status and harvests of sandhill cranes min-continent & Rocky Mountain populations 2006

              2006
STATUS and HARVESTS
of
SANDHILL CRANES
MID-CONTINENT & ROCKY MOUNTAIN
POPULATIONS
Division of Migratory Bird Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Central Flyway Representative
P.O. Box 25486, DFC
Denver, Colorado 80225
Acknowledgments
This report provides population status, recruitment information, harvest trends, and other information for
the Mid-Continent (MCP) and Rocky Mountain (RMP) Populations of sandhill cranes. Information was
compiled with the assistance of a large number of biologists from across North America. We
acknowledge the contributions of D.S. Benning, J.L. Drahota, R.C. Drewien, J.W. Solberg, P.P. Thorpe,
and R.A. Walters for conducting annual aerial population surveys; R.C. Drewien for conducting RMP
productivity surveys; E.M. Martin, P.I. Padding (FWS) and J-F. Gobeil, (CWS) for conducting the Federal
harvest surveys for the MCP; J. Bohne for compiling harvest information collected on sandhill cranes in
the Pacific Flyway; G.L. Krapu for providing preliminary results from satellite-transmittered MCP cranes;
and to D.S. Benning, E.L. Boeker, D.H. Johnson, and W.L. Kendall for consultation on the analysis of
data on the status of cranes. We especially want to recognize the support of the State and Provincial
biologists in the Central and Pacific Flyways for the coordination of sandhill crane hunting programs and
especially the distribution of crane hunting permits and assistance in the conduct of annual cooperative
surveys.
This report should be cited as: Sharp, D.E., K.L. Kruse, and J.A. Dubovsky, 2006. Status and harvests of
sandhill cranes: Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain Populations. Unnumbered. Administrative Report,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado 9pp.
All Division of Migratory Bird Management reports are available at our home page
(http://migratorybirds.fws.gov)
STATUS AND HARVESTS
OF
SANDHILL CRANES
MID-CONTINENT AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN
POPULATIONS
2006
David E. Sharp, Central Flyway Representative, Division of Migratory Bird Management,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado
Kammie L. Kruse, Wildlife Biologist, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado
James A. Dubovsky, Assistant Migratory Game Bird Coordinator, Division of Migratory
Birds and State Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Region 6, Denver,
Colorado
Abstract: Compared to the increases that were recorded in the 1970s, annual
indices to abundance of the Mid-Continent Population (MCP) of Sandhill Cranes
has been relatively stable since the early 1980s. The Central Platte River Valley,
Nebraska spring index for 2006, uncorrected for visibility bias, was 183,000. The
photo-corrected 3-year average for 2003-05 was 422,133, which is within the
established population-objective range of 349,000-472,000 cranes. All Central
Flyway states, except Nebraska, allowed crane hunting in portions of their
respective states during 2005-06. About 9,950 hunters participated in these
seasons, which was 8% higher than the number that participated in the 2004-
2005 season. Hunters harvested 18,575 MCP cranes in the U.S. portion of the
Central Flyway during the 2005-06 seasons, which was 28% higher than the
estimated harvest for the previous year. The retrieved harvest of MCP cranes in
hunt areas for the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of sandhill cranes (Arizona
& New Mexico), Alaska, Canada, and Mexico combined was estimated at 13,587
during 2005-06. The preliminary estimate for the North American MCP sport
harvest, including crippling losses, was 36,674, which is 11% higher than the
previous year’s estimate of 33,182. The long-term (1982-2004) trends for the
MCP indicate that harvests have been increasing at a higher rate than population
growth. The fall 2005 pre-migration survey estimate for the RMP was 20,865,
which was 13% higher than the previous year’s estimate of 18,510. The 3-year
average for 2003-05 is 19,633, which is within established population objectives
of 17,000 - 21,000. Hunting seasons during 2005-06 in portions of Arizona,
Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, resulted in a harvest of 702
cranes, an 18% increase from the harvest of 594 the year before.
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 • Sharp et al.
2
Introduction
The MCP of sandhill cranes, the largest of all North American crane populations, is
comprised of about two-thirds lesser (Grus canadensis canadensis), one-fourth
Canadian (G. c. rowani), and the remainder greater (G. c. tabida) sandhill cranes.
Collectively this population was believed to number over one-half million during the
decade of the 1990's (Tacha et al.1994). The breeding range extends from
northwestern Minnesota northeastward into western Quebec, then northwest through
Arctic Canada, Alaska, and into eastern Siberia. The MCP wintering range includes
western Oklahoma, New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, Texas, and Mexico south to
near Mexico City (Fig. 1). Extensive aerial spring surveys, corrected for observer
visibility bias on major concentration areas, provide annual indices of abundance used to
depict population trends. These surveys are conducted in late March, when birds that
wintered in Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas usually have migrated northward
to spring staging areas, but before spring "break-up" conditions allow cranes to move
into Canada (Benning and Johnson 1987). The MCP Cooperative Flyway Management
Plan establishes regulatory thresholds for changing harvest regulations, which are based
on an objective of maintaining sandhill crane abundances at 1982-2005 levels (i.e.,
spring index of 411,000 ± 15%). Hunters are required to obtain either a Federal crane
hunting permit or register under the Harvest Information Program (HIP) to hunt MCP
cranes in the U.S. The permits or HIP registration records provide the sampling frame to
conduct annual harvest surveys. In Canada, the harvest survey is based on the sales of
Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Permits, which are required for all crane hunters.
The RMP is comprised exclusively of greater sandhill cranes that breed in isolated, well-watered
river valleys, marshes, and meadows of the U.S. portions of the Central and
Pacific Flyways (Drewien and Bizeau 1974). The largest recorded nesting
concentrations are located in western Montana and Wyoming, eastern Idaho, northern
Utah, and northwestern Colorado. The RMP migrates through the San Luis Valley
(SLV), Colorado and winters primarily in the Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico (with
smaller numbers that winter in the southwestern part of that state), in southeastern
Arizona, and at several (14) locations in the Northern Highlands of Mexico (Fig. 2).
During 1984-96, the RMP was monitored at a spring stopover site in the SLV. However,
cranes from the MCP also began to use this area, which confounded estimates of RMP
abundance. In 1996, a fall pre-migration (September) survey replaced the spring count
as the primary tool for monitoring population change. The RMP Cooperative Flyway
Management plan established population objectives, a survey to monitor recruitment,
and harvest levels that are designed to maintain a stable abundance between 17,000 -
21,000 birds (Pacific and Central Flyway Councils 1997). The plan contains a formula
for calculating allowable annual harvests to achieve population objectives. All sandhill
crane hunters in the range of the RMP must obtain a state permit to hunt cranes, which
provides the sampling frame for independent state harvest estimates and allows for
assignment of harvest quotas by state. In many areas, harvest estimates are
supplemented by mandatory check-station reporting.
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 • Sharp et al.
3
Mid-Continent Population of Sandhill Cranes
No sport hunting seasons for MCP cranes were allowed in the U.S. between 1916-60.
In the Central Flyway, areas open to hunting were gradually expanded during 1961-74,
but subsequently have remained relatively stable. Operational hunting seasons are now
conducted annually in portions of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Nebraska is the only Central
Flyway state that currently does not have a crane sport hunting season. Areas open to
crane hunting in the Central Flyway during 2005-06 are shown in Fig. 3.
During the 1961-74 expansions of sandhill crane hunting, hunters gradually improved
knowledge of sandhill cranes and improved their hunting success. During 1975-85, a
tradition of sandhill crane hunting became established. Together with improvements in
the equipment (decoys, calls, clothing, blinds, etc.) and a shift from pass-shooting and
hunting on roosts to decoy-hunting in fields, crane hunter success increased (Sharp and
Vogel 1992). Since the mid-1980s, average seasonal bags, an indicator of hunter
success, have been relatively stable.
In North Dakota, sandhill crane seasons resumed in 1968 and were incrementally
expanded thereafter. During 1968-79, the number of counties open for crane hunting
increased from 2 to 8. From 1980-92, the number of counties with open seasons
increased to 30, and were grouped into two zones. Beginning in 1993, the zones were
eliminated and Federal frameworks were fully utilized for the designated hunting area
(Sharp and Cornely 1997). In 1993, Kansas became the ninth Central Flyway state to
initiate a crane hunting season within established Federal frameworks. As with most
other states, initial seasons in Kansas were more restrictive than Federal frameworks
allowed. In 2001, designated hunt areas in North Dakota and Texas were expanded,
with the new areas having reduced frameworks.
