Crow Busters Forum

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Go To Crow Busters Website -> Crow Busters Forum -> Crow Hunting -> first time out
Post Info TOPIC: first time out
bulpup


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 36
Date:
first time out
Permalink  
 

I like to give a little bit back to organizations and people that put information out that that I end up using.

I live in New Jersey.  I am a transplant from New York City and I am looking get involved in hunting and crows seem like a great gateway to duck, geese and eventually deer and the upcoming bear season.

So, here is a short description of my first time out, as originally shared on the New Jersey Gun Forums (www.njgunforums.com)

-----

Well, I was able to accomplish my goal.
After shooting holes in the video game that had me up all hours I was determined to take some of the remaining time this summer to do something that did not include a tv or monitor.

So I went, against all reccomendations, by myself, into the woods for a walkabout. See what's what with this hunting stuff.

So, ah, crows have "flyways,"....somewhere. and roosts. yep. Somewhere. I was looking and listening. Not much going on in Black River WMA.

In fact I was concerned that I would be getting in the way of all those guys that wanted to take advantage of Canda Goose season. They can take the plug out of the gun and bag 15 a day if they wanted. I would be there soon. I hoped I wouldn't get in the way.

I heard nothing. No Geese. No Geese near, no Geese far, no echoing gun blasts from those hunters that are far better than I picking off those big fat geese.

I was alone except for the insects. Noisy little bastards, but I have been in the swampwoods of New Jersey before. I have seen what those who use Permethrin gain vs those that do not. (lets just say that I use Permethrin and that, compared to one guy at Ft Dix, I won by 20 - 0 in that "who has less ticks department.) Plus, you know, Off works very well.

So forget the bugs. I cut into a few vines to give me access to a small natural blind and sat up next to a tree over looking a clearing that looked to me like it might a good place for crows to forage. I pulled out a camoflage netting that looked like the base of a tree and masked my face with it up to my eyes.

Then I started to toot the crow call I had practiced with all night. I did the "rally" call a few times and listened. WAAAAY off in the distance I heard a similar sound. Similar. Not exactly the 'voice' I was tooting. I changed what I was doing a bit to sound more like that one.
I did the 'rally' again in my best imitation.

It responded :? Holy shot it worked, I think. I tried it again.
Again it responded. No way! One more time I did the 'rally' call.

I waited a beat and there was nothing. Then "CAW CAW CAW" maybe 100 yards away. I was talking to a bird! I was convincing the bugger to come to me. Now what? I forgot! I had practiced the calls but I was drawing a blank. I did remember that it would do well to make it sound like the bird was in distress. The website said "you'll know you are doing it right when you start feeling sorry for the bird you are trying to imitate." So I did that. err....I was a little weird. My little victim no longer responded. nothing. Just me tooting into nothing for the next 20 minutes.

Occaisionally I would hear crows way off to the south and I would make another call. I got another two birds to respond in the next 40 minutes but by then it was just obvious that no birds other than blue jays were near this place. I told myself be patient and listen, so I did. It was great. THis was what I had been wanting to do for a long time. I saw no people, no crows, no geese, no squirrel; but I was enjoying the sounds. It was very relaxing.

Soon it was noontime and that was that. Not a peep from a crow in 3 hours. I had fun.

On the way home I saw 12 crows just hanging out in some guy's lawn.

"I'll get you next time"

I need to practice the crow calls until I can get to the point where I will not choke when I want to get them in. Then we will see...Already I am listening to the crows outside my window at home trying to think what I want to say to them.
All in good time, all in good time.


-- Edited by bulpup on Saturday 4th of September 2010 02:42:27 AM

__________________
bulpup


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 36
Date:
Permalink  
 

Err, it would be appreciated if someone would change the word "firat" to "first"  crash.gif

-- Edited by bulpup on Saturday 4th of September 2010 02:42:38 AM

__________________
jd1983


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 443
Date:
RE: firat time out
Permalink  
 

Welcome to hunting the elusive black bird we call a crow.
Read threw these posts and ask questions every one here will help you
if you want to learn crow talk buy bobs instructional cd it will help you by far more than anything else
also pick up dicks book and read it crow shooting secrets II
and in time you will prolly buy a good wood call not one made from plastic not that they are bad but they have a higher ring to them

