Where did you go? Last year during the winter/spring season you were shooting crows from a snow fort, which I thought was very clever. This winter was even worse so I am wondering if you moved, didn't have time or found the conditions to tough to get out. I hope all is well.
I've had an extremely rough winter. A couple of good friends died. My mother in law died 3 weeks ago, my wife was working in Germany for 3 months........yada-yada.
Long story short, Opening day back in January, 2 of us shot 81 crows. It was a good hunt. Then that afternoon we met 2 other hunters that called with a Foxpro and stood next to their truck shooting at crows. Many of their shots were at crows about 120 yards away. After that, if you turned on a call, the crows went the other direction.
haunting any area will produce negative results. You need to allow for a breather-a month is best. If you need your truck close by then camouflage it. Even if you parked it so many yards away. they will associate trucks with danger...also throw out more decoys. i saw too where the electronic callers only served to warn incoming crows off form playing the same old calls over and over and over again.
Long story short, Opening day back in January, 2 of us shot 81 crows. It was a good hunt. Then that afternoon we met 2 other hunters that called with a Foxpro and stood next to their truck shooting at crows. Many of their shots were at crows about 120 yards away. After that, if you turned on a call, the crows went the other direction.
haunting any area will produce negative results. You need to allow for a breather-a month is best. If you need your truck close by then camouflage it. Even if you parked it so many yards away. they will associate trucks with danger...also throw out more decoys. i saw too where the electronic callers only served to warn incoming crows off form playing the same old calls over and over and over again.
I believe that you may have misunderstood my post.
Two other hunters that I don't know ruined "my spot" by blasting at distant crows and standing next to their truck. I do not hunt that way. I'm fairly successful with the way I build blinds and place my decoys. I also park my truck several hundred yards away from where I'm hunting.
I use a Foxpro myself with excellent results.
This photo is from opening day this year. 75 in this picture, we killed 81 but had 6 that sailed about a 1/4 mile out into the field before falling.
-- Edited by Mainehunt on Friday 11th of April 2014 12:49:06 AM
Well, what i meant was unless you got a steady influx of new birds the regulars will smarten up really fast. The other point is i know of this area where these other shooters used the same exact techniques and sooner than later the area wasn't the place to go.
I kno0w of this case where every time this guy saw or heard a crow he turned on that caller and the crows simply ignored it or answered from a distance while sitting in a tree way too far away except for a long range sniper rifle or something? Clearly this was not your experience. Your photo is proof of that. I cannot imagine anyone shooting at crows 120 yards away but so it goes....with a shotgun that is...
Whoa-whoa-wwhhooaaa..I sure never intended to come across like that! No-no-no-nnoo...I suggest ideas that from experience and try to encourage the good work of course. at least i hope so. for everyone based upon where you are is always different. I sure hope if you read my other posts elsewhere I did AGREE that if a technique is working PLEASE keep it uP....I am not the most articulate typist ever I guarantee you that! I learn from others' experiences and am happy to offer mine if they can be of any use. If it works-by all means use it! i am no "wizard" here...some of you are extraordinarily lucky enough to not have to lug out 50 decoys a mile to get where you need to be and can just shoot under a flyway. everyone is different. the crow is quite a very unique bird. I use what i like to use -just very limited areas to hunt here. used to b decent-not any more-not here. Looks like interstate crow shooting this fall for me.
If I only had one day where I only got 80 birds holy toledo I'd be in hog heaven! Naturally i 'd want more. just cannot imagine anyone shooting at crows from 120 yards away though...not with a shotgun. If anyone is successfully doing it- hey keep up the good work!
The system you use that works is always the best system.The gun and shot you use is always the best system you are comfortable with that works!. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
All good here.....that's why I added the smiley face thingy.......
I believe it's good to read everyone's advice, but like you said, what works in some areas doesn't in others. When I was a young lad, a old farmer told me..."It's what you learn after you know it all that counts"...........It always pays to listen to other's experiences, never know when you will find a gem that works.
I am always amused at these people who set out an owl decoy to drive off squirrels and pigeons. After a whiles however the squirrels an d pigeons don't see it as dangerous anymore and i see a squirrel near it or a pigeon who act lie it isn't there! But what is funny when a newbie crow sees it for the first time and attacks it..
On another note March used to be 32-45 degrees and crow shooting weren't too bad but over the years snow stays about 2 feet deep and hovers around zero degrees and if that wasn't bad enough; the crows would not come back overhead at least until April!!
But where as Fish and Game goes being "politically correct" set a time schedule on shooting crows ...and they came AFTER the season was over!Just like a few other states across the country in the northern areas!