The MCP included at least 510,000 sandhill cranes in March 1982, the last extensive
survey involving high-altitude vertical photography of major spring migration staging
concentrations. Beginning in 1982, an intensive photo-corrected ocular-transect survey
of Nebraska's Central Platte River Valley (because >95% of the MCP are generally
found in this area during late March) and ocular assessments from other spring staging
areas have been used to monitor the annual status and trends for this population (Table
1). The March 2006 index for the Central Platte River Valley, which has not yet been
corrected for visibility bias (Table 1, Fig. 4) was 183,000 birds. This estimate was less
than half of the previous year's index of 412,300. Just prior to this year’s survey (March
28), a spring snowstorm dropped heavy amounts of precipitation across central
Nebraska during March 18-21 (U.S Dep. of Commerce & U.S. Dep. of Agriculture.
Weekly weather and crop bulletin – March 28, 2006. 93(13):1-20). Snowfall totals of 21.6
in. at Grand Island, 21.2 in. at Hastings and 16.7 in. at Kearney set one day snowfall
records and blanketed crane feeding sites along the river corridor. In response, large
numbers of sandhill cranes traveled long distances (> 5 miles away from roosting sites
on the river) to locate accessible feeding sites. This event likely moved cranes outside
the survey area, particularly to other areas in Nebraska which recorded 70,000 cranes
during the survey, a 158% increase in the number reported the previous year (27,100).
The annual photo-corrected estimates and 95% confidence intervals for the Central
Platte River portion of the survey indicate a relatively stable (P=0.53) population trend for
the MCP since 1982 (Fig. 5). The average index for photo-corrected counts during
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 • Sharp et al.
4
2003-05 is 422,133 cranes, which is 16% higher than the previous 3-year average of
363,167 (Solberg 2006), and remains within the management threshold objective levels
(349,000 -472,000 cranes) (Fig. 6).
Since 1975, special Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permits or HIP certification have
been required for all crane hunters participating in seasons in the Central Flyway. A
sample of these permittees are mailed questionnaires soon after the completion of each
hunting season. The resulting responses enable estimation of hunting activities and
success in each geographic area or state (Martin 2005).
During the 2005-06 seasons in the Central Flyway, 67,554 hunters were either HIP-certified
or obtained crane hunting permits, which were not limited in number (Table 2),
with 9,948 individuals hunting at least one time (Table 3). The number of active hunters
was the highest recorded and is 8% higher than the previous year’s estimate of 9,171
(Fig. 7). The number of hunters in Texas (53%) and North Dakota (34%) combined
comprised 87% of sandhill crane hunters in the Central Flyway. Federal frameworks
allowed daily bag/possession limits of 3/6, which most states selected (only portions of
North Dakota and Texas had lower bag and possession limits). Specific dates selected
by states in the Central Flyway for 2005-06 were similar to those of previous hunting
seasons (Table 4).
Crippling-loss rates (number of cranes lost/[number of cranes lost + retrieved]) in the
U.S. portion of the Central Flyway continued a long-term decline (R2 = 0.927, P < 0.01)
from over 16% in 1975 to a preliminary estimate of about 9% during the most recent
hunting season (Fig. 8). The number of days afield per hunter increased to about 3.6
days per hunter, which is the second highest level recorded since surveys were initiated
in 1975 (Fig. 9). The preliminary estimated seasonal bag per hunter also increased to
about 1.9 birds per hunter (Fig. 10). The preliminary estimate of retrieved and
unretrieved mortality associated with the sport harvest in the Central Flyway (20,370)
was 28% higher than the previous year's estimate (15,870) (Fig. 11). The increasing
trend (R2 = 0.523, P < 0.01) in the Central Flyway’s harvest of MCP cranes during 1975-
2004 likely was related to the gradual increase in hunter opportunity combined with
improved knowledge of crane behavior and hunting techniques (Sharp and Vogel 1992).
Cranes from the MCP also are harvested in the RMP hunt areas in Arizona and New
Mexico, in Alaska (Table 5), and in Canada and Mexico. The estimate of the 2005-06
sport harvest in Canada (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) was 9,877, which was 11%
lower than the previous year’s estimate (Table 6). The preliminary harvest estimate for
Alaska, and the RMP hunt areas in Arizona and New Mexico combined was 786 birds
for 2005-06. For Alaska, sandhill crane harvest in harvest zones 1-6 are believed to be
mostly MCP cranes and zones 7-12 are sandhill cranes from the Pacific Population of
lesser sandhill cranes. There also is some intermingling of MCP cranes with RMP
cranes in portions of New Mexico and Arizona; however, bag checks allow individual
harvest estimates for each population. There are no annual harvest surveys in Mexico,
but annual MCP harvests probably are <10% of the retrieved harvest in the U.S. and
Canada (R. Drewien, personal communication). This assumed low level of harvest was
supported by an independent assessment of harvest in Mexico (Kramer et al. 1995).
The 2005-06 preliminary estimate of retrieved and unretrieved kill of MCP cranes by
sport hunters was 36,674, 11% higher than last year’s estimate of 33,182 (Table 7, Fig.
12).
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 ��� Sharp et al.
5
To assess the relative rates of change between population size (abundance) and
harvest, we used linear regression on the natural log-transformed values for these
variables for the years 1982-2004. Because >10% of the MCP occurs outside the
Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) in the spring of some years, we combined the photo-corrected
counts in the CPRV with the ocular cruise estimates from areas outside the
CPRV for analyses of population abundance. For harvest, we used only the estimates
of retrieved harvest for the Central Flyway, RMP hunt areas in Arizona and New Mexico,
Alaska, and Canada, because crippling-loss rates for the latter three areas are unknown
and no empirical estimates of harvest from Mexico are available. Regression of the log-transformed
values indicate a non-significant slope for the abundance values (P = 0.20;
R2 = 0.078; slope = + 0.7% per year change), suggesting no trend in the abundance of
cranes over the time frame. However, the regression of the harvest values suggested
an increase in the rate of harvest over that same time period (P < 0.01; R2 = 0.67; slope
= + 2.6% per year) (Fig. 13). These results suggest that the increase in the rate of
harvest is increasing faster than the rate of growth in crane abundance.
Subsistence harvest levels of MCP sandhill cranes historically were poorly documented.
However, the recent U.S./Canada Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment will result in
improvements to sandhill crane harvest-monitoring programs in both the U.S. and
Canada. Intensive studies conducted on the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, Alaska in
1999 reported an MCP harvest of 3,907 adults and fledged young and 920 eggs. These
estimates are similar to long-term averages (1989-98) of 3,362 adults and fledged young
and 547 eggs taken by subsistence hunters on the Y-K Delta. Efforts are being made to
gather additional information on subsistence harvests for the remainder of Alaska,
Siberia, and Canada.
Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes
The RMP was not hunted in the U.S. from 1916 until 1981, when Arizona initiated the
first modern-day season. Since 1982, hunting programs have been guided by a
cooperative management plan, including a harvest strategy, that has been periodically
updated and endorsed by the Central and Pacific Flyways (Kruse et al. 2006). Special
limited hunting seasons during 2005-06 resulted in an estimated harvest of 702 RMP
sandhill cranes (Table 8), which was 18% higher than the previous year (Fig. 14).
Counts conducted in the SLV during the spring migration suggested that the number of
RMP cranes was relatively stable during 1984-96 (Table 9). However, survey biologists
found that these estimates contained increasing numbers of the MCP (Canadian and
lesser subspecies). An adjustment, using ground-derived proportions, was made to
correct for the lesser subspecies (Benning et al. 1996). Unfortunately, a similar
correction could not be made for the mid-sized Canadian subspecies, and in 1996 the
survey was discontinued (Fig. 15). In 1997, an attempt was made to survey these
cranes during the fall (October) in the SLV, but MCP cranes also were present at that
time. Biologists concluded that neither a spring nor a fall count in the SLV would result
in a reliable index to the abundance of the RMP. As an alternative, a cooperative 5-state
September pre-migration staging-area survey, experimentally tested in 1987 and 1992,
has been ongoing operationally since 1995. It was designated as the official count for
the RMP in 1997 (Table 10). Although operational in 1995 and 1996, the survey was
variable in timing and survey effort. What appears to be a decrease in the population
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 • Sharp et al.
6
estimates (Fig. 16) in 1995 and 1996 is likely more an artifact of inconsistent survey
effort. The 2005 fall survey resulted in an index of 20,865 birds (Drewien et al. 2005).
