Sandhill Crane hunting is a growing sport that requires lifelike decoys, good calling, and your special Crane hunting permit (never forget it!). But assuming you have your hunting permit in order, having the right choke in your shotgun when the birds finally commit to the decoys is also very important.
The best choke tubes for Sandhill Cranes are the Patternmaster Code Black and Carlson’s Cremator. These two chokes pattern Steel #BBB and lead #2 shot extremely well and can do it consistently. They can handle mid and long range scenarios for both decoying birds or shots going away.
In this guide, we’ll discuss these choke tubes in more detail and explain why they work so well for hunting Sandhill Cranes.
Top 3 Best Choke Tubes for Sandhill Crane Hunting
These are the chokes you should consider for Sandhill Crane hunting that can provide dense patterns downrange with lead, steel, and TSS shot. As always, patterning your shotgun is key to fine tuning it and finding out which choke tubes and ammo work best out of it.
1) Patternmaster Code Black Choke
The Patternmaster Code Black is a top-of-the-line choke tube that provides unmatched performance in long-range hunting situations. This choke tube uses a specialized constriction design that helps to control the spread of shot at longer distances. This makes it an ideal choice for crane hunters who need to take shots at moving targets from a distance.
The Patternmaster Code Black choke tube provides dense downrange patterns for Sandhill Cranes out to 60 yards with large steel shot and smaller lead loads. The wad halting technology separates the shot column from the wad in a controlled manner to prevent flier pellets and increase even pattern distribution downrange. If you’re looking for a choke that can handle it all and requires little upkeep, this is it. Expect it to pattern closer to a full choke. This is the TOP pick.
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2) Carlson’s Cremator Ported Choke
The Carlson’s Cremator choke tube is an excellent choice for crane hunters who need a versatile choke that can perform well with a variety of shotshell loads. This choke tube uses a unique design that consists of multiple tapers, which work together to provide a consistent shot pattern. This makes the Cremator ideal for hunting situations where you need to be able to adjust your shooting style quickly and accurately.
Carlson’s ported version of the Cremator choke series works great for Sandhill Cranes in that it can help reduce recoil and muzzle jump, while the internal taper works to reduce pellet deformation. This mid-range choke tube is perfect for decoying cranes in tight or for quick passing shots at medium range. This is the BUDGET pick.
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3) Carlson’s TSS Choke Tube
The Carlson’s TSS choke is designed and optimized for use with TSS (tungsten super shot) shotshells. It provides a tight pattern and improved range, making it ideal for long-range shots on cranes. It performs well with both 12 and 20-gauge shotguns and is effective with shot sizes from #7 to #10.
TSS is a dense new tungsten pellet available for hunting sandhill cranes and it happens to pattern tightly with Carlson’s TSS choke. It can deliver 90% or more of TSS pellets in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. TSS pellets have a density of 18 g/cc which is almost pure tungsten. For comparison, the density of lead is only 11 g/cc. For the ultimate Sandhill Crane ammo and choke combo, this is it.
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Why the Patternmaster works best for Sandhill Crane Hunting
Patternmaster choke diameters are close to full choke diameter and because of this are perfect for putting lots of pellets on large Sandhill Cranes. These chokes can handle Sandhill Cranes decoying close as well as long fast-moving passing shots as they attempt to exit.
Patternmaster choke tubes work especially well with #2 lead shot and it’s not uncommon to pattern this choke and ammo combination and receive 80% coverage in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. Steel shot also works well with Patternmaster choke tube.
How to hunt Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Cranes are some of the smartest game birds to hunt. They have great eyesight and attention to detail is important. Lifelike decoys offer the best chance of success when hunting cranes to get them in close. Your choke setup will likely need to be tailored to the types of Sandhill Crane you will be hunting and how they react to decoy spreads.
Sandhill Crane hunting over decoys can require open chokes and smaller shot sizes. These types of situations are going to be within 20-30 yards where a Modified choke (0.705”) will work the best.
For Sandhill Crane in open fields where birds may pass further out, the Full Choke (0.685”) is the top choice that will keep your pattern together for shots between 40 and 60 yards. Pass shooting sandhill cranes is also a scenario where you will want to use a tight choke.
Sandhill Crane Choke Tubes and Ranges
- Improved Cylinder (10-20 yards) – Up close decoying shots
- Modified (20-40 yards) – Decoying and medium passing shots
- Improved Modified (35-45 yards) – Long range decoying shots
- Full Choke (40-60 yards) – High flying birds over 50 yards
The chart above shows the recommended choke tube and range in yards for Sandhill Crane hunting. Modified is the best choke for typical Sandhill Crane hunting shots that include close decoying and bird exiting scenarios. Full chokes are the best choice for long range shots after the bird is exiting and gained full momentum or for hunting without decoys.
Sandhill Crane Hunting Field Tips
- Get a set of improved cylinder, modified, and full chokes
- This will let you switch chokes as conditions change
- Lead #2’s and a full choke tube work well on sandhill cranes
- Keep shots below 40 yards, know your ammo and choke limitations
- A full choke may be needed for those days where birds are skirting the decoys
- Windy days, especially those with cross winds, you may need to up your pellet size
- Pattern your shotgun to find out what choke and ammo work best
- If using a tight choke, allow a bird decoying close to get distance before shooting
Patternmaster choke tubes can take a lot of the guess work out of Sandhill Crane hunting. They usually work well with most ammo types and at extended ranges. If you want to ditch the lead and steel shot, TSS is a viable pellet that offers the best ballistics for sandhill crane hunting. The Carlson’s TSS choke is designed to work specifically with it.
Having a set of choke tubes in your hunting vest or backpack works well for changing conditions. You can tailor your setup to how Sandhill Crane are responding while in the field and changing a choke only takes seconds with a good choke wrench.
What to expect
When it comes to choosing the right choke tube for Sandhill Crane hunting, Patternmaster Code Black stands out from its competitors. The Patternmaster Code Black is engineered with a unique design that provides consistent and even shot patterns, resulting in better accuracy and a higher precision. Unlike most of its competitors, the Patternmaster is built with a wad halting design, which ensures that the wad and shot column separate cleanly, reducing the chances of having holes or gaps in your pattern. Additionally, the Code Black’s longer parallel section helps to reduce recoil, which in turn leads to more controlled shots and better follow ups. Overall, the Patternmaster Code Black is a top performer, delivering outstanding results that set it apart from the competition.
Bottom Line
Sandhill Crane hunting requires a choke size geared toward the situation at hand. #2 lead and #BBB steel shot are popular pellet sizes most Sandhill Crane hunters use. Naturally, finding a choke tube that patterns these loads well is key to success in the field.
The Patternmaster Code Black Choke is the top pick for an all-around Sandhill Crane hunting choke tube that can deliver dense patterns with both lead and steel shot at extended ranges. Other high performance chokes include the Carlson’s Cremator and their TSS choke. Whichever choke you choose, be sure and pattern it to see how it performs with the ammo and at the range you plan to hunt.
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Last update on 2025-09-07 / Affiliate links / Product Images from Amazon Product Advertising API