Charles and I have hit the jackpot as far as crows go. At least for Maine.
While driving around last week, we stumbled upon a flyway where the crows are basically following a river. As luck would have it, we have permission to hunt some property along this flyway. Right now, we have about 30 inches of snow on the ground, so our regular camo isn't helping much. SO we have been looking for inexpensive white clothes to wear instead of buying snow camo. Well, Charles found a great substitute for costly camo. He phoned me the other day from the local Wal-Mart. In the womens' clothing section, (trust me, we've been laughing about this) he found all white hooded sweatshirts for $7. They even come as large as 5-XL. That way, they fit over our insulated clothing. For another $5, they have White scrub pants for nurses. (apparently there are some BIG nurses out there) Also in there they have all white winter knit hats for $2.50.
We went hunting Wednesday after work, we had about 2 hours to hunt. We only caught the tail end of the flight that day and we setup in the wrong spot, but we had a great time. Our biggest problem was that we put our decoys on the edge of the river on the ice, along with the FoxPro and we sat under the trees. The trees there are big and most of the crows wouldn't fly lower than the tops. Some of them were stupid and came lower, most of those got shot. Some landed on the ice and became instant decoys, others landed in the water and floated away.
Actually, one landed in the water and as we were watching it float away, a Goldeneye duck came flying along, turned around and landed right next to the crow. I guess dead crows floating work as duck decoys.......
Tomorrow, we're going to get to this same spot around 1pm and setup about 50 yards away in an opening. Hopefully, they'l come down lower to give us better shots.
Thats an interesting report, give us an update as to how you do.
Bob A.
Bob,
I definitely will. I need to remember my camera this time too.
You know something, that all white is the BEST camo I have ever worn. At one time I laid completely out in the open and those crows never saw me. It was incredible.
That was the first time that we left our dead ones lay out there as decoys too. Thanks again for the tip.
I go to the paint store and get cheap painters suits in 4X which go over all our warm clothes. There are around $7 and work real well in the snow. Can anyone give me some advice on when the best time to hunt in the afternoon is? I see alot of crows flying around 3pm around here. I hunted in the late afternoon and early evening once this year but the ones flying right before dark seemed to be focused on getting back to the roost.
I go to the paint store and get cheap painters suits in 4X which go over all our warm clothes. There are around $7 and work real well in the snow. Can anyone give me some advice on when the best time to hunt in the afternoon is? I see alot of crows flying around 3pm around here. I hunted in the late afternoon and early evening once this year but the ones flying right before dark seemed to be focused on getting back to the roost.
The only place that I could find these is Home Depot, but they only carry them in one size, XL. Those aren't big enough to cover us over our winter clothes.
For us here up north, the crows seem to be flying the best in the afternoon from about 2pm-4:30pm.
White bed sheet and a stapler, one per hunter. Staple the sheet to several small trees in a tight triangle shape. Good enough for one guy to hide standing up and regular clothing can be worn. Just be sure if its windy to pull the fabric tight. If it flaps in the wind this will spook crows. I have used this technique here many times and even had to dig a foxhole in three feet of snow to find ground
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Mainehunt wrote:I guess dead crows floating work as duck decoys.......
Kev <><
now there's a great tip lol
great report, looking forward to seeing the next one and the photos
The goldeneye ducks are Black and white, so seing the black crow, it responded. The funny thing was watching the duck stare at the crow who's head was under water. Almost as if the duck was wondering just how long that "black duck" could hold its breath.
White bed sheet and a stapler, one per hunter. Staple the sheet to several small trees in a tight triangle shape. Good enough for one guy to hide standing up and regular clothing can be worn. Just be sure if its windy to pull the fabric tight. If it flaps in the wind this will spook crows. I have used this technique here many times and even had to dig a foxhole in three feet of snow to find ground
Ted
Headed back to Wal-Mart tomorrow for a couple of white bed sheets. :)
I hadnt thought about scrubs. Good idea. I thought about those paper like zip up suits that they keep in factorys to keep your clothes clean. I had been lookin at natgear snow camo. Still gonna get a natgear snow skull cap.
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A SUPER 90 and a crow in range, life is good. A good sandwich and bag of M&Ms doesnt hurt either.
Personally, I am sick of snow!!!!! I am too far south for the snow we have had this year. I would like to be prepared for next year with some tyvex or something. The sheet and stapler is a good idea though, Thanks for sharing.
I use the white painters suits too. Mainehunt We've got at least 30 inches of snow too, don't know about you, but I'm sick of it.
Shaddart, I am VERY TIRED of this snow. The cold and snow in general are really bringing me down mentally. Every winter gets worse. I used to love to go snowmobiling and ice fishing and everything else that winter brings, but the last few years it's getting steadily worse.......
My wife's family is in Louisiana, that would make a good place for me to move to. I love bow hunting wild hogs.
My wife's family is in Louisiana, that would make a good place for me to move to. I love bow hunting wild hogs.
Kev
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And you would get mudbugs, redfish, speckled trout, gulf shrimp and blue crabs to boot. But they all come over here to Mississippi to deer hunt. Good trade in my opinion!!
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
Mainehunt, I haven't icefished in 2 yrs, just can't get interested & at 61 just don't want to trudge through all the snow just to fish for a couple of hours. I plow on the side & while the cash is nice, I'm still ready for spring.
Mainehunt wrote:My wife's family is in Louisiana, that would make a good place for me to move to. I love bow hunting wild hogs.
Kev
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And you would get mudbugs, redfish, speckled trout, gulf shrimp and blue crabs to boot. But they all come over here to Mississippi to deer hunt. Good trade in my opinion!!
We went down there last year, ate all kinds of mudbugs and blue crabs........dang good food! Kev <><
Mainehunt, I haven't icefished in 2 yrs, just can't get interested & at 61 just don't want to trudge through all the snow just to fish for a couple of hours. I plow on the side & while the cash is nice, I'm still ready for spring.
I'll be 45 in a couple of months, not sure I can make it another 10 years up here. every winter seems worse than the last. My son will graduate high school in another year. I would love to head south.
You're in New York, right? My sister and her husband just moved to New York.
Kev <><
-- Edited by Mainehunt on Sunday 13th of February 2011 10:06:38 PM
Mainehunt, yeah I'm in upstate NY, just outside of Albany. I just saw on the weather acouple of days ago that last year we had 22 inches of snow & this year we've already had 61 inches. We got spoiled the last few years, but it still sucks big time. Jerry
Mainehunt, yeah I'm in upstate NY, just outside of Albany. I just saw on the weather acouple of days ago that last year we had 22 inches of snow & this year we've already had 61 inches. We got spoiled the last few years, but it still sucks big time. Jerry
I hear you Jerry. Last year we had no snow in February or March, (except for an inch here or there) This year we have been hammered. We were getting a major snowstorm at least once a week for the last 7 weeks. Last week we didn't. Supposed to get 3-6" tonight.
) he found all white hooded sweatshirts for $7. They even come as large as 5-XL. That way, they fit over our insulated clothing. For another $5, they have White scrub pants for nurses. (apparently there are some BIG nurses out there) Also in there they have all white winter knit hats for $2.50. 
Some landed on the ice and became instant decoys, others landed in the water and floated away.
