Can you hunt and eat sandhill cranes in Florida?

It’s illegal to hunt and eat sandhill cranes in the Sunshine State.

Sandhill cranes are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, meaning you cannot kill, capture, sell, trade or transport them. The bird is on this list to protect them during their year-round travel through Northern areas, such as Canada and Alaska, and Southern areas, such as the U.S. and Mexico.

A first-time conviction for hunting a sandhill crane, which is a state-designated threatened species, could mean up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. 

Some states and countries –– not including Florida –– hold regulatory hunting seasons for the bird to control their population, which may explain rumors and claims about their good taste.