37 years old now and I've been hunting crow since I was 14. I've killed thousands but I'm still not calling myself an expert.
What are your thoughts on overcast days for crows? Its cold and plenty of snow in Michigan. I made 2 sits this weekend. I could hear birds but they did not offer shots this weekend.
I can't figure it out...I've been busted walking out...I set up...and I still get birds like crazy.
This weekend..I pushed a few birds off the fields walking out...I set up...NOTHING.....
I'm guessing the birds are educated right now.....however...do you think overcast days play a role??? Wind conditions were medium but I could hear the call echoing off the tree line..so I know the birds heard me.
YOUR THOUGHTS?
Brian
-- Edited by ublycrow on Monday 7th of March 2011 02:20:40 AM
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I prefer overcast days and a light fog, hunting with snow on the ground gives their already excellent vision an overwhelming advantage. I'd say those birds are educated and if hunted birds see anything out of place they will stay high and out of range. Try setting up in a place 1/2 mile to 3/4 mile away and hide well. Or even better find some un-hunted birds, good luck!
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whatever i'm doing i'm thinking about crow hunting
I agree on the call smart. Thanks for the advice. I just find it hard to stomach that they CAN resist the sound of Crow Frenzy, or Crow Distress..coupled with motion decoys out in a field. I set up in full snow camo,no movement, and no barrel glare...
And they still shy away.
This is why I respect the crow.....Weekends like this make me appreciate those mornings when they come in at full speed grrr'in in V formation at eye level.
On the flip side...I've always been able to break call smart crows if I set up in the dark. It seems irresistable for them to ignore the call at sun up. Its those 9am visits when they see the car door shut....they sit in the trees and laugh at me
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It's not the size of your kill. Its the memories that mean the most
Overall, the VAST majority of birds that I have run into in the state act like they have been hammered hard for 60 days straight. It was that way right out of the gate in February. I'm pretty sure that in some cases they were hunted before season actually opened but that can't be the only explanation. We are now 30 plus days into season and I've shot fewer birds than I had in the 1st week of season last year. And the average bird has come at the very edge of my effective range. But the weather hasn't been that cooperative in my mind---lots of high wind mornings and I hate those days myself.
And I've seen zero evidence of fresh birds. By mid January the bigger storms had blown lots of birds out and then February just compounded that. The last good sized flocks I saw were just after the 1st of the year. Now it's mainly small family groups here and there and they have a PhD in eluding me at this point. But we just might see some new arrivals before the month and season ends.
I hunted in the fog once this year and it was an average day. Im new to hunting crows hardcore. I have hunted them for a long time but only sereously for a few months so I dont know if this is par for the coarse or I had a good day. All I know is it was a good day for me, I wasnt at comer electric workin like a dang dog!
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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.
I got out this weekend after a long bird season,it was my 2 time after the crowdom this winter in the north east,1st time out for a morning shoot till 11a.m. I did 30 myself and my partner did 5 and we gagged on another12 or so.2nd time out a lot windyer and it always seems the more wind or cold the less the boys want to play!! Same spot just wind and cold=14 birds! Calm days,over cast and First Light seem the best!!
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