The 2005 survey was determined to be reliable by survey biologists and the resulting 3-
year average of 19,633 is within the established population objectives (17,000 - 21,000)
(Fig. 16). Because no other known crane population co-mingles with them during that
time, the September pre-migration survey for the RMP appears to be a good alternative
to either a spring or fall survey in the SLV.,.
During 1986-95, important breeding areas in the Intermountain West experienced
extremely dry conditions and indices of recruitment (% juveniles) were low (generally
between 4-6%) (Fig. 17). A return to more favorable breeding conditions during1996-99
resulted in higher recruitment rates (8-12%), but a return to drier conditions resulted in
lower production during 2000-02. There was some improvement in breeding areas in
2003-04 and recruitment rates again increased to above average levels. Biologists
believe that the production outlook for the 2006 breeding season will remain above
average. Based on current RMP population and recruitment indices, management
guidelines allow for a maximum take of 1,321 birds during 2006-07 hunting seasons.
Discussion and Research Implications for Management of Sandhill
Cranes
1. Satellite transmitters placed on sandhill cranes during spring at the Platte River,
Nebraska allowed the tracking of MCP cranes as they traversed U.S. states,
provinces and territories in Canada, northeastern Asia, and Mexico during 1998-
2003. The study tracked 150 cranes during their annual cycle and will have far-reaching
management implications, including: (1) resolving critical issues related
to harvest regulations, (2) determining spatial and temporal distribution patterns
of subspecies, (3) assessing annual bias of population estimates, (4) identifying
breeding, migration, and wintering habitat affinities to better target habitat
conservation programs, and (5) refining techniques for monitoring a wide range
of species of migratory birds that spend parts of their annual cycle in remote
regions of North America or Asia. Satellite tracking information is available at the
following Internet address (G.L. Krapu, personal communication):
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/perm/cranemov/cranemov.htm
2. A research study to estimate survival rates from leg-banded RMP cranes was
completed several years ago (Drewien et al. 2000). Although this information
provided insight into distributions, fidelity, and mortality factors, the sample size
was inadequate to accurately estimate survival rates. A new study has been
initiated to estimate survival rates from approximately 10,000 resighting
observations of RMP color-marked and neck-collared cranes (Drewien et al.
2002). Further, the researchers will attempt to develop a model of recruitment for
these cranes. The overall goal is to develop a model of population dynamics,
which would allow improvements in the harvest strategy for this population of
cranes. The revision of the cooperative management plan for the RMP is
scheduled to begin during winter 2006-07.
3. North American sandhill crane biologists currently recognize three subspecies of
sandhill cranes in the MCP; however, the existence of the mid-sized crane
subspecies has been questioned for many years. Recent genetics research
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 • Sharp et al.
7
suggests substantial interbreeding between the greater (G.c. tabida) and the mid-sized
subspecies (G.c. rowanii)(Rhymer et al. 2001, Johnson et al. 2003,
Petersen et al. 2003). Final results from genetics research and subsequent
morphological investigations may allow biologists to make determinations
regarding the classification of MCP into subspecies, and revisions of
management plans will consider this new information.
4. The agricultural landscape, on which sandhill cranes depend for a portion of their
annual cycle, has undergone dramatic changes in recent years. In particular,
some areas have experienced changes in the types of crops planted, harvest
efficiency has increased, and genetically modified crops are being introduced. In
2004, Regions 1, 2, and 6 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S.
Geological Survey collaborated to initiate a range-wide assessment of habitats
used by the RMP, and how changes in habitats influence the timing and duration
of use by cranes. Additionally, ongoing and proposed research by the Northern
Prairie Wildlife Research Center will investigate how reduced waste grain
availability in the Platte River Valley may impact the distribution and abundance
of cranes. Results of these studies will enable managers to better target habitat
actions which benefit cranes.
References
Aldrich, J.W. 1979. Status of the Canadian sandhill crane. Pages 139-148 in J.C. Lewis, ed.
Proceedings 1978 Crane Workshop. Colorado Sate University Printing Service, Ft.
Collins, Colorado.
Benning, D.S. 1996. Spring Survey - Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes.
Special report in the files of the Central Flyway Representative. Denver, Colorado. 6pp.
Benning, D.S., R.C. Drewien, D.H. Johnson, W.M. Brown, and E.L. Boeker. 1996. Spring
population estimates of Rocky Mountain Greater Sandhill Cranes in Colorado.
Proceedings North American Crane Workshop 7:165-172.
Benning, D.S., and D.H. Johnson. 1987. Recent improvements to sandhill crane surveys in
Nebraska's central Platte River Valley. Proceedings North American Crane Workshop
5:10-16.
Buller, R.J. 1979. Lesser and Canadian sandhill crane populations, age structure, and harvest.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Scientific Report 221. 10pp.
Buller, R.J. 1981. Distribution of sandhill cranes wintering in Mexico. Pages 266-272 in J.C.
Lewis, ed. Proceedings 1981 Crane Workshop. National Audubon Society, Tavernier, FL.
Central,, Mississippi and Pacific Flyway Councils. 1981, 1993, and 2006. Management Plan for
the Mid-Continent Population of Sandhill Cranes. Special Report in files of the Central
Flyway Representative. Denver, Colorado.
Drewien, R.C., and E.G. Bizeau. 1974. Status and distribution of greater sandhill cranes in the
Rocky Mountains. Journal of Wildlife Management 38:720-742.
Drewien, R.C., W.M. Brown, and W.L. Kendall. 1995. Recruitment in Rocky Mountain Greater
Sandhill Cranes and comparisons with other crane populations. Journal of Wildlife
Management 59:339-356.
Drewien, R.C., W.M. Brown, and D.S. Benning. 1996. Distribution and abundance of sandhill
cranes in Mexico. Journal of Wildlife Management 60:270-285.
Drewien, R.C., P.P. Thorpe, and D.S. Benning. 2005. September 2005 count of the Rocky
Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes. Special Report in the files of the Pacific
Flyway Representative. Portland, Oregon. 8pp.
Drewien, R.C., W.M. Brown, D.C. Lockman, W.L. Kendall, K.R. Clegg, V.K. Graham, and S.S.
Manes. 2000. Band recoveries, mortality factors, and survival of Rocky Mountain greater
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 • Sharp et al.
8
sandhill cranes, 1969-99. Report submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division
of Migratory Bird Management, Denver, CO.
Drewien, R.C., W.L.Kendall, J.A. Dubovsky, and J.H. Gammonley. 2002. Developing a survival
model for Rocky Mountain Population of greater sandhill cranes. Proposal submitted to
the FWS Webless Migratory Bird Program, Denver, CO.
Johnson, D.H. 1979. Modeling sandhill crane population dynamics. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Special Scientific Report 222. 10pp.
Johnson, D.H., J.E. Austin, and T.A. Shaffer. 2003. A fresh look at the taxonomy of
Midcontinental Sandhill Cranes. Proceedings of the 2003 North American Crane
Workshop. In Press.
Johnson, D.H., and W.L. Kendall. 1997. Modeling the population dynamics of Gulf Coast sandhill
cranes. Proceedings of the Seventh North American Crane Workshop 7:173-179.
Johnson, D.H., and R.E. Stewart. 1973. Racial composition of migrant populations of sandhill
cranes in the northern plains states. Wilson Bulletin 85:148-162.
Kendall, W.L., D.H. Johnson, and S.C. Kohn. 1997. Subspecies composition of sandhill crane
harvest in North Dakota, 1968-94. Proceedings of the Seventh North American Crane
Workshop 7:201-208.
Kramer G.W., E. Carrera, and D. Zavaleta. 1995. Waterfowl harvest and hunter activity in Mexico.
Transactions North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference 60:243-50.
Kruse, K.L., D.E. Sharp and J.A Dubovsky 2006. Population status, hunting regulations, and
harvests of the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes. Proceedings of
the 2006 North American Crane Workshop. In Press.
Lochman, D.C., L. Serdiuk, and R.C. Drewien. 1987. An experimental greater sandhill crane and
Canada goose hunt in Wyoming. Pages 47-57 in J.C. Lewis, ed. Proceedings 1985
Crane Workshop. Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust, Grand Island,
Nebraska.
Martin, E.M. 2005. Sandhill crane harvest and hunter activity in the Central Flyway during the
2004-05 hunting season. Unnumbered Administrative Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Laurel, MD. 12pp.
Miller, H.W. 1987. Hunting in the management of mid-continent sandhill cranes. Pages 39-46 in
J.C. Lewis, ed. Proceedings 1985 Crane Workshop. Platte River Whooping Crane
Habitat Maintenance Trust, Grand Island, Nebraska.
