Over the summer i painted my deks a flat black, have hunted three different times so far, birds seem to be flaring from them, I just repainted them again with a decoy paint used for waterfowl hunting called uvision, its supposed to reflect UV rays as a real bird, I have not had a chance to hunt yet since i painted them has any one used this paint before? Any comments would be welcomed, Rich
I can assure you it's not the flat black paint job that is causing you're crows to fade off and not come in.
Tell me where you set them? In the trees, just on the ground, if so, what type of ground? Or do you have them both in the trees and on the ground?
What type of setting:
A. In the timber?
B. The edge of a field or fence row?
C. Out in the open?
Many times it's not the decoys at all, it's the setup itself, the crows pick it out as a phoney! Perhaps they are picking you out before they get into range or they are just plain wild from being hunted by other crow hunters in you're area?
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
I have and need to use a Crowbusters flocking kit, but due to inate laziness normally paint with Kryon Fusion UltraFlat Black. It sticks well to plastic without priming.
Bob, i do not think that they were seeing us, used the same type of blind setup in the past, VERY well camoflaged, it was a feeding setup the birds have not been hunted my bother works the farm NO one had hunted these birds plus it was opening weekend, i was using a field feeding set up with about 27 on the ground and three in the trees at about 35 feet high. this system had worked great in years past, the only change is the paint that i could put my finger on even pairs and singles would come straight to the calling and than 50-60 yards out bank hard. we ended up killing 34 but there was at least 400 birds using the field up till that day we saw all those birds but could not close the deal, i just dont get it, just an fyi, i dont have the numbers you do but am not new to the sport last year my buddy and i killed 897, any help would be appreicated
With my Flambeau dekes, I sprayed them with urathane. Making them shine has worked very well for me, but then again we don't have the #s of crows some of you do.
Shayne
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And on the 8th day John Browning created the "sweet sixteen".
You said it was opening weekend, were you out the first day or the second day of the opener? Just because nobody shot at them on the farm you were on does not mean they couldn't have had a bad experience several miles from you're location.
You also mentioned in you're post that up until the day you hunted there were 400 odd birds using this field and the day you hunted there, there were no where near that many if I understand you correctly. Hey, those damn crows can change feeding areas if they find better feed at the drop of a hat.
It's not out of the question that some of the birds that found this new feeding area could have dropped in on you after they got burned somewhere down the line that same morning. The reason I think this is quite possible is because you sure described spooked crows to me in the way they acted.
You said yourself that you're setup had always worked in the past and this is why I believe these crows were shot at before you had a go at them; even if it was opening weekend.
A lot of crow hunters think there are no other crow hunters in there area but never find out for sure unless they are both close enough to hear each others shooting. The chances are slim because other factors come into play such as both being in the same general area on the same day.
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
Right on Bob, we are learning that more people hunt them in our area than we first thought. That is why scouting can help locate but someone else may have shot at them a day or a week before. We have alot of skyblasters, you know the type shoot at 85-90 yards.
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whatever i'm doing i'm thinking about crow hunting
With my Flambeau dekes, I sprayed them with urathane. Making them shine has worked very well for me, but then again we don't have the #s of crows some of you do.
Shayne
My many field observations of crows, many at very close range,and dead birds, show to me that crows are indeed shiny/glossy especially in the sun.
Hi Bob,i want to believe you that itr was not the paint, we watched those crows for 4 days on the field they came in at first light right to the field from all different directions, yes we could have been seen from maybe a couple of angles but not all the angles, any way we will never know for sure what made them flare, usually if i survey the setup i can find what the missing link is but not this time thanks for your input you are the MAN! thats without contest! i appricate your time, best of seasons to you, as for the NEW paint i'll keep all of the rest the crow busters posted, but if it works REALLY good maybe not! lol First rule of crow hunting dont talk about crow hunting
All I do is spray my crow decoys flat black and it has worked for me for over 36 seasons. The more you get to pokin around you're hunting area and talking to differen't land owners I'd be willing to bet that you have some competition in you're area.
I have more crows to work on than most fellas but that dosen't mean I get good shooting all the time. I have my days where I take some wonderful beatings during the season, but I try to keep it to a minimun!
Shooting 897 crows during the season in you're area might be equivalent to me shooting 8,000 or more in my area because of what we both have to work with during the season.
Keep me posted.
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
I tend to agree that it's not the decoys. Like someone pointed out, live birds shine at certain angles. Who knows but they saw something they did not like that day...
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