Hey all, I went on my second crow hunt this morning and it turned out great and more interesting than last weeks hunt. Arrived at my blind location at 6:45am unpacked and set up my spread and busterII, Hung two centuries birds 15 ft high in the trees apprx. 15 yards to my left and right of the blind and dug in for a morning of hunting. At daybreak I heard the crows uh wakin up, So I hit the Foxpro firestorm preset1 crow gathering call and I could see them coming off in a distance bee lining to my location as it's all about to begin. Had 1 big group of about 50 crows flying in range 1st off and I ended up getting my first double ,then it was on and off for about 1-1/2 hrs. and then I changed the call to a crow party and had a small group come in from the west in which landed another double with one bird landing 8-10 yards just out from my bling to the right.
Ok now get this.. after that wave moved out i was looking at the crow that I just smoked 10 yards out in front of me to my right as it made a big thump when it hit and was thinking that was pretty cool,so I reloaded more winchester 7-1/2 shot shells in my SBEII and smelled something like dogcrap really strong and was looking around to see if I drug any into my blind this morning and see nothing, I shot a couple more lone crows swooping in quietly around my spread and then I looked over at the crow that was just 10 short yards to my right again and Nothing!I'ts gone! WTF I said. So I though well things are getting slow now after about another hour time to pack up.I went out to where that crow was and I said to myself "Freekin Coyote stole my crow" as there was tracks all around the area where the crow landed si I did some looking around and I then noticed the travel lane along the creek line where he came in for a nice warm breakfast. To me that is amazing that I never saw the yote just 10 steps away from my blind, But I shure did smell him as he came in upwind all with me shooting, reloading, and talking to myself!
But all in all I knocked out 17 crows, 1 that I could not get because it was on the other side of the creek and one that my rotten smelly little buddy packed off right beside my blind Some pics of my blind, spread are below.
Positive note is: Crow count is up double from my last weeks hunt so there is some progress being made. I'm going coyote hunting tomarrow morning and will try to line up another field for possibly another Crow shoot on sunday morning.
-- Edited by crohopper on Friday 29th of October 2010 07:00:38 PM
I thought for sure that when you said you smelled dog crap that you had shot a turkey vulture/buzzard. I have heard (don't know from experience) that those things smell REALLY bad.
It's hard to believe a coyote would sneak in and swipe some breakfast but stranger things have happened. Actually, on one of my first crow adventures (before I knew much about crow hunting), I had a red tail hawk swoop down and grab one of my styrofoam crow decoys and fly off with it. I fired a warning shot and he dropped it. One of the coolest things I've ever seen.
Congrats on your hunt. Not bad. I've been hunting crows now for like 6-7 years and I have only had one double and my best solo day is 9 birds. Hell, you're way beyond me and you've only been at it twice. I need to find more birds..haha
Crohopper: Very nice work..and very nice posting/pictures..and congrats on the double....double!! After carefully pouring over your pictures, I was able to determine the primary key to your success... the use of a CDU cap or Crow Disposal Unit..for those not in the know. No crow hunter is complete without one!!!! It focuses your mission statement early and often! Proper blind, proper equipment and good shooting produce one of the great sounds in nature which you accurately describe: a big thump!
LOL! Thanks everyone for your compliments and mostly your advise,I have taken it in the field on my hunts and it is working and paying off thanks to all you veteran crow hunters. Oh Yeh for all you crow hunters out there if you smell dog crap while in the blind shooting, talking, cussing or whatever you may be getting ripped off by your nearest local predator, So lock n load & watch your grounded birds! I still can't believe that happened but thought it was worth mentioning here on the forum. Shanedog, I will try a hand call on my next outing next week thank you for the tip,and skip "Good eyes"I purchased this hat when I ordered my BusterII I will always wear it while crow hunting or scouting as I have a specific hat for every game hunted " it"s a mind game thing".
Well I must have had a lucky charm somewhere with me this weekend,I know that this is not a predator forum but I enclosed a pic of the freekin coyote that I think that stole my crow yesterday morning, I took this 40-1/2 lb male this morning at 8:45 just about roughly 400 yards up the creek bed where I was shooting crows yesterday morning so go figure. The farmer that owns the property told me to come back anytime I please. Again thanks to all for the great responses and advice on making my crow Hunting experience more addictive!
Thanks for sharing pics of coyote, polishhammer and I are leaving for Kansas in 7 hours to go wack some songdogs. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!Take care guys and keep busting those blackbandits in our absence. We're gonna hit em hard when we return.As far as advice goes it's not rocket science, it's more important and a heck of a lot more fun. Keep posting and sharing your hunts with the fellows of CROWBUSTERS.
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whatever i'm doing i'm thinking about crow hunting