Montgomery, J.B. Jr., 1997. Sandhill crane use of the Mid-Pecos Valley of New Mexico.
Proceedings North American Crane Workshop 7:157-164.
Pacific Flyway Council and Central Flyway Council. 1982, 1987, 1991 and 1997. Management
Plan of the Pacific and Central Flyways for the Rocky Mountain Population of
Greater Sandhill Cranes. Special Report in the files of the Pacific Flyway Representative.
Portland, Oregon.
Petersen, J.L., R. Bischof, G.L. Krapu, and A.L. Szalanski. 2003. Genetic variations in the
midcontinental population of sandhill crane, Grus canadensis. Biochemical Genetics
41:1-12.
Rhymer, J.M., M.G. Fain, J.E. Austin, D.H. Johnson, and C. Krajewski. 2001. Mitochondrial
phylogeography, subspecific taxonomy, and conservation genetics of sandhill cranes
(Grus canadensis; Avers: Gruidae). Conservation Genetics 2:203-218.
Schmitt, C.G., and B. Hale. 1997. Sandhill crane hunts in the Rio Grande Valley and southwest
New Mexico. Proceedings North American Crane Workshop 7:219-231.
Sharp, D.E., and J.E. Cornely. 1997. Summary of sandhill crane hunting seasons in North
Dakota, 1968-94. Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop 7:209-218.
Sharp, D.E., J.A. Dubovsky, and K.L. Kruse. 2005. Status and harvests of the Mid-Continent and
Rocky Mountain Populations of sandhill cranes. Unnumbered. Administrative Report,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, CO. 8pp.
Sharp, D.E., and W.O. Vogel. 1992. Population status, hunting regulations, hunting activity, and
harvests of the mid-continent population of sandhill cranes. Proceedings North American
Crane Workshop 6:24-32.
Solberg, J.W. 2006. Coordinated spring mid-continent sandhill crane survey. Unnumbered
Administrative Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bismarck, ND. 10pp.
STATUS AND HARVESTS OF SANDHILL CRANES: MCP AND RMP 2006 • Sharp et al.
9
Tacha, T.C., S.A. Nesbitt, and P.A. Vohs. 1994. Sandhill Cranes. Pages 77-94 in T.C. Tacha and
C.E. Braun, eds. Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Management in North America.
International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Washington D.C.
Tacha, T.C., and P.A. Vohs. 1984. Some population parameters of sandhill cranes from mid-continental
North America. Journal of Wildlife Management 48:89-98.
Table 1. Annual spring abundance indices for the Mid-Continent Population of sandhill cranes.
CENTRAL PLATTE RIVER VALLEY, NE ALL AREAS
OCULAR PHOTO CORRECTED OTHER OCULAR PHOTO CORRECTED
CRUISE OCULAR OCULAR TRANSECT OTHER CRUISE OCULAR OCULAR TRANSECT
YR TRANSECT TRANSECT ANNUAL 3-YR AVG NE KS CO1 OK1 NM1 TX TRANSECT TRANSECT ANNUAL 3-YR AVG
1974 162,600 9,000 1,900 0 400 0 3,200 177,100
1975 223,600 2,300 900 500 100 100 tr 227,500
1976 147,500 2,800 300 0 100 1,000 800 152,500
1977 173,400 1,100 1,600 0 400 12,500 30,700 220,000
1978 149,800 188,582 2,200 700 0 0 2,300 4,900 159,900 198,682
1979 203,574 2,600 1,100 500 1,500 0 0 209,274
1980 223,400 254,417 5,000 4,100 0 100 500 1,400 234,500 265,517
1981 248,882 8,300 11,200 500 0 0 21,800 290,682
1982 347,996 417,263 7,100 2,000 2,800 0 100 7,800 367,796 437,063
1983 306,316 343,378 4,100 200 0 200 tr 7,000 317,816 354,878
1984 222,710 261,802 340,814 18,100 900 0 1,100 tr 800 243,610 282,702 358,214
1985 378,127 514,763 373,314 11,500 3,000 1,200 393,827 530,463 389,348
1986 317,025 353,040 376,535 1,000 200 2,100 320,325 356,340 389,835
1987 383,581 416,058 427,954 0 tr 400 383,981 416,458 434,420
1988 386,853 463,457 410,852 0 0 7,700 394,553 471,157 414,652
1989 391,353 391,995 423,837 100 1,000 800 393,253 393,895 427,170
1990 385,950 412,154 422,535 11,000 5,200 10,300 412,450 438,654 434,569
1991 297,831 340,645 381,598 100 800 200 298,931 341,745 391,431
1992 257,709 406,457 386,419 12,200 300 1,100 271,309 420,057 400,152
1993 253,799 378,883 375,328 16,800 37,750 13,500 321,849 446,933 402,912
1994 395,543 477,215 420,852 14,600 0 2,400 0 412,543 494,215 453,735
1995 273,376 326,181 394,093 30,400 0 6,700 0 310,476 363,281 434,810
1996 318,514 519,984 441,127 7,600 0 3,900 0 330,014 531,484 462,993
1997 350,932 534,630 460,265 16,200 100 0 367,232 550,930 481,898
1998 337,203 530,848 528,487 13,600 100 0 350,903 544,548 542,321
1999 219,800 284,900 450,126 3,500 100,000 0 323,300 388,400 494,626
2000 484,600 490,100 435,283 16,900 26,100 500 528,100 533,600 488,849
2001 387,300 413,500 396,167 10,500 42,300 3,500 443,600 469,800 463,933
2002 309,000 315,000 406,200 17,100 15,100 5,800 1,200 348,200 354,200 452,533
2003 300,900 348,000 358,833 24,800 4,100 3,800 333,600 380,700 401,567
2004 365,400 426,500 363,167 17,700 1,200 100 2,200 386,600 447,700 394,200
2005 412,300 491,900 422,133 27,100 2,900 2,600 8,700 453,600 533,200 453,867
2006 2 183,000 70,000
1 CO, OK, and NM were eliminated from the Official Survey Area in 1985 by the CF CMU. D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep 06/13/06
2 Preliminary
Table 2. Federal Mid-Continent sandhill crane permits issued in the Central Flyway.
YR CO KS MT NM ND OK SD TX WY TOTAL
1975 401 158 1,225 4,172 171 198 5,482 56 11,863
1976 341 117 1,195 4,137 265 200 5,060 37 11,352
1977 374 82 1,452 6,294 519 134 4,897 48 13,800
1978 343 209 956 5,798 620 98 5,198 52 13,274
1979 528 159 1,288 4,949 470 63 5,098 43 12,598
1980 437 118 1,082 5,754 510 240 5,239 33 13,413
1981 397 53 1,022 5,796 466 197 5,297 30 13,258
1982 528 147 962 4,714 750 579 4,650 40 12,370
1983 575 175 706 8,033 909 528 7,317 63 18,306
1984 538 113 721 7,436 1,187 544 6,838 43 17,420
1985 555 143 710 6,802 1,102 656 7,417 59 17,444
1986 617 99 595 8,926 1,073 705 7,258 25 19,298
1987 610 128 502 8,778 1,213 517 6,289 30 18,067
1988 512 162 480 6,214 1,472 437 7,053 38 16,368
1989 434 172 430 6,128 1,717 524 8,066 25 17,496
1990 389 143 533 7,268 1,725 646 11,994 22 22,720
1991 501 238 602 3,353 1,618 668 11,142 25 18,147
1992 498 303 582 3,760 1,397 721 9,848 18 17,127
1993 411 575 336 541 4,572 1,277 708 10,407 37 18,864
1994 427 567 320 547 4,790 1,561 636 10,515 49 19,412
1995 571 711 351 564 5,242 1,323 650 10,755 42 20,209
1996 612 837 369 499 5,570 1,391 677 11,334 41 21,330
1997 572 997 325 454 4,934 1,393 757 37,365 ² 46 46,843
1998 4,937 ² 1,088 270 449 6,082 1,385 951 32,523 ² 49 47,734
1999 4,847 ² 1,235 279 516 6,050 1,438 810 33,380 ² 52 48,607
2000 5,169 ² 1,084 283 493 7,451 1,333 721 44,719 ² 58 61,311
2001 5,869 ² 1,374 253 509 8,078 1,315 680 49,410 ² 72 67,560
2002 5,644 ² 1,279 303 496 8,245 ² 1,186 619 37,558 ² 54 55,384
2003 5,854 ² 1,206 273 471 6,030 ² 1,000 563 43,199 ² 50 58,646
2004 5,784 ² 1,180 308 548 5,788 ² 780 307 52,161 ² 61 66,917
2005 1 5,766 ² 805 281 494 7,441 ² 698 490 51,511 ² 68 67,554
AVERAGES:
1975-79 397 145 1,223 5,070 409 139 5,147 47 12,577
1980-89 520 131 721 6,858 1,040 493 6,542 39 16,344
1990-99 1,377 859 293 529 5,162 1,451 722 17,926 38 28,099
2000-04 5,664 1,225 284 503 7,118 1,123 578 45,409 59 61,964
1975-04 1,643 1,011 213 704 6,038 1,086 524 16,582 43 27,238
CURRENT YEAR PERCENT CHANGE FROM:
2004 0% -32% -9% -10% 29% -11% 60% -1% 11% 1%
1975-79 94% -60% 47% 71% 254% 44%
1980-89 115% -31% 8% -33% -1% 76%
1990-99 -6% -4% -7% 44% -52% -32% 187% 78% 140%
2000-04 2% -34% -1% -2% 5% -38% -15% 13% 15% 9%
1975-04 -20% 32% -30% 23% -36% -7% 57% 148%
¹ Preliminary D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/13/06
² Harvest Information Program (HIP) or a point-of-sale electronic record used to identify crane hunters in lieu of a special
sandhill crane hunting permit
Table 3. Estimated active Mid-Continent sandhill crane hunters¹ in the Central Flyway.
