TX High Plains Fun

This past week, I traveled to the High Plains of West Texas to hunt sandhill cranes. This trip with my Dad and my brother-in-laws, Mike (husband to my sister, Lori) and Neil (husband to Mel's sister, Tracey) has been in the works for almost a year. We hunted with Childress Guides and Outfitters in O'Donnell, TX. My Dad has been hunting out here for over 20 years with Pat and Melba Childress. Pat is "The Man" when it comes to hunting sandhill crane...he is the premier guide in TX, with folks from many states, even Canada, that come hunt here. Ms. Melba is a great host and an incredible cook! We ate every meal around their kitchen table and were treated just like family.

As folks have found out what I was up the last few days, I've been asked a couple of questions. First, "When did you start hunting?" and second, "What are sandhill cranes?" To answer the first, I've been hunting since I was 10 with my dad. I'm so thankful that I got to tag along and hunt dove, quail, deer, and ducks growing up. In 2 of the churches I have served, great hunting was a fringe benefit. In Marked Tree, AR (northeast AR) I was in the middle of some of the best and most legendary duck hunting around. I spent many mornings out on the St. Francis river with my hunting buddies, Hoot (real name!) and Bill. In Warren, AR I was in a great deer and duck hunting area. I loved deer hunting at Camp 13 with some great guys and spent many amazing mornings at the Promised Land Duck Club with one of the all-time greats, "The Captain", Steve Richardson! Since coming to Texarkana, I sort of "retired"...so busy with a new work and just have not pursued hunting much. That has changed this year, as my 2 oldest boys are starting to show interest in heading to the woods, water, and fields. Reid (my 10 yr old) killed his first deer this year at Uncle Neil's hunting club in Camden, AR. I've had a renewed interest because of the boys desire to hunt. I'm looking forward to checking into several options and having a great fall and winter with the boys this year!

Sandhill crane are NOT those birds that you see standing around the lake or your local pond. They are a migratory bird. Much like ducks and geese, they hatch in central and western Canada. They move south through the central grain states of Nebraska and the like, eventually spending the remainder of the winter on the high plains of west Texas. As you can tell by the pic, they are big birds. I would guess that they weigh in from 5-9 pounds! I'm not kidding when I say that we saw at least 100,000 crane! There are tons of these birds! During the season, you can harvest 3 crane per day. If you have ever been goose hunting, this is close to it. As for eating them, I have heard that crane is the "steak" of migratory birds. Melba fixed us her famous filet-crane-on for supper one night and it was awesome!

The 3 days we spent in the beautiful country of west Texas was so much fun! The time with family and in fellowship was priceless. We are already planning our next trip back to see Pat, Melba, and some sandhill cranes!