i hear a lot about people saying they set up in the dark so birds dont see them set up, however, the last 3 times we have been out, we parked the trucks in a field, walked 50 yards, set up and killed crows, even when we busted them out on the way in at about 9 am. does this have more to do on how hard the birds are being hunted? heck, we called 2 in from stading so close to the truck that our spent shells hit the truck. are these birds really that smart that they can sense the truck as danger or relate to the people setting up as being threats?
i always thought u couldnt b seen either but last weekend was like ur setup. we drove down the road, seen some 20 or so, pulled over, ran out & called them in easier than i thought. it was later in the morning after the 1st setup though.
however there was a couple times last year they seen me setup in a field & wouldnt have nothing to do with me.
I used to hunt a patch of woods for crow. Had a few good hunts there too. Well, one time I drove up and there were a mess of birds. Parked the car, walked across the field to that clump of trees ........ and not a crow. Happened like that twice. Third time out I take my wifes car, park it, walk across the field to that clump of trees and had a good hunt. They recognized my car as a deathmobile, and fled. If they are hunted, they will learn the danger signs.
Take advantage of dump crows in this way. We used to drive in during the early spring when crows were concetrated in lanfills. Crows will spook and fly off a short distance. Drop a shooter off and drive out as crows will return quickly upon vehicle leaving. Used to snipe hundreds with varmint rifles in this manner.
Ted
__________________
Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
As Stonewall Jackson mentioned when asked why he was so good at what he did, "Why, my job is to confuse, mystify and surprise my opponent"!
Phil, that quote is as meaningful today as the day it was said.
Further to dump ambushing crows. Take advantage of another great weakness of Sir Crow. First crows returning back to a dump will almost always light on the highest point in the vacinity that will support their weight as to survey the surroundings.
Could be a big old cottonwood or simply a post in very open country. I would always quickly get set up and put my crosshairs on this high point. Many times only a slight adjustment was needed to turn a crow into "pink steam". When hunting the same locations for years, one gets to know these vantage points.
Ted
__________________
Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Yeah, I used to hunt the same little island when the lake went down to winter pool. I killed a few crows there but they learned real quick the if they saw a green jeep wrangler coming down the trail to get gone. I set up several times and nothing. I went back and parked my jeep in the woods and walked to the island and killed a few. I also used to shoot trap with a guy that I had never mentioned this to and he also crow hunted when he was younger. He said one day to me while we were talkin crows, man I used to have an old blue ford maveric and them crows knew it was me cause if I drove something else I would kill a few if I drove that maveric I'd get a big ol goose egg.
You can whackem like that, close to your car once or twice but it wont happen much more than that from the same location. They get slick real quick.
__________________
A SUPER 90 and a crow in range, life is good. A good sandwich and bag of M&Ms doesnt hurt either.
I've always thought that they recognized my truck around here. That's why I lay off my favorite (read: close to home) spots for 6 months or so between shoots.
As Skip always says, the secret to this sport - at least in North Carolina - is finding green birds.
Or as Bob puts it, birds with no "grim experiences."