I will be hunting a friend's pasture this Saturday and I'm looking for a little help on the best way to do it. Normally there are 75-100 crows within hearing distance, but I'm sure even more could show up.
I'll be using a plain old CD player with crow sounds I bought on the internet and burned on a CD. I also have 6 half gallon milk jugs painted black to use as makeshift decoys. I'm trying to do this hunt as cheap as possible until I know if crow hunting is for me.
I've duck and goose hunted the majority of my life, so I understand about concealment. Is there anything else I should or shouldn't do? What calls should I start off with? Which calls should I stay away from? Should I put the decoys in the tree or on the ground?
Here is a picture of the land. The arrow marks where I would like to set up if the wind will cooperate. I would appreciate it if you guys could tell me how you would set up if you were hunting this area.
Welcome to the site and I am glad to hear about your upcoming hunt. I hope you report back with your results.
Your question about how to set up, however, cannot really be answered with the info you provided. The only thoughts I have are: find out which direction the birds come from, set up on or upwind of the flyway, and hide good.
Keep your decoys close to you no matter if the decoys are in the tree or on the ground. My spreads are usually 20 yards or less from the blind.
Welcome to the site and I am glad to hear about your upcoming hunt. I hope you report back with your results.
Your question about how to set up, however, cannot really be answered with the info you provided. The only thoughts I have are: find out which direction the birds come from, set up on or upwind of the flyway, and hide good.
Keep your decoys close to you no matter if the decoys are in the tree or on the ground. My spreads are usually 20 yards or less from the blind.
Thanks.
While goose hunting this pasture this year I've noticed most of the crows seem to come from the south east while the wind is typically out of the west. I haven't noticed a specific flyway like I would if I were hunting dove. They just seem to hang out for a whilein the trees, leave and then a new group makes it way through.
-- Edited by greenv66 on Thursday 3rd of February 2011 09:18:34 PM
there is alot of open field on both sides of you at that postion.that will give them alot of time to get a look at you there.and i've read where alot of guys say that the birds dont like crossing over that much open field either.that top right corner of the picture looks pretty good.looks like there might be some pretty good cover there too if those trees aren't too tall. if they are the bird tend to fly just above them and stay just out of range. for the calls to make and not to make go to Crowbusters beginners techniques and there are some good recording to listen too there. the Come Here call is prob. the most used call.this will get them to answer you and you will get a heads up on which direction they are and will be coming from.just stay 'hid' well and don't let em' see ya.placing your decoys off to your sides will help keep their eyes off you. but like big honk said -dont put em' out to far .a couple in the trees (as look-outs) and the rest on the ground will make a good'' feeding'' set up. if you use an owl - you want em' all in the trees ABOVE the owl, for a more realistic ''fight'' set up. leave the dead ones out on the ground to add to the set-plus it really pisses them off.good luck
If you like feathers falling and fast action you are going to love crow hunting. Another phrase for this is called Summer Time Duck Hunting. This year was my first duck season and the two go hand in hand. I know some folks that take their dogs just to keep them in shape.
As far as your set, leave the milk jugs at home. The crows will know a difference, if anything make some card board silhouettes or none at all will work to. Then after Saturday morning, call Max Prairie Wings and order some GHG Flocked Crows. You' ll love them. With your CD, fighting call and distress, if you have a hand call you can start out with a "Come Here call" but on virgin birds, The Fight, then take your safety off.
Cover up, good lord , cover up. These birds can see, what they see I have no idea but you will get busted faster than you ever have had with a duck.
What is the height of your tree lines? Most of what I have seen in our fields, our crows come in as low as the highest tree, then after looking around they'll make the drop in. If your trees are over 20' tall, choke it up. You might find out that they will bring more down.
Hedge row running north to south as I would assume north is to the top of the photo. I would set up in the shade where it thins out top centre and the visability is good on both sides and front.
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Unfortunately my friend slipped and fell on some ice Friday injuring his shoulder so we didn't get to hunt his place Saturday. I did go out in the rain Sunday morning to some river bottoms. I didn't have much time to wait around, so I played a crow/owl fight. You guys weren't kidding about them coming in. I was able to scratch out two before they figured out what was going on.
Hopefully this weekend we'll get to hunt the pasture. Thanks for the help everyone.
i have never had a problem with them crossing a field like mentioned above, i would set up in an area where the trees are lower, if you set up in the taller ones they will usually stay too high. maybe just hide under a bush more towards the middle??
