I'm new to crow hunting (how many threads have started like that!!) but have been stumped by something.
Our Crow season started a week ago. I've done about 8 set-ups now....and managed to call in just one crow. They answer......we hear them in the distance.....but not even a fly by to get from them.
Is this a bad time to hunt? I'm in Minnesota and I know the young ones are flying around because I see them around my house. We've done set-ups in the dark....and after first light... We know they may have seen us set up once...but even then....no other crows came in. When we set up before light......only had 1 crow fly over.
Are you using decoys, what kind of calls (e-caller or hand call) if e-caller what kind of sounds. Summer is not so much tough as it is slow due to lack of migrating birds. Early morning birds should be venturing out to feed, fresh cut hayfields are a magnet as they like to go after the grasshoppers and other bugs.
I am using an E-Caller with differnt sounds I found on the internet. They sound real good and clear.....but like I said...I'm new at this.
I have hesitated to use decoys because I've read that a poorly placed decoy can ruin a hunt. In the past, I have used fish line and tossed something weighted up and into a tree and then hoisted a plastic decoy up for them to see.
I've tried an owl decoy sitting on a post....but that also don't seem to do much.
Just curious about some of the many things I'm screwing up......
Also in MN. Which part of the state are you located in? Also whats your pigeon population like? just got into pigeon hunting and boy is that a blast.
I hunted this place in mid march and shot 3 crows, not very good and our shooting was worse. Well my buddies.. haha. Anyway went back in late July and no such luck. The crows we shot at wouldn't com near and warned everything else not to either.
My advice would be find a new spot, the juvies are flying around right now. Juvies are dumb, actually went back to the spot where we couldn't call in the educated crows (in the afternooon this time) and called 4 crows, killed the first one and sure enough it was a juvie. Ended up shooting 10 pigeons though.
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A man can be beaten in two ways... he gives up or he dies.
If you could not get this seasons hatch to respond to your calls then you might want to try some differen't calls. Just because they sound good to you dosen't mean the crows will like them. Young crows will come to almost any "decent fighting or distress call" both now and in the fall of the year.
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
Duce....I'm about 45 minutes north of the twin cities.
My son in law and I are heavily camoflauged.....and use a blind we put up when we sneak in.
The comment about trying new calls is a good one......as we are new....we don't know much about mouth calling and are hesitant to make the wrong sound. I guess what I need to do also is try to find a good tutorial on what the different sounds are supposed to mean. Any good books or videos out there???
I appreciate everyones help. Just trying to have a bit of fun with a new sport. Frustrating as it is.....it's still fun as we try to learn.
I tried a setup this weekend. Put out 7 decoys on the edge of a big pasture where I have been seeing some crows. Only got 6 birds to respond and 3 hit the dirt. I guess I tried it about 45 minutes. They didn't seem to be up and moving at all. Just sitting around yelling at each other.
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I hunt therefore I am!
If you are not stepping forward, you are stepping backwards. Time stands still no for No Man.
If you go to the crow buster store "Crowmart" look under Educational Material, there is a cd that gives you the differen't calls and tells you what they mean. It also instructs you on how to hold a hand call around the end of the barrel of the call.
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
If you go to the crow buster store "Crowmart" look under Educational Material, there is a cd that gives you the differen't calls and tells you what they mean. It also instructs you on how to hold a hand call around the end of the barrel of the call.
Bob A.
Bob....thanks for that tip. I'd missed that somehow. Bet that I'll be getting that soon!