YR CO KS MT NM ND OK SD TX WY TOTAL
1975 226 69 806 2,896 80 117 2,733 22 6,949
1976 203 68 752 1,328 148 80 2,497 16 5,092
1977 189 40 921 4,126 339 77 2,329 27 8,048
1978 190 86 836 3,776 334 50 2,390 21 7,683
1979 275 61 745 3,225 307 29 2,356 13 7,011
1980 216 50 625 3,387 275 160 2,439 12 7,164
1981 216 23 598 3,315 269 103 2,543 14 7,081
1982 138 56 386 2,429 342 260 1,553 8 5,172
1983 211 64 253 3,551 384 225 2,435 20 7,143
1984 206 51 301 3,189 467 208 2,380 19 6,821
1985 187 37 216 2,383 372 168 2,613 12 5,988
1986 106 17 178 3,095 299 149 1,991 5 5,840
1987 113 29 133 2,529 358 120 1,942 5 5,229
1988 117 48 171 1,779 531 78 2,497 11 5,232
1989 74 52 152 2,018 492 153 2,805 6 5,752
1990 101 33 180 2,614 395 172 4,130 6 7,631
1991 153 69 220 1,674 370 139 3,231 3 5,859
1992 96 95 182 1,776 330 153 2,655 7 5,294
1993 87 294 97 218 2,223 357 140 3,602 5 7,023
1994 93 293 79 211 2,497 456 151 3,350 11 7,141
1995 154 393 118 211 2,408 331 143 3,707 6 7,471
1996 91 382 82 166 2,744 355 169 3,356 9 7,354
1997 67 452 68 124 2,386 264 178 4,515 10 8,064
1998 96 480 43 155 2,785 345 237 4,022 10 8,173
1999 133 533 60 204 2,444 375 173 2,699 8 6,629
2000 192 430 64 160 2,481 223 209 3,180 11 6,950
2001 202 555 72 173 2,934 391 145 3,554 13 8,039
2002 175 517 85 166 2,407 237 144 4,037 15 7,783
2003 236 495 60 244 2,271 64 114 4,821 10 8,315
2004 315 539 93 252 2,491 265 79 5,121 16 9,171
2005² 273 264 85 231 3,349 243 165 5,314 24 9,948
AVERAGES:
1975-79 217 65 812 3,070 242 71 2,461 20 6,957
1980-89 158 43 301 2,768 379 162 2,320 11 6,142
1990-99 107 404 74 187 2,355 358 166 3,527 8 7,064
2000-04 224 507 75 199 2,517 236 138 4,143 13 8,052
1975-04 162 447 62 331 2,639 325 144 3,049 12 6,903
CURRENT YEAR PERCENT CHANGE FROM:
2004 -13% -51% -9% -8% 34% -8% 109% 4% 50% 8%
1975-79 26% 31% -72% 9% 1% 134% 116% 21% 43%
1980-89 72% 99% -23% 21% -36% 2% 129% 114% 62%
1990-99 155% -35% 14% 23% 42% -32% 0% 51% 220% 41%
2000-04 22% -48% 14% 16% 33% 3% 19% 28% 85% 24%
1975-04 69% -41% 36% -30% 27% -25% 15% 74% 105% 44%
¹ Those permittees reporting hunting cranes 1 or more times D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/13/06
² Preliminary
Table 4. Season dates (month/day) for the hunting of sandhill cranes in the Central Flyway states.
YR CO KS MT¹ MT² NM ND¹ ND² OK SD TX¹ TX² TX³ WY
1960 - - - - 01/01-01/30 - - - - - - - -
1961 - - - - 11/04-12/03 - - - - 11/04-12/03 - - -
1962 - - - - 11/03-12/02 - - - - 11/03-12/02 - - -
1963 - - - - 11/02-12/01 - - - - 11/02-12/01 - - -
1964 - - - - 10/31-11/29 - - - - 10/31-11/29 - - -
1965 - - - - 10/30-11/28 - - - - 10/30-11/28 - - -
1966 - - - - 10/29-11/27 - - - - 10/29-11/27 - - -
1967 10/01-10/30 - - - 11/04-01/02 - - - - 11/04-01/02 - - -
1968 10/01-10/30 - - - 11/02-12/28 11/09-12/08 - 12/14-01/02 11/09-12/08 11/02-12/28 12/14-01/02 - -
1969 10/04-11/02 - - - 11/01-12/28 11/08-12/07 - 12/13-01/11 11/08-12/07 11/01-12/28 12/13-01/11 - -
1970 10/03-11/01 - - - 10/31-01/10 11/14-12/13 - 12/05-01/10 11/14-12/13 10/31-01/10 12/05-01/10 - -
1971 10/02-11/07 - - - 10/30-01/30 11/13-12/02 - 12/04-01/30 11/13-12/02 10/30-01/30 12/04-01/30 - -
1972 10/01-11/05 - 10/01-11/06 - 11/03-01/31 11/11-12/10 - 12/02-01/28 11/11-12/10 10/28-01/28 12/02-01/28 - 10/07-11/05
1973 10/01-11/05 - 09/29-11/04 - 10/27-01/27 11/10-12/09 - 12/01-01/27 11/10-12/09 10/27-01/27 12/01-01/27 - 10/13-11/11
1974 10/01-11/05 - 09/28-11/03 - 10/26-01/26 11/09-12/08 - 11/30-01/26 11/09-12/08 10/26-01/26 11/30-01/26 - 10/12-11/10
1975 10/04-11/08 - 10/04-11/09 - 10/25-01/25 11/08-12/07 - 11/29-01/25 11/08-12/07 10/25-01/25 11/29-01/25 - 10/11-11/09
1976 10/02-11/06 - 10/02-11/07 - 10/30-01/30 11/06-12/05 - 11/27-01/23 11/06-12/05 10/30-01/30 12/04-01/30 - 10/09-11/07
1977 10/01-11/06 - 10/01-11/06 - 10/29-01/29 09/07-09/11 - 11/26-01/22 09/07-09/11 11/01-01/31 12/05-01/31 - 10/08-11/06
1978 09/30-11/05 - 09/30-11/05 - 10/28-01/28 09/07-09/11 - 11/25-01/21 09/07-09/11 10/31-01/31 12/05-01/31 - 10/07-11/05
1979 10/13-11/18 - 09/29-11/04 - 10/27-01/27 09/07-09/11 - 11/24-01/20 09/07-09/11 10/30-01/30 12/04-01/30 - 10/13-11/18
1980 10/11-11/16 - 10/04-11/09 - 10/30-01/31 09/06-09/14 09/06-09/10 11/22-01/18 09/20-09/28 10/31-01/31 12/05-01/31 - 10/11-11/16
