Professional Hunting Guide Services
Hunting our private farms on the lower Rio Grande is limited to just two weekends.
One in October and one in January and with a very limited in numbers of hunters controlled by a NMDG&F license draw, meaning – these birds are rarely hunted!
We set up field blinds with decoys and are expert callers bringing the birds in CLOSE for great shots and harvest.
A WORLD CLASS CRANE HUNTING EXPERIENCE
🦅 Sandhill Crane Hunting in New Mexico
World-Class Guided Hunts for the “Ribeye of the Sky”
At Santa Fe Guiding Company, we offer one of the most exclusive big bird hunts in the country — guided sandhill crane hunts on private farms in Southern New Mexico. These hunts are available only by New Mexico Game & Fish draw, with just two weekends open per year. That limited access means the birds are relaxed, unpressured, and ready to work the decoys.
đź“Ť Where We Hunt
We operate on carefully scouted, permission-granted private farms in:
- The Lower Rio Grande Valley
- Southwest New Mexico
Thanks to long-standing relationships with local landowners, we’re able to set up where the birds are active — including freshly used grain fields and roosting areas.
- Hunting private farms on the lower Rio Grande and Southwest New Mexico
- Both Lesser and Greater – and I mean GREATER subspecies
- Absolutely the finest table fare you can imagineÂ
- A WORLD CLASS CRANE HUNTING EXPERIENCEÂ
- Set ground blinds, decoys and calling hunt methods produces daily limits
- One weekend in October and one in January hunting seasons
- License draw requiring application with a mid summer deadline to apply
- Â ProGuide – guided only day hunting services with hunters lodging and dining on their own in nearby towns
- ModernHuntsman Harvest training hunt
- Combo Hunt – our Big Bird Special – cranes and greater Canada geese
🦅 What We Hunt
These aren’t your everyday crane hunts. Our guided parties routinely encounter:
- Lesser Sandhill Cranes
- Greater Sandhill Cranes — up to 6.5′ wingspan!
Our guides are expert callers using blinds, decoys, and proven methods to bring birds in close for high-success harvests. You can expect clean shots on decoyed birds, not just passersby.
đź‘Ą Private Party Hunting Only
We keep every hunt personal and exclusive. That means:
- No large group blinds
- Only 2–4 hunters per guide
- Individual attention and flexible hunt setups
Whether it’s a father-and-sons hunt, a group of friends, or even older hunters (we’ve hosted guests as old as 95!), we make it comfortable, accessible, and memorable.
🔥 Field-to-Table Like You’ve Never Had
Crane meat is known as the “Ribeye of the Sky” — and our field cooking makes the most of it. After the hunt, we clean and cook crane medallions right in the field:
- Medium-rare crane medallions with balsamic glaze & red chile
- Fresh crane pâté made from liver & breast meat
- Bacon-seared cuts wrapped in tortillas with guacamole
“Cooking cranes is world class. The nickname Ribeye of the Sky is the truth.” — Bob, Guide
🗓️ Application Details
Sandhill crane hunts in New Mexico are by draw-only permit with a mid-summer deadline. For the 2025–2026 season, applications must be submitted by August 13.
We help you apply and walk you through the entire process — from draw submission to boots on the ground in the blind.
🎯 Book Your Crane Hunt Today
This is a bucket list hunt for many — but space is extremely limited and draws are competitive.
👉 Click here to apply, view videos, or reserve your guided hunt »
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