Well we hunted probably our last hunt of the season this weekend, save maybe a few hours next saturday......we ended up around 70 crows for the winter season, in a total of around 7 hunts......it was a really tough year around here, we never had a huge number of crows as in years past (which really isn't big conidering what a lot of guys here have) but I think the extremely mild winter had a lot to do with it....I think a lot of the migrant crows we get in the winter never actually showed up, or were here very briefly this fall..........and then headed back North due to the weather.......it also didn't help that crow hunting is exploding into a big thing around here, and our best spots that we have had to ourselves for a long time have been undermined by novice crow hunters........it was really hard to find crows on any given day, that had not been shot at at least a few times already that day........it also did not help that the days we hunted we never really had a good weather day until this past weekend.....but all in all it was still fun even though we never got into good numbers.........
For comparison last year we killed around 155 crows in 7 or so hunts.........which isn't great by many people standards, but here in central pa that is pretty good
I have to agree with what you have said. The very mild winter had an effect on a lot of things in this area. Heck, my garlics up 6 - 8 " already. There sure are a lot more people hunting crows than there was 20 years or so ago when I last hunted them. Looks like you guys had some great fun though and that's what counts.
I take it you're from over Port way or up the road from me off Rt. 153.
Anyway, good hunting to you guys when the season come back in.
I have to agree with what you have said. The very mild winter had an effect on a lot of things in this area. Heck, my garlics up 6 - 8 " already. There sure are a lot more people hunting crows than there was 20 years or so ago when I last hunted them. Looks like you guys had some great fun though and that's what counts.
I take it you're from over Port way or up the road from me off Rt. 153.
Anyway, good hunting to you guys when the season come back in.
Right around Morrisdale actually...........but yea, I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the amount of people hunting crows......
I totally understand the frustration. The same has happened with the coyote hunting in the area. There are to many contests with the once or twice a year warriors out trying to win a prize and also educating the crows while doing so.
Heck, last weekend I went to a farm I have permission on and had crows everywhere that wouldn't respond. I immediately knew something was wrong, as I had to work real hard to get one high flying single in. We then gave up.
Couple of days ago the farmer asked how we did, as he heard a lot of shooting. I told him it wasn't from us and he stated he thought that was me up there most of the morning.
Wished it had been, but I also would like to know who it was, because I'm not so sure they had permission.
Excellent post... The number of crows vary greatly around the country and we certainly understand that fact. Hunting educated crows is tough, to say the least.
My mom's family was from Johnstown (cabinet makers, railroadmen and steelworkers) and I hope to to get back there someday and whack a few crows.
There are a couple of old timers that call me from PA once a year to tell me how they did during the season. Last season the two of them shot a little over 4,000 crows, all in PA. It depends a lot "where you are hunting in PA" they never had any barn burners but they did have several shoots over 200 birds during last season. Bill is 71 years old and has been hunting crows all his life in PA. I don't know how old his partner is, but they always hunt together.
Bob A.
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There are a couple of old timers that call me from PA once a year to tell me how they did during the season. Last season the two of them shot a little over 4,000 crows, all in PA. It depends a lot "where you are hunting in PA" they never had any barn burners but they did have several shoots over 200 birds during last season. Bill is 71 years old and has been hunting crows all his life in PA. I don't know how old his partner is, but they always hunt together.
Bob A.
I totally agree Bob, there are places in Pa that hold an awful lot of crows.........I have a buddy that lives out towards Ohio, and he can go out and kill 150 birds consistently.........there are a ton of crows around, and they don't get hunted too much.........around here, a big group of crows in one place would be around 50-100 max.....and they get hunted all of the time.........around here, and exceptional hunt would be 25+ birds in a day, and a once in a lifetime day might bring you 50.....
Well, I made it out Saturday, I ended up signing up for the crow hunt, and took first place with 15 crows.........so now the season is officially over until July 1st...........
Had our last tournament for our area on Sat as well. 60 crows won it, 58 was second....38 was third followed by 16 and several teams with single digits. Fun day for sure, now the long wait til we start up again.
