Crow Busters Forum

crohopper · Veteran Member

Crow hunting questions-need some experienced advise here

M12Shooter · Guru

Shoot every crow that comes within range. Also hunt where the crows want to be such as the feeding field you have scouted. Don't let birds gather and circle. For the few that you kill many will be educated. As for calling patterns, if you are using an ecaller don't go to crow's fighting or distress sounds right off. Simple crows gathering will have targets leasurely coming in to hopefuly be aded to the TBC. Good luck! Post your results!

Ted

jd1983 · Senior Member

Shooting the lead crow is a judgement call. If it's alone or the others are really lagging I take him if passing on one gives me a better shot at 2 I sometimes pass but a good rule ofthumb just starting out is shoot the ones you can worry bout doubles later right now you need to get the hang of set up and shooting over the set up. Baby steps first then you can pass on one to get 2 or 3. You will be amazed at how they pay no attn to gun shots at farther ranges. Shoot lots have fun and let us know how you do.

Big Honkers · Guru

First of all, good luck friday!

Like Ted said, shoot any crow that comes into range no matter if it is the first bird of the morning or the last bird of the day. That being said, if you see or hear other crows coming in the distance (like a couple hundred yards or less) as a closer bird approaches your spread make sure you pick a good shot for a "1 shot kill." If you only fire one time it has been my experience that generally the remaining crows will still commit. If you fire 3 times to kill that first bird you will likely scare off the birds trailing closely behind...unless it is windy, then this does not really apply. This is just something that Ive picked up over time and I wouldnt get too worked up over it on your second hunt.

Another thought, I personally like to keep my decoys closer than 25-30 yards out front. Waterfowl hunting is different than crow hunting, I generally keep my crow decoys pretty damn close.

For the most part, when you have the birds patterned as you do - you cant do to much wrong for the first hour of daylight...just be sure the hide is top notch and in the shadows if possible.

...being only 3/4 mile from the roost, I hope they do not come in a few super-sized groups.

Looking forward to the pics!

BH

crohopper · Veteran Member

Thanks guys, Now I can rest a little tonight as the questions I asked have been bugging the heck out of me.
JD I understand about baby steps 1st in which I need to take in consideration and 1 step at a time,and Will do! Ok birds that are in confortable range is a greenlight then biggrin .
So Should I keep my decoys in closer to my setup?? I am hunting on level ground, with a woodline and a creek 15 yards behind me along with the sunrise at my back and I looked at the setup this morning at 10:00am and my blind will be in full shade up until around 12:00 noon.
I guess I'm getting a little pumped & anxious about this location because I am in crow country here folks, my first hunt in some smaller fields several miles away was a great hunt but was no way near the field size and bird count that I have seen in this area.

watch em fall · Senior Member

Those posts covered everything well just my

. I agree keep decoys fairly close, but use one or two on the outside perimeter as yardage markers. I say those set at 35yrds max. once the birds pass that all you have to consider is their height, not height and distance. Any little advantage you get is a plus. My approach is let the birds wake up, then use hand call or e-call very soft for only a few seconds then wait at least 5 min. till you call again. You've heard the expression curiousity killed the cat, well it applies to crows too. After 15 min. then let call run longer or continueously. GOOD LUCK

SHANEDOG · Guru

Sounds like you have the right idea with the blind location!! smile

crohopper · Veteran Member

Watch em fall, Thanks for the great advice it is appreciated, I will try the decoy setup with a couple outside perimeter markers at about the 30yrd. range and will try the call sequence as you described, Hey I'm learning here and plus eatin this crow hunting up, great fun for me and my gun! biggrin

watch em fall · Senior Member

Your welcome and now you're hooked on this crowhunting it is addictive and there is no cure, the only treatment is to watch em fall (HA HA) biggrin

Pat B · Senior Member

As for decoy placement....if you look at the pics that the guys post here, you will notice that it has a haphazard appearance. No pattern. No J, V, T, U, or whatever. If you watch live crows, they land and then pick and scratch. They could be 3 feet from each other or closer on a roadkill, or could be 40 yards from each other.

Enjoy and let the adrenalin rush.

Pat

Lone Star Phil · Senior Member

Crohopper:

You're getting excellent advice and answers to your questions. Some other concerns to keep in mind:

1. Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage.

2. Avoid movement when crows are in the air. To that end, if you set up your pre-dawn blind ideally, your back is to the rising sun. If Friday dawns clear, keep your eye on sky in front of you and the ground below - any birds trying to "back door" you will reveal their presence in shadows on the ground.

3. Shooting any crows in range is the percentage play - no question. (Lord Nelson decreed that any ship captain that laid his ship alongside that of the enemy could not be faulted! - go with that!) There are subtleties that you might want to address, though, since you mentioned you were going solo. For instance, if more than one crow comes rocketing in to gun range and the second is right behind the first, and there is nothing to deter them, shoot the second bird, then whack the first. I call that the "Alvin C. York" shot. Can't recall ever pulling it off though since I shoot with theTexas Crow Patrol and our battery work resembles my avatar!

4. Take pictures! and share them with us! If you don't have a picture - it didn't happen!!! Plus all of us crozak poppers really appreciate the work of other affencionados!

Good luck!!!

Virginian · Veteran Member

Hmmmmm? Todays Friday.... Where are the pics!!!! :)

Eric