Being an iconic Wisconsin bird species and an amazing conservation success story is not enough to protect Sandhill Cranes.

*Sandhill Cranes in flight (photo by Arlene Koziol).*

Sandhill Cranes still need your support

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance opposes a sandhill crane hunt. Wisconsin provides critical breeding grounds for these iconic birds, and a hunt poses uncertainties and dangers to this population.

timeline of recent events

In October 2021, a package of bills that included a variety of hunting-related proposals was fast-tracked for consideration by the Wisconsin Legislature. The package, and especially the Sandhill Crane hunt bill, was introduced without input from experts, conservation groups, or stakeholders (like you). This brought widespread opposition from the public, conservation groups (including our organization and the International Crane Foundation), and many in the hunting and fishing community. Numerous Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (then Madison Audubon) members answered the call to contact their legislators and join us to testify at the Senate hearing. Despite overwhelming opposition, the Senate committee voted to move the crane hunt bill forward for consideration by the Wisconsin Senate or State Assembly.
The two companion bills (SB-620 and AB-667) proposing a crane hunt were considered by legislature, but neither passed in March 2022 (read more in the Wisconsin State Journal).
The International Crane Foundation (ICF) published the results of a statewide study from 2023 conducted in close collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. The response clearly shows that most Wisconsinites are not in favor of a Sandhill Crane hunt—and ever fewer (less than 5% of respondents) were very likely to participate in one.
Despite the recent study results, the Legislative Council announced the formation of a study committee on Sandhill Cranes. Legislative Council study committees are created to provide deeper opportunities for the legislature and the public to come together in the same room, with the intention of fairly addressing complex issues in a way not possible during the legislative session. The committee’s purpose was to focus on the agricultural impact of cranes in our state, with part of the stated scope to “consider whether the Department of Natural Resources should seek federal approval to establish a hunting season for sandhill cranes.” Once again, bird conservation organizations were not included in the initial discussions or planning of the committee and its objectives—research has shown that a Sandhill Crane hunt isnot an effective way to prevent crop depredation.
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance was invited and proactively applied to join the committee, and though we were not selected, were glad that our partners at ICF and Wisconsin’s Green Fire were (read more in our July 1 blog post). Our team continued to closely follow the issue, and were disappointed when the first few meetings spent almost no time on the complex issue of crop damage, instead focusing on the feasibility of a hunt (read more in our September 25 blog post).
We hoped that the result of the committee would be a draft bill centered around proven solutions to crop damage that will support farmers without including a Sandhill Crane hunting season, which is not a solution for crop damage. The committee voted 8-4 to recommend introducing combined legislation rather than separate bills on reimbursement for farmers and a Sandhill Crane hunt. We were disappointed about the outcome, as were other bird conservation organizations (read more in this statement from ICF). After the vote, the bill was moved forward to the Joint Legislative Council (JLC), becoming AB-117/SB-112.
In early 2025, the Governor’s office announced proposed budget investments to support farmers AND Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin. The proposal includes cost-share funding for treating corn seeds, a method that has been proven to discourage cranes from damaging crops in the spring. The proposed budget allocates “more than $3.7 million to reimburse corn farmers up to 50 percent of the total cost of purchasing seed treatment that discourages fowl, especially Sandhill Cranes, from eating their seed.”
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance strongly supported the Governor’s plan, which offered a real and effective solution for Wisconsin’s farmers without instating a costly and unpopular Sandhill Crane hunting season. However, the proposal was removed by the legislature during the budget process.

Fall 2025: Committee on Financial Institutions & sporting heritage hearing on SB-112

On November 19, the Wisconsin State Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage held a hearing on SB-112. Prior to the hearing, substitute amendments were attached to the bill that changed several key features of the legislation resulting from the legislative study committee in 2024, including removing the mechanism to reimburse farmers on crop treatments, reducing education requirements related to the protection of endangered Whooping Cranes, and limiting the Wisconsin DNR’s ability to close or limit hunting in certain areas or at certain times.

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, along with many of our valued partners in conservation and members, testified in opposition to the bill and amendments:

Though those in favor have claimed otherwise, there is no scientific evidence that suggests a crane hunt will reduce crop damage concerns for farmers.
Estimates by the Wisconsin DNR suggest that a crane hunt in Wisconsin will be costly and operate at a financial loss.
Wisconsinites do not want, and will largely not participate in, a Sandhill Crane hunting season in our state.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been devastating crane populations around the world—thousands of Sandhill Cranes died this spring and the first known loss of a Whooping Crane from the virus was recorded in September. According the the experts at ICF, now is not the time to experiment with a hunting season on cranes’ critical breeding grounds in Wisconsin.

Where we are now, and what’s next

After the hearing on November 19, it was unclear whether the bill would move forward for consideration by the legislature.

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance remains in communication with our partners and with the broader alliance of bird conservation organizations throughout the state on this important issue. Stay tuned for more information on how we can continue to work together and advocate for Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin.

Be an advocate for Sandhill Cranes

*Two Sandhill Cranes (photo by Monica Hall).*

We are closely following what happens with the bill moving forward. To stay in the loop, sign up for our email list to receive action alerts.

Wherever you may live in the state, if cranes are important to you, please consider contacting your legislators to tell them why, and ask them to vote against Sandhill Crane hunt bills. We recommend touching on each of these points, using your own experiences and words:

That you want them to vote against a Sandhill Crane hunt.
Why Sandhill Cranes matter to you, and/or a strong memory of experiencing something incredible relating to Sandhill Cranes.
What it would mean to you if Sandhill Crane populations declined.
If you are a hunter and/or angler and/or farmer, please describe this.

Find your legislator