1981 10/10-11/15 - 10/03-11/08 - 10/31-01/31 09/05-09/20 09/05-09/13 11/22-01/18 09/20-09/28 10/31-01/31 12/05-01/31 - 10/03-11/08
1982 10/02-11/28 - 10/02-11/28 - 10/31-01/31 09/04-09/19 09/04-09/12 10/23-01/23 10/02-11/11 10/30-01/30 12/04-01/30 - 09/25-11/21
1983 10/01-11/27 - 11/01-11/27 11/01-11/27 10/29-01/28 09/10-11/06 09/10-09/30 10/22-01/22 10/01-11/06 11/12-02/12 12/03-02/12 01/14-02/12 09/24-11/20
1984 09/29-11/25 - 09/29-11/25 11/01-11/25 10/27-01/27 09/08-11/04 09/08-09/28 10/13-01/13 09/29-11/04 11/10-02/10 12/01-02/10 01/12-02/10 09/22-11/18
1985 09/28-11/24 - 09/28-11/24 11/01-11/24 10/26-01/26 09/07-11/03 09/07-09/27 10/12-01/12 09/28-11/03 11/09-02/09 11/30-02/09 01/11-02/09 09/21-11/17
1986 10/04-11/30 - 10/04-11/30 11/01-11/30 10/25-01/25 09/06-11/02 09/06-10/03 10/11-01/11 09/28-11/02 11/08-02/08 11/29-02/08 01/03-02/08 09/20-11/16
1987 10/03-11/29 - 10/03-11/29 10/03-11/29 10/24-01/24 09/05-11/01 09/05-10/02 10/10-01/17 09/26-11/01 11/14-02/14 11/28-02/07 01/02-02/07 09/19-11/15
1988 10/01-11/27 - 10/01-11/27 10/01-11/27 10/22-01/22 09/10-11/06 09/10-09/30 10/22-01/22 09/24-10/30 11/12-02/12 11/26-02/05 01/07-02/12 09/17-11/13
1989 09/30-11/26 - 09/30-11/26 09/30-11/26 10/21-01/21 09/09-11/05 09/09-09/29 10/21-01/21 09/30-11/05 11/11-02/11 12/02-02/11 01/06-02/11 09/16-11/12
1990 09/29-11/25 - 09/29-11/25 09/29-11/25 10/20-01/20 09/08-11/04 09/08-10/14 10/20-01/20 09/29-11/04 11/10-02/10 12/01-02/10 01/05-02/10 09/15-11/11
1991 09/28-11/24 - 09/28-11/24 09/28-11/24 10/19-01/19 09/07-11/03 09/07-10/13 10/19-01/19 09/28-11/03 11/09-02/09 12/07-02/09 01/04-02/09 09/15-11/11
1992 10/03-11/29 - 09/26-11/22 09/26-11/22 10/17-01/17 09/05-11/01 09/05-10/11 10/17-01/17 09/26-11/01 11/14-02/14 12/05-02/14 01/02-02/07 09/15-11/11
1993 10/02-11/28 11/06-01/02 09/25-11/21 09/25-11/21 10/16-01/16 09/11-11/07 09/11-11/07 10/16-01/16 09/25-10/31 11/13-02/13 12/04-02/13 01/08-02/13 09/15-11/11
1994 10/01-11/27 11/05-01/01 09/24-11/20 09/24-11/20 10/15-01/15 09/10-11/06 09/10-11/06 10/15-01/15 09/24-10/30 11/12-02/12 12/03-02/12 01/07-02/12 09/15-11/11
1995 09/30-11/26 11/05-01/01 09/23-11/19 09/23-11/19 10/31-01/31 09/09-11/05 09/09-11/05 10/22-01/28 09/23-11/19 11/11-02/11 12/02-02/11 01/06-02/11 09/14-11/10
1996 10/05-12/01 11/02-12/29 09/28-11/24 09/28-11/24 10/31-01/31 09/07-11/03 09/07-11/03 10/26-01/26 09/28-11/24 11/09-02/09 11/30-02/09 01/04-02/09 09/14-11/10
1997 10/04-11/30 11/01-12/28 10/04-11/30 10/04-11/30 10/31-01/31 09/06-11/02 09/06-11/02 10/25-01/25 09/27-11/23 11/08-02/08 11/29-02/08 01/03-02/08 09/13-11/09
1998 10/03-11/29 11/07-01/03 10/03-11/29 09/12-09/20 10/31-01/31 09/05-11/01 09/05-11/01 10/24-01/24 09/26-11/22 11/07-02/07 11/28-02/07 01/02-02/07 09/12-11/08
1999 10/02-11/28 11/06-01/02 10/02-11/28 09/11-09/19 10/30-01/30 09/11-11/07 09/11-11/07 10/30-01/30 09/25-11/21 11/13-02/13 12/04-02/13 01/08-02/13 09/11-11/07
2000 10/07-12/03 11/04-12/31 09/30-11/26 09/09-09/17 10/31-01/31 09/16-11/12 09/16-11/12 11/04-02/04 09/23-11/19 11/11-02/11 12/02-02/11 12/30-02/04 09/09-11/05
2001 10/07-12/03 11/03-12/30 09/29-11/25 09/08-09/16 10/31-01/31 09/15-11/11 09/15-10/21 11/03-02/03 09/22-11/18 11/10-02/10 12/01-02/10 12/29-01/20 09/15-11/11
2002 10/05-12/01 11/02-12/29 09/28-11/24 09/07-09/15 10/31-01/31 09/21-11/17 09/21-10/27 11/09-02/09 09/21-11/17 11/09-02/09 11/30-02/09 12/21-01/19 09/14-11/10
2003 10/04-11/30 11/01-12/28 09/27-11/23 09/06-09/14 10/31-01/31 09/20-11/16 09/20-10/26 10/25-01/25 09/27-11/23 11/01-02/01 11/22-02/01 12/20-01/18 09/13-11/09
2004 10/02-11/28 11/06-01/02 09/25-11/21 09/11-09/19 10/31-01/31 09/18-11/14 09/18-10/24 10/30-01/30 09/25-11/21 11/06-02/01 11/27-02/01 12/18-01/16 09/18-11/14
2005 10/01-11/27 11/09-01/05 09/24-11/20 09/10-09/18 10/31-01/31 09/17-11/13 09/17-10/23 10/29-01/29 09/24-11/20 11/05-02/05 11/26-02/05 12/24-01/29 09/17-11/13
MT¹ Central Flyway portion of MT, except that area south of I-90 and west of the Bighorn River and Sheridan Co ND¹ Area 1, ND. TX¹ Area A, TX TX³ Area C, TX
MT² Sheridan County, MT ND² Area 2, ND. TX² Area B, TX
D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/13/06
Table 5. Estimated retrieved harvests of Mid-Continent sandhill cranes in the U.S.
CENTRAL U.S.
