Sometimes it is as simple as finding a tall dead sappling on the ground and raising it up and leaning it against other tree limbs after you hung a decoy or two on it.
-- Edited by nhcrowshooter on Wednesday 25th of January 2012 12:00:03 AM
Sorry if I seem to be full of questions. I've hunted crows off and on for years but never seriously like you guys. One area where I know my decoy setups are lacking is to have a "lookout" crow up in a tree watching the birds on the ground. I've never done this because I'm not sure how to easily get a decoy up in a tree and retrieve it? I usually move several times during a hunt so I'd like for this to not be too complicated. How do you guys do it? If you leave a decoy there, will it spook crows for calling in the same area again on another day?
There is another topic on here where one of the guys shows you how to make a hanging stick out of PVC pipe and a funnel. Its pretty easy to make. I do something similar, except I have soft bodied decoys with no stake at the bottom of them. I tied about 15 feet of string to the bottom of the decoys, and then use some lengths of PVC from my blind to run the string down through the pipe. If you add enough tension to the sting coming out the bottom of the pipe, you can reach the decoy up into the tree as high as you want and hook it on to a branch (clothes hanger hook attached to the top of the decoy). This also helps if its windy by being able to add tension to the decoy up in the tree so that it doesn't swing around so much.
Probably confusing, but hopefully you get the idea.
I use a golf ball retriever. I have a cut-off piece of clothes hanger, slip that through the hole in the back of the decoy. Hoist it up with the golf ball retriever. Works for me.
I went to Lowes and bought a extendable pole, one like you could use to paint with, or put a brush on to wash big trucks etc. I put camo tape on the pole to help hide it during after set up.
I rigged a 3" u-bolt to the end of pole
Cut a coat hanger about3" inches from bottom of curved hanger, bend long end straight, (i cut a few inches off it) and hook to decoy. Bend the short end out at a slight angle and use that to catch the u-bolt to raise it up and hook over a branch.
Once again, thanks for the quick responses. I looked up the old posts and read all your suggestions here too. I got some good ideas from all. I'll look for the various ideas on a telescoping pole and rig something up. This should definitely increase my success if I have a sentry crow.
I usually just put one up in a tree or bush as high as I can reach. I'm not sure but I think if you have one higher than the rest you're ok, seems to work for me.
For real high sentry's, we have 3 or 4 decoys with about 50' of para-cord on them...........just throw them up in the tree you desire, as high as you can get them..........then we have an extendable pole, with a paint roller bent to hold the hook for the decoy, to put the rest up high....with it you can get them up to 20 feet+
Kill 2 crows, tie each end of a piece of string around 2 feet long to the crows' necks. So they are tied together. Throw them as high as you can up in the branches of a tree.
If you don't want to leave them up there, shoot the string.
Kill 2 crows, tie each end of a piece of string around 2 feet long to the crows' necks. So they are tied together. Throw them as high as you can up in the branches of a tree.
If you don't want to leave them up there, shoot the string.
Kill 2 crows, tie each end of a piece of string around 2 feet long to the crows' necks. So they are tied together. Throw them as high as you can up in the branches of a tree.
If you don't want to leave them up there, shoot the string.
Kev
Bingo! I still say the best crow deeks are dead crows. Throw them up into the branches in behind your blind. I keep adding a few pairs if the shoot is good. Can leave then there or take them down. I always remove them as I don't care to advertize. Not always easy to shoot that twine in half though.
Ted
__________________
Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Kill 2 crows, tie each end of a piece of string around 2 feet long to the crows' necks. So they are tied together. Throw them as high as you can up in the branches of a tree.
If you don't want to leave them up there, shoot the string.
Kev
You have enough ammo left after a hunt to that?
Just the junky cartridges that have #6 shot in them...........................
Kill 2 crows, tie each end of a piece of string around 2 feet long to the crows' necks. So they are tied together. Throw them as high as you can up in the branches of a tree.
If you don't want to leave them up there, shoot the string.
Kev
You have enough ammo left after a hunt to that?
Just the junky cartridges that have #6 shot in them...........................
HAHAHAHAhahahaha, Sorry, I had to say it.
