By Todd Hatton
Murray, KY – The federal government has approved the hunting of sandhill cranes in Kentucky. That means the state can go forward with its plan to hold the first authorized hunt of the birds in about 100 years. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Service officials say the approval this week from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency means officials could open the hunt as early as December 17th. Sandhill crane numbers had dwindled due to overhunting, but have rebounded since then due to conservation efforts.