YR CO KS MT NM ND OK SD TX WY FLYWAY AZ 4 NM 4 AK ² ³ TOTAL TOTAL
1975 91 16 911 2,122 142 86 6,123 6 9,497 1,094 1,094 10,591
1976 106 29 858 52 200 12 6,122 14 7,393 637 637 8,030
1977 39 18 1,456 4,078 410 47 6,094 9 12,151 471 471 12,622
1978 106 36 1,089 2,777 389 19 5,720 10 10,146 239 239 10,385
1979 129 14 1,170 2,733 397 19 5,917 0 10,379 517 517 10,896
1980 68 16 1,019 2,245 363 130 6,305 6 10,152 809 809 10,961
1981 92 11 907 2,395 397 78 6,245 9 10,134 20 383 403 10,537
1982 49 21 335 2,469 535 212 4,295 0 7,916 62 1,160 1,222 9,138
1983 70 28 354 6,471 373 177 5,471 15 12,959 17 1,540 1,557 14,516
1984 85 15 414 4,367 433 139 5,811 7 11,271 23 1,986 2,009 13,280
1985 82 7 334 4,650 416 101 7,184 2 12,776 48 1,197 1,245 14,021
1986 33 1 250 6,563 392 99 5,149 0 12,487 108 184 539 831 13,318
1987 86 15 159 5,334 957 99 6,117 3 12,770 127 318 836 1,281 14,051
1988 68 18 372 3,815 1,061 100 7,330 8 12,772 172 127 1,241 1,540 14,312
1989 25 33 319 4,656 1,003 194 7,400 9 13,639 126 138 545 809 14,448
1990 87 44 377 6,804 698 165 9,865 1 18,041 114 259 918 1,291 19,332
1991 224 31 593 4,580 604 128 6,916 3 13,079 172 235 677 1,084 14,163
1992 84 103 505 4,654 478 141 6,455 13 12,433 139 54 640 833 13,266
1993 112 602 95 506 6,985 826 110 8,769 0 18,005 113 178 201 492 18,497
1994 143 767 56 357 6,235 1,167 239 7,233 4 16,201 86 153 648 887 17,088
1995 208 990 156 673 7,017 1,091 170 10,322 1 20,628 124 111 812 1,047 21,675
1996 91 933 58 332 6,639 1,066 166 7,816 10 17,111 114 78 1,205 1,397 18,508
1997 168 1,167 45 248 6,545 600 189 10,800 4 19,766 171 45 870 1,086 20,852
1998 64 1,362 17 258 7,967 645 454 9,054 10 19,831 114 55 1,042 1,211 21,042
1999 56 1,455 29 321 5,748 879 184 8,469 8 17,149 92 101 NA* 193 17,342
2000 363 590 15 311 5,081 552 374 8,208 10 15,504 166 100 985 1,251 16,755
2001 257 1,033 43 297 5,173 713 478 6,999 7 15,000 154 106 941 1,201 16,201
2002 294 1,067 23 342 2,852 490 160 7,837 22 13,087 197 92 850 1,139 14,226
2003 230 942 49 617 4,564 200 166 11,560 7 18,335 155 162 330 647 18,982
2004 92 856 54 350 3,967 441 67 8,715 4 14,546 192 167 438 797 15,343
2005¹ 266 475 67 575 3,792 513 190 12,681 16 18,575 227 175 384 786 19,361
AVERAGES:
1975-79 94 23 1,097 2,352 308 37 5,995 8 9,913 592 592 10,505
1980-89 66 17 446 4,297 593 133 6,131 6 11,688 78 192 1,024 1,171 12,858
1990-99 124 1,039 63 417 6,317 805 195 8,570 5 17,224 124 127 779 952 18,177
2000-04 247 898 37 383 4,327 479 249 8,664 10 15,294 173 125 709 1,007 16,301
1975-04 120 980 37 534 4,651 597 157 7,343 7 13,839 117 140 819 974 14,813
CURRENT YEAR PERCENT CHANGE FROM:
2004 189% -45% 24% 64% -4% 16% 184% 46% 300% 28% 18% 5% -12% -1% 26%
1975-79 182% 196% -48% 61% 67% 419% 112% 105% 87% -35% 33% 84%
1980-89 304% 306% 29% -12% -13% 43% 107% 171% 59% 191% -9% -62% -33% 51%
1990-99 115% -54% 6% 38% -40% -36% -2% 48% 196% 8% 83% 38% -51% -17% 7%
2000-04 8% -47% 82% 50% -12% 7% -24% 46% 60% 21% 31% 40% -46% -22% 19%
1975-04 122% -52% 83% 8% -18% # -14% 21% 73% 138% 34% 94% 25% -53% -19% 31%
¹ Preliminary D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/13/06
² A proportion of the Alaskan harvest is composed of lesser sandhill cranes from the Pacific Coast Population
³ Harvest data are from state harvest surveys for only the MCP portion of the state, except in 1977-81, 1986, 1991, and 1998-99 where
federal MQS state totals are prorated by the long-term percent MC cranes; data from 2000 forward are MC portion from HIP.
4 This MC harvest for AZ and NM represents MC sandhill cranes that were harvested in RMP areas and are not represented in the CF MC Sandhill Crane Federal Harvest Survey
* No estimate is available.
OTHER SURVEY AREAS
Table 6. Estimated retrieved harvests of Mid-Continent sandhill cranes
in Canada.
YEAR MB SK TOTAL
1971 228 2,715 2,943
1972 113 2,030 2,143
1973 683 3,592 4,275
1974 58 6,641 6,699
1975 164 6,000 6,164
1976 210 1,425 1,635
1977 367 N/A 367
1978 876 N/A 876
1979 977 2,821 3,798
1980 892 4,690 5,582
1981 508 2,451 2,959
1982 796 2,041 2,837
1983 378 2,720 3,098
1984 674 3,043 3,717
1985 691 4,468 5,159
1986 1,651 4,455 6,106
1987 795 4,472 5,267
1988 1,955 4,991 6,946
1989 2,666 2,318 4,984
1990 1,018 3,821 4,839
1991 1,800 3,594 5,394
1992 1,205 4,440 5,645
1993 482 2,309 2,791
1994 529 3,259 3,788
1995 1,005 4,824 5,829
1996 1,352 2,961 4,313
1997 1,279 4,622 5,901
1998 889 8,636 9,525
1999 1,300 7,100 8,400
2000 805 8,645 9,450
2001 1,247 7,538 8,785
2002 1,283 6,665 7,948
2003 1,474 8,112 9,586
2004 1,267 9,769 11,036
2005 1,776 8,101 9,877
AVERAGES:
1971-79 408 3,603 3,211
1980-89 1,101 3,565 4,666
1990-99 1,086 4,557 5,643
2000-04 1,215 8,146 9,361
1971-04 930 4,599 5,258
CURRENT YEAR PERCENT CHANGE FROM:
2004 40% -17% -11%
1971-79 335% 125% 208%
1980-89 61% 127% 112%
1990-99 64% 78% 75%
2000-04 46% -1% 6%
1971-04 91% 76% 88%
D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/28/06
Table 7. Annual sport hunting mortality estimates for the Mid-Continent Population
of sandhill cranes in North America.
SPORT HUNTING MORTALITY
Retrieved Unretrieved
Central Other Survey Total
YR Flyway Total Canada Mexico² No. Am.³
1975 9,497 1,094 6,164 1,676 3,672 22,102
1976 7,393 637 1,635 967 2,032 12,663
1977 12,151 471 367 1,299 2,440 16,728
1978 10,146 239 876 1,126 2,308 14,695
1979 10,379 517 3,798 1,469 2,807 18,970
1980 10,152 809 5,582 1,654 3,349 21,546
1981 10,134 403 2,959 1,350 2,722 17,568
1982 7,916 1,222 2,837 1,198 2,451 15,624
1983 12,959 1,557 3,098 1,761 3,503 22,879
1984 11,271 2,009 3,717 1,700 3,375 22,072
1985 12,776 1,245 5,159 1,918 3,524 24,622
1986 12,487 831 6,106 1,942 3,646 25,012
1987 12,770 1,281 5,267 1,932 3,406 24,656
1988 12,772 1,540 6,946 2,126 3,750 27,134
1989 13,639 809 4,984 1,943 3,628 25,003
1990 18,041 1,291 4,839 2,417 4,228 30,817
1991 13,079 1,084 5,394 1,956 3,455 24,967
1992 12,433 833 5,645 1,891 3,133 23,935
1993 18,005 492 2,791 2,129 3,334 26,751
1994 16,201 887 3,788 2,088 3,029 25,992
1995 20,628 1,047 5,829 2,750 4,161 34,416
1996 17,111 1,397 4,313 2,282 3,609 28,713
1997 19,766 1,086 5,901 2,675 4,211 33,640
1998 19,831 1,211 9,525 3,057 4,901 38,524
1999 17,149 193* 8,400 2,574 3,950 32,267
2000 15,504 1,251 9,450 2,621 4,093 32,919
2001 15,000 1,201 8,785 2,499 4,014 31,499
2002 13,087 1,139 7,948 2,217 3,448 27,839
2003 18,335 647 9,586 2,857 4,246 35,671
2004¹ 14,546 797 11,036 2,638 4,165 33,182
2005¹ 18,575 786 9,877 2,924 4,512 36,674
AVERAGES:
1975-79 9,913 592 2,568 1,307 2,652 17,032
1980-89 11,688 1,171 4,666 1,752 3,336 22,612
1990-99 17,224 1,036 5,643 2,382 3,801 30,002
2000-04 15,294 1,007 9,361 2,566 3,993 32,222
1975-04 13,839 1,001 5,424 2,024 3,486 25,747
CURRENT YEAR PERCENT CHANGE FROM:
2004 28% -1% -11% 11% 8% 11%
1975-79 87% 33% 285% 124% 70% 115%
1980-89 59% -33% 112% 67% 35% 62%
1990-99 8% -24% 75% 23% 19% 22%
2000-04 21% -22% 6% 14% 13% 14%
1975-04 34% -21% 82% 44% 29% 42%
¹ Preliminary D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/13/06
² Unknown harvests (Mexico) were assumed to be 10% of harvests in the U.S. and Canada.
³ Unretrieved kill as reported by hunters is used for the Central Flyway; for the remainder of harvest areas, it is assumed to be
20% of retrieved harvests.
*There is no estimate available for AK in that year.
Table 8. Estimated retrieved harvests of the Rocky Mountain Population of greater
sandhill cranes.