Kev
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It only seems that way....try using those 6's first your shells will last longer as you'll have more one shot kills before getting into the smaller stuff
It only seems that way....try using those 6's first your shells will last longer as you'll have more one shot kills before getting into the smaller stuff
Honestly Pete, I'd try 6's in a heart beat, but the only cartridges that I can buy with #6 shot is almost twice the price of what I use.
It only seems that way....try using those 6's first your shells will last longer as you'll have more one shot kills before getting into the smaller stuff
Honestly Pete, I'd try 6's in a heart beat, but the only cartridges that I can buy with #6 shot is almost twice the price of what I use.
Kev
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I know they are Kev. I think you'd enjoy reloading, it gives a shotgunner a lot more flexibility. As you expand your collection of older guns (owning one is like having a single beer) you'll probably want to shoot light loads 7/8 ounce at clays, lower pressures if shooting composite barrels and such. Don't kid yourself about saving money, you'll spend just as much but shoot more. Talk with 8fisherman, he just got into reloading in the last year or so, I don't there is any turning back for him.
I know they are Kev. I think you'd enjoy reloading, it gives a shotgunner a lot more flexibility. As you expand your collection of older guns (owning one is like having a single beer) you'll probably want to shoot light loads 7/8 ounce at clays, lower pressures if shooting composite barrels and such. Don't kid yourself about saving money, you'll spend just as much but shoot more. Talk with 8fisherman, he just got into reloading in the last year or so, I don't there is any turning back for him.
I LOVE reloading, just don't have the set-up for shotgun yet. Now I load for handgun and rifle.
I'm trying to sell one of my guns right now to get money for a shotshell reloader.
A friend just gave me a box of reloads to try the other day. 12 gauge, 7/8 ounce. He reloads for 12, 20, 28 and .410, been doing it for several years, so I have a great teacher to get me started right. Looking forward to doing it. Reloading for me is very relaxing, reminds me of tying flies or fletching arrows.
Watch Ebay for used MEC 600Jr and VersaMec's. Sometimes they go cheap especially in 12ga. MEC makes a very solid simple reloaders, good customer service and parts readily available. The Kittery Trading Post usually has some used ones for sale too.
Watch Ebay for used MEC 600Jr and VersaMec's. Sometimes they go cheap especially in 12ga. MEC makes a very solid simple reloaders, good customer service and parts readily available. The Kittery Trading Post usually has some used ones for sale too.
Kittery is just what I had in mind, as soon as I get the money, I'll head down south and check them out.
(money is low after the Nitro double and new decoy:)
Kev, if you trade a used gun at KTP they give you two values, cash or store credit, the latter is alway a little more. You could trade your gun and buy whatever you want, used reloader, powder, wads etc. There are better places to buy shot. I might go down there tonight, I'll look at what they have for used loaders.
Kev, if you trade a used gun at KTP they give you two values, cash or store credit, the latter is alway a little more. You could trade your gun and buy whatever you want, used reloader, powder, wads etc. There are better places to buy shot. I might go down there tonight, I'll look at what they have for used loaders.
That would be very nice of you, it's a 2 hour drive, one way, from my house.
Hey, I tried a new method for getting decoys way up in the trees 20+ feet. Take a closed-face spinning reel from your fishing tackle box along with a really large sinker -- no rod, just the reel. Hold the reel facing straight up and push the casting button -- swing the sinker and throw it up over the tree branch -- it "casts" smoothly with no tangle. Let out line until the sinker comes down to reach and hook up the decoy and reel the decoy up. I used lightweight full bodied foam decoys (the kind with the clothespin) -- I cut a slit in the top of the decoy and slipped the sinker in the back and reeled it way up there.
The thing I see with that system is your only getting one deek up or your cutting and retying constantly. Speed of deek deployment is key for me because of getting caught by a single alerting the others. But, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I tried the dead crows tied together method on Saturday. Just wired their heads together about 18" apart. Worked great. Just shot the branch off when it was time to leave.
I've hunted crows off and on for years but never seriously like you guys. One area where I know my decoy setups are lacking is to have a "lookout" crow up in a tree watching the birds on the ground. I've never done this because I'm not sure how to easily get a decoy up in a tree and retrieve it? I usually move several times during a hunt so I'd like for this to not be too complicated. How do you guys do it? If you leave a decoy there, will it spook crows for calling in the same area again on another day? 