits–the crane population continues to grow at 4.4%, standing at more than double the international goal of 30-60,000.

A bipartisan Legislative Council crane study committee of legislators, migratory bird researchers, farmers, and hunters studied the issues in late 2024.  After five months of study, they concluded the state has a role in managing cranes and their damage. which includes a well-regulated hunt.  Here are their findings, conclusions and recommended legislation.

The Committee proposed comprehensive legislation to address all aspects of the crane problem:

1. Reduce corn damage thru a corn-grower cost-share for a seed coating, which will also reduce the tragic waste of depredation killing of cranes.
2. Increase funds in the hunter-supported wildlife damage fund to support all farmers (not just corn growers) who suffer crane damage.
3. Authorize a sandhill crane hunting season as part of the international effort to manage crane population levels.

Establishing a Wisconsin crane hunt under USFWS guidelines as it is in 1/3 of states would not hurt the crane population health, but could help cap the population.  And it would respect the constitutional right to harvest game “subject only to reasonable restrictions” earned through the conservation commitment of hunters over that past five generations.

Resources

The following links contain current relevant links for more information:

Legislative Council Sandhill Crane Study webpage: presentations, findings, recommendations and proposed legislation:

WWA Presentation to Legislative Study Committee: “A Responsible Sandhill Crane Hunt in Wisconsin”:

USFWS Management Plan for the Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes:

Sandhill Crane Fact Sheet for Wisconsin Policy Makers:

Birding group objections to a sandhill crane hunt:

USFWS Reponses to Study Committee Questions: “Is an update needed to the current plan prior to considering a hunt?”, etc.;

• The USFWS said “Absolutely not.” No update to the plan is required.
• And further, they said future harvest levels would likely be INCREASED to provide additional controls on the crane population since current harvest levels are not achieving population targets.

USFWS response to Study Committee question about allowing the use of the spring depredation permits to allow harvest of the killed birds:

• The USFWS said ‘No way’ will they allow use of the birds killed under depredation permits for human consumption.
• They further said: If Wisconsin wants to use cranes for human consumption, just work with us to establish a hunting season.