YR UT NM AZ WY MT ID TOTAL
1981 20 20
1982 9 143 152
1983 35 154 189
1984 33 101 134
1985 40 138 178
1986 23 195 218
1987 60 190 250
1988 310 40 128 478
1989 54 483 51 125 713
1990 35 79 9 58 181
1991 48 47 44 101 240
1992 147 39 168 42 396
1993 28 297 61 115 45 546
1994 34 416 27 150 40 667
1995 27 270 33 77 41 448
1996 32 236 27 84 49 20 448
1997 30 114 22 82 62 136 446
1998 34 180 37 93 59 135 538
1999 54 198 21 124 71 190 658 ¹
2000 69 257 37 163 91 193 810 ²
2001 77 288 26 142 87 278 898
2002 60 160 42 132 51 194 639
2003 57 169 34 72 50 146 528
2004 53 189 35 124 51 142 594
2005 62 236 50 116 49 189 702
AVERAGES:
1981-89 54 397 35 147 259
1990-99 36 198 32 105 51 120 457
2000-04 63 213 35 127 66 191 694
1981-04 46 226 34 124 57 159 432
CURRENT YEAR PERCENT CHANGE FROM:
2004 17% 25% 43% -6% -4% 33% 18%
1981-89 15% -40% 45% -21% 171%
1990-99 73% 19% 56% 10% -4% 57% 54%
2000-04 -2% 11% 44% -8% -26% -1% 1%
1981-04 34% 4% 49% -7% -14% 19% 62%
¹ RMP Sandill cranes (40) were also taken as part of research project in the San Luis Valley, CO D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/13/06
² RMP Sandill cranes (20) were also taken as part of research project in the San Luis Valley, CO
Table 9. Spring population indices for Rocky Mountain sandhill cranes, 1984 - 96.
SAN LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO
RAW ADJ. FOR ADJ. TO OTHER SURVEY
YR COUNT EST. BIAS¹ REM. LES.² AREAS INDEX COND.
1984 10,962 14,488 13,562 550 14,112 POOR
1985 18,393 21,773 20,382 0 20,382 GOOD
1986 14,031 14,031 13,135 20 13,155 POOR
1987 13,561 15,661 14,660 0 14,660 POOR
1988 17,510 17,510 16,381 22 16,403 POOR
1989 17,302 18,389 17,004 0 17,004 GOOD
1990 20,851 24,593 21,221 275 21,496 GOOD
1991 19,990 18,405 16,045 175 16,220 GOOD
1992 23,516 23,516 19,999 9 20,008 GROUND
1993 17,576 17,576 16,478 1,260 17,738 POOR
1994 17,229 16,036 15,063 203 15,266 FAIR
1995 25,276 23,390 20,229 0 20,229 GOOD
1996 23,019 26,379 22,737 1,010 23,747 GOOD
¹ Raw estimate adjusted by photography for estimation bias
² Population estimate adjusted to remove the number of lesser sandhill cranes (non-RMP cranes).
Table 10. Fall pre-migration population indices for Rocky Mountain sandhill cranes.
YR UT CO ID WY MT TOTAL 3-YR AVG
1987 1,578 1,443 10,686 2,327 1,447 17,481
1992 2,810 3,181 5,801 2,241 5,264 19,297
1995 1,528 2,284 6,864 1,671 3,681 16,028
1996 1,849 1,255 8,334 2,526 2,974 16,938
19971, 2 2,450 1,604 8,132 2,255 3,595 18,036 17,001
1998 2,185 1,273 8,067 3,262 3,415 18,202 17,725
1999 2,292 1,102 8,761 4,205 3,141 19,501 18,580
2000 2,416 749 9,337 3,890 3,598 19,990 19,231
2001 1,522 666 7,160 2,626 4,585 16,559 18,683
2002 1,869 1,355 7,698 3,038 4,843 18,803 18,451
2003 2,546 745 7,822 3,446 4,964 19,523 18,295
2004 2,239 1,410 7,152 3,072 4,637 18,510 18,945
2005 2,646 1,052 7,668 3,911 5,588 20,865 19,633
1 Incomplete survey efforts in years prior might have resulted in lower estimates; the official count begins in 1997.
2 In October 1997, a special survey was also conducted in the SLV, Colorado and other areas, which resulted in a total
of 27,090 Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent cranes being counted.
D.E. SHARP S:\CF_D\projects\CRANES\mcp\Shcranerep.xls 06/13/06
Fig. 1. Approximate range of Mid-Continent sandhill cranes (based on figures in Sharp
et al. 2000, Tacha et al. 1994, and data from radio-telemetered birds provided by
G. Krapu, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND).
Breeding Range
Primary Staging Area
Wintering Range
Pacific/Central Flyway Boundary
Figure 2. Approximate range of the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill
Cranes.
Figure 3. Areas open to the hunting of Mid-Continent sandhill cranes by Federal
frameworks in the Central Flyway states, 2004-05.
Hunting Permitted
1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
SANDHILL CRANES (THOUSANDS)
OCULAR TRANSECT PHOTO-CORRECTION
Figure 4. Spring population indices for Mid-Continent sandhill cranes on the
Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska.
1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003
YEAR
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
SANDHILL CRANES (THOUSANDS)
Figure 5. Photo-corrected spring population estimates (solid line) and the 95%
confidence intervals (dashed lines) for Mid-Continent sandhill cranes
on the Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska.
* The value for 2006 is preliminary.
1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
SANDHILL CRANES (THOUSANDS)
ANNUAL
INDEX
3-YEAR
AVERAGE
THRESHOLDS
Figure 6. Annual and three-year average photo-corrected ocular transect spring
population indices and population objective thresholds for Mid-Continent
sandhill cranes.
1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003
YEAR
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
CRANE HUNTERS (THOUSANDS)
Figure 7. Active Mid-Continent sandhill crane hunters in the U.S. portion of the
Central Flyway. * The value for 2005 is preliminary.
*
1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
CRIPPLING LOSS RATE
Figure 8. Crippling loss rate (number lost/[number retrieved + lost]) of Mid-Continent
sandhill cranes in the U.S. portion of the Central Flyway.
1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005
YEAR
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
DAYS PER HUNTER
Figure 9. Average number of hunting days afield reported by active Mid-Continent
sandhill crane hunters in the U.S. portion of the Central Flyway.
1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003
1
2
3
SEASONAL SANDHILL CRANE BAG
Figure 10. Seasonal bag per Mid-Continent sandhill crane hunter in the U.S. portion of
the Central Flyway.
1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005
YEAR
5
10
15
20
25
NUMBER OF CRANES (THOUSANDS)
Figure 11. Estimated hunting mortality (retrieved and unretrieved) of Mid-Continent
sandhill cranes in the U.S. portion of the Central Flyway.
1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
NUMBER OF CRANES (THOUSANDS)
Mexico
Other Survey Total
Canada
Central Flyway
Figure 12. Estimated hunting mortality (retrieved and unretrieved) of Mid-Continent
sandhill cranes in North America.
1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
YEAR
12.5
12.6
12.7
12.8
12.9
13.0
13.1
13.2
13.3
LN (ABUNDANCE)
9.2
9.4
9.6
9.8
10.0
10.2
10.4
LN (HARVEST)
Population
Harvest
Figure 13. Trend analyses of indices to abundance and harvest of Mid-Continent
sandhill cranes
*
*In 1999, there was no estimate available for AK.
20
152
189
134
178
218
250
478
713
181
240
396
546
667
448 448 446
538
658
810
898
639
528
594
702
1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
ESTIMATED HARVEST
Figure 14. Estimated harvest of Rocky Mountain Population sandhill cranes.
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
YEAR
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
SANDHILL CRANES (THOUSANDS)
SPRING
FALL
Figure 15. Abundance indices for the Rocky Mountain Population of sandhill cranes
(Incomplete survey efforts in years prior to 1997 might have resulted in lower estimates;
the official count begins in 1997
1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
YEAR
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
PROPORTION OF JUVENILES
Figure 17. Annual indices for recruitment (% juveniles) of the Rocky Mountain Population
of sandhill cranes.
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
12.5
15
17.5
20
22.5
25
FALL POPULATION INDICES (THOUSANDS)
ANNUAL INDEX
3-YEAR AVERAGE
OBJECTIVE
Figure 16. Annual and three-year average of fall pre-migration abundance indices for the
Rocky Mountain Population of sandhill cranes.
Incomplete survey efforts in years prior to 1997 might have resulted in lower estimates;
the official count begins in 1997.