I was wondering if its worth the money to purchase a liscense to hunt during the summer. I am from ny and want to continue to mostly hunt Crow. Is their anybody that can help me out with this. Area's to hunt, places not to hunt. Thanks for your input.
For crow, you need to find a major feeding area, like a pecan orchard or something similar where crows are going to go in large numbers regardless of not being in large roosts. For coyote, you can call them in anytime of day or night during any time of year, but pelts aren't going to be worth anything in the summer.
I live and hunt in Montgomery county (SE PA) , Philadelphia suburbs, and hunt in Monroe county (NE PA). I am a member of a hunting club in Monroe and we have lots of coyotes. I have not had a chance to hunt any but I know they are there, visual confirmation. I want to hunt them, just need time. I also hunt crows, usually on Sunday, and I do not know a lot of good areas. I have had some OK shoots on club property, though, it is a small parcel and I don't get to hunt crows as much, especially during the summer. I mostly hunt through the two small game seasons and rifle deer seasons. There's so much more I want to do, just don't get the chance. I also have access to a private farm about 20 mins from the club where I can get rabbits. Of all my hunting, I go for crows, squirrels, rabbit, waterfowl, fall turkey, and deer, in that order of preference. I don't have any friends to hunt with, they just aren't into hunting and the club members are really only around during deer season. I do not hunt the summer due to sal****er fishing taking precedence. I also travel to Delaware for waterfowl hunting, with extended family, when I can.
If you are considering hunting in PA, there are lots of public land opportunities, though, just bear in mind, the small game seasons bring our a lot of hunters in PA. I am not a native Pennsylvanian, so knowing land owners, as I grew up, is pretty much limited to my in-laws. I think finding the right land owner is hard around my area since the people I do ask say they don't own the land. I think that's easier for most to say to dismiss the choice to give permission. Other times, the land owner may say they already have too many hunters and don't allow any one new.
Hope this helps. I would be happy to cruise the NE country side to locate more areas if you every get near Monroe county.
The foliage in the Summer makes it tough to crow hunt. Hard to find a hide, and yet be able to shoot, plus there are very limited spots with big flocks. Murders of 8/10 crows are the norm, at least in my area. The other issue is wearing full camo when it's hot out.......OK for a hour or two at first light, not much fun as the day wears on.
Yotes are here and huntable year round, but not a easy task to call them in. The "TV" shows showing them out west, is not the same as here in Pa, and once again, the Summer foliage limits vision. But they are here, and a good time to try the Yotes is after they cut the hay which helps with visibility.
-- Edited by BUZZ on Sunday 23rd of March 2014 10:51:25 AM
I know right where you live, I used to live on Long Island many years ago.
In answer to your question about hunting crows during the summer months I would say your best bet would be to get on the Teconic State Parkway and head Up State where they raise row crops such as corn. Years ago I used to "Run & Gun" for crows during the summer months in Up State New York. The crows are spread out into family groups of anywhere from 3 to 5 birds and in some spots you will have several family groups close enough to one another where your stand might last for 10 to 15 minutes but this is not the norm; most calling stands you only get one good pass, two if your lucky. I used to hunt during the morning hours while it was still cool and the birds were active. I had shooting up until noon time and then I would go get some lunch.
On average I would shoot anywhere from 1 to 3 crows per stand so the more territory you have to hunt the better you will do. During this time of year there is no problem at all getting hid with all the leaves on the trees. I used to go Up State and spend 5 to 7 days up there hunting crows with a partner. I'd head up there every couple of weeks and keep branching out and getting new spots to hunt. I also hunted woodchucks with a varmint rifle to fill in the time as well on those hunts.
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Crows in PA closes April 6th and will stay closed until the beginning of July. This past season opened up July 5th and you can only hunt them Friday Saturday and Sunday. Coyote's are open year round with some exceptions such as during deer where you need a valid deer license to be out hunting or along those lines. I only hunted coyote a few times so the requirements over the year are not all that familiar to me.
In PA there are also a lot of cooperatives that are often farms that let you hunt if you ask permission. It is not a sure thing and it does take some time and effort to find them and get permission but I have hunted a few and it usually was worth the time to get onto them.
I don't know squat about eastern PA. The western part of the state has lots of coyotes. One of the better populations in the eastern US in my opinion. But they are pretty pressured between hounds, driving them, calling and trapping. Guessing this winters snow cover may have reduced # of the hunters in the field though.
Thanks for all your replies. My friend and I decided not to hunt Pa. due to everything you've already said. I do hunt the parkway since I live a mile from it. We hunt an organic mulch farm which has loads of crows. Sometimes hundreds non-stop. They want them gone because they pick at the bags that are already to be shipped. I have an addiction to hunting crows. It's my favorite. Hunting the Mulch farm is awesome because you never know what direction they will come from. I'm looking into a procedure to have eyes put in the back of my head..lol. Tomorrow is our last day. The good news is that it starts back up in about 150 days. As much as I enjoy hunting, summer is the time to go fishing and do other activities outside. Also, guys, it keeps our relationships together. Anyways, hope everybody is ready for spring? Man, didn't think it would ever come.
