Cooking Sandhill Cranes
I'm planning to go hunting in Western Oklahoma this coming weekend for the Duck Hunting Season opener. I've obtained a federal Sandhill Crane hunting permit (Whooping Cranes are federally protected, Sandhill Cranes are legal hunting under specific conditions and in specific locations). In the place I'm going hunting, sometimes we see the Sandhill Cranes, although last year they were flying to high to shoot at them.
Anyone have any good recipes for cooking Sandhill Crane? I understand they are good eating. Some people call them "rib eye in the sky," which I find pretty intriguing. Also, how much does one of these birds weigh dressed and plucked? Are they good roasted, or is the only substantial meat on the breast? Would it be a good idea to substitute a roast Sandhill Crane for the Thanksgiving Butterball Turkey?