May the madness consume you and wishes of seeing " black rain" to you.
Good luck

__________________
If you are gonna be dumb you gotta be tough You can't fix stupid! O yeah I kant spel eether
bulpup


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 36
Date:
first time out
Permalink  
 

jd1983 wrote:

Welcome to hunting the elusive black bird we call a crow.
Read threw these posts and ask questions every one here will help you
if you want to learn crow talk buy bobs instructional cd it will help you by far more than anything else
also pick up dicks book and read it crow shooting secrets II
and in time you will prolly buy a good wood call not one made from plastic not that they are bad but they have a higher ring to them

May the madness consume you and wishes of seeing " black rain" to you.
Good luck


Thanks JD.  I just got Bob's CD in the mail today and I am already feeling a cough coming on that might coincide with the crow days in NJ wink.  (<jeez that wink dude looks like some kinda children of the corn thing...)

 I do have a plastic call and quite frankly it really did sound too high for me - like I was calling a raven or something, not a crow, but I was adapting using my cupped hands, like in the CD so I am gaining a little confidence with my own ear at least.

In the meantime, I would like to beg...err offer the opportunity for you guys to armchair quarterback a bit.  I was able to pinpoint where I was on this maps website;
http://mapper.acme.com/  < Not spam

and if you put   "N 40.81485 W 74.67907" into the 'find' box you will see what I was doing( the Nexrad or satellite view is best to see what it is all about).  Notice the farmland and the cut deep into the area I am allowed to fire.  I thought this was a good place, but that cut is overgrown by 3 foot grass, not mown stuff.  This area is going to be my main haunt for a while until I get a partner.  Do you see any other places that look interesting from this view? 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.



-- Edited by bulpup on Saturday 4th of September 2010 02:45:13 AM

-- Edited by bulpup on Saturday 4th of September 2010 02:52:59 AM

__________________
jd1983


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 443
Date:
Permalink  
 

Sometimes a spot looks like it's the best darn spot but if the crows don't fly by there or want to be in that field you may never see a single one
can't get your map thingy to work or even load up right for me

__________________
If you are gonna be dumb you gotta be tough You can't fix stupid! O yeah I kant spel eether
bulpup


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 36
Date:
Permalink  
 

jd1983 wrote:

Sometimes a spot looks like it's the best darn spot but if the crows don't fly by there or want to be in that field you may never see a single one
can't get your map thingy to work or even load up right for me


Well crap.  That map thing works great for me, but I don't know how to trouble shoot it for you.

Anyway, I do believe I should be looking for a run and gun technique in the area I am stuck with.  I hope to do this Thursday. 

No one responded about the Army ACU camo.  I plan on wearing the panets but Realtree everything else.  Is Army ACU bad for crow hunting? 

 



-- Edited by bulpup on Wednesday 8th of September 2010 03:28:47 AM

__________________
jd1983


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 443
Date:
Permalink  
 

If it's the color of the season wear it.
As far as r&g you can wait till the day you hunt and spot some crows and set up a little bit away from em and call em in. If you'd like. There are verry few bad spots in r& g

__________________
If you are gonna be dumb you gotta be tough You can't fix stupid! O yeah I kant spel eether
SHANEDOG


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 927
Date:
Permalink  
 

Bull
Wildlife Managment ares may be great for crows to raise young in the spring but they are poor for hunting in the fall if they are not close to a large food source.The crows are gathering up for fall and they need a lot of food.Try to find farms with pigs or cow crap,its Mcdonalds drive through for the bandits,also large rivers with fields are great because the bandits love to follow the rivers. Now I know some of our fellow crow busters in the southern states do well in some WMA's but their terrain and crows are or may be dispersed for many reasons.I would think that you would have the potential to see more crows than most of us because of your location to urban areas where the crows have access to easy food. 
Same with coyotes,if you say lets go call call a dog at a WMA or a farm,I will call the farm first.biggrin  Also whenever I hear three quick caws,it means I have been busted.smile

__________________

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE


 Four in Bengazi died, Obama and Hillary lied,We must never forget!!!!!!!!!!
bulpup


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 36
Date:
Permalink  
 

SHANEDOG wrote:

Bull
Wildlife Managment ares may be great for crows to raise young in the spring but they are poor for hunting in the fall if they are not close to a large food source.The crows are gathering up for fall and they need a lot of food.Try to find farms with pigs or cow crap,its Mcdonalds drive through for the bandits,also large rivers with fields are great because the bandits love to follow the rivers. Now I know some of our fellow crow busters in the southern states do well in some WMA's but their terrain and crows are or may be dispersed for many reasons.I would think that you would have the potential to see more crows than most of us because of your location to urban areas where the crows have access to easy food. 
Same with coyotes,if you say lets go call call a dog at a WMA or a farm,I will call the farm first.biggrin  Also whenever I hear three quick caws,it means I have been busted.smile



Okay, I think I might have a handle on it, thanks for the tips.  Can you see the map on the link I posted?

The WMA has a river and there are corn farms to the west of it.  If you could get that working and take look I would appreciate it.

I ordered the Mallard call and a book (can't find Bob's) from this website today.  I am hoping to get some in before pheasant season starts in teh same area.

 



__________________
SHANEDOG


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 927
Date:
Permalink  
 

Well then it may be a better morning spot than afternoon spot,maybe just scout it a bit a first lite.I have spots that I will hunt only in the morning and some I will only hunt at night,because the crows are filtering thru at that time.smile
I looked at the spot on the map, and its has potential if there are crows coming into feed,try to get in to the fields and away from the high trees,maybe a low hedge row.

__________________

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE


 Four in Bengazi died, Obama and Hillary lied,We must never forget!!!!!!!!!!
bulpup


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 36
Date:
Permalink  
 

Okay, good advice.  I am heading out in the a.m.

__________________
Lone Star Phil


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 282
Date:
Permalink  
 

Bulpup:

Enjoyed your field report.  Everyone of these sons of their mothers who read it was sitting there with you, too! 

You've obviously demonstrated that you can influence the behavior or these smart creatures we pursue and, more importantly, you're commited to the task as witnessed by your sitting in the woods in your cammies blowing a call.

The rest of your journey should consist of careful observation, thoughtful questioning, selective and timely bouts of testosterone coma, some cash, advice from a guy named Shanedog, some more 'coma' cash, and a sense of humor.  Details, really.

Gotta go now.  The bandits you were talking to are headed to the pecan orchards of Texas and will be here in a couple of weeks!!

__________________

Lone Star Phil

Texas Crow Patrol

Enforcing no fly zones over your valuable crops!
www.TexasCrowPatrol.com
bulpup


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 36
Date:
Permalink  
 

Lone Star Phil wrote:

Bulpup:

Enjoyed your field report.  Everyone of these sons of their mothers who read it was sitting there with you, too! 

You've obviously demonstrated that you can influence the behavior or these smart creatures we pursue and, more importantly, you're commited to the task as witnessed by your sitting in the woods in your cammies blowing a call.

The rest of your journey should consist of careful observation, thoughtful questioning, selective and timely bouts of testosterone coma, some cash, advice from a guy named Shanedog, some more 'coma' cash, and a sense of humor.  Details, really.

Gotta go now.  The bandits you were talking to are headed to the pecan orchards of Texas and will be here in a couple of weeks!!


Love the avatar.  Inspired me to upload my own.

I got the book by N. Karas from the crowbusters shop and was unbelieveably surprised to see that in his forward on page 4 he is listed as writing from my hometown in L.I. NY!  That was soemthing I did not expect.

Anyway, I did realize that I am looking at the Fish Crow, with it's slightly differnt call.  This could be very important.

Details will follow.

 



-- Edited by bulpup on Sunday 12th of September 2010 11:42:19 PM

__________________
nhcrowshooter


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1420
Date:
Permalink  
 

Bulpup your links are working fine for me. JD1983 I think your settings, possibly a popup blocker is preventing you from seeing links posted here.

-- Edited by nhcrowshooter on Sunday 12th of September 2010 11:57:17 PM

__________________

Professor, NH Crow Hunting Academy

Secret Hunting Spots  


 
jd1983


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 443
Date:
Permalink  
 

I am viewing from a mobile device(cell phone) 90% of the time so some things I am learning that it is usualy my fault things won't work.

__________________
If you are gonna be dumb you gotta be tough You can't fix stupid! O yeah I kant spel eether
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Go To Crow Busters Website -> Crow Busters Forum -> Crow Hunting -> first time out