Stupid high wind this morning, pushing 50kph (30 mph). Crows didn't seem to move much, just lots soaring and fun & frolic a mile north along a tree line. They just seemed to stay put. Managed to put the hammer on 12 with one double though. The first bird of the double went down squalling so I went over to locate it in the grass as I planned to dispatch it. Crow started flapping madly when I tried to catch it and to my astonishment it regained flight and flew off, seemingly unharmed. Unfortunately my shotgun was safely tucked into my hide a short distance away. Guess I only bagged 11 then
Ted
-- Edited by M12Shooter on Tuesday 2nd of October 2012 09:06:43 PM
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Stupid high wind this morning, pushing 50kph (30 mph). Crows didn't seem to move much, just lots soaring and fun & frolic a mile north along a tree line. They just seemed to stay put. Managed to put the hammer on 12 with one double though. The first bird of the double went down squalling so I went over to locate it in the grass as I planned to dispatch it. Crow started flapping madly when I tried to catch it and to my astonishment it regained flight and flew off, seemingly unharmed. Unfortunately my shotgun was safely tucked into my hide a short distance away. Guess I only bagged 11 then
Ted
Good for you Ted,I love hunting in the wind though,thats where we differ a bit, Have had some of my best shoots in raging winds.
I always bring my gun with when out of the blind to rearrange the dead etc. every time, I have birds come in with me walking around, I shoot alot this way
-- Edited by M12Shooter on Tuesday 2nd of October 2012 09:06:43 PM
-- Edited by Low and Slow on Wednesday 3rd of October 2012 01:37:34 AM
-- Edited by Low and Slow on Wednesday 3rd of October 2012 01:38:25 AM
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"There is never a wrong time to do the right thing"
The first bird of the double went down squalling so I went over to locate it in the grass as I planned to dispatch it. Crow started flapping madly when I tried to catch it and to my astonishment it regained flight and flew off, seemingly unharmed. Unfortunately my shotgun was safely tucked into my hide a short distance away. Guess I only bagged 11 then
Ted
Stick with those 8's, it really sounds like they are working great!
Years ago when I used to hunt sea ducks you would on occassion have a "dead bird" floating on his back, then after a while after he floated out of gun shot range you would see him turn over on his stomach and raise his head. A little while later before you could get out there in the boat the bird would get up and fly off. This is what happens when a bird gets grazed on the noggin by a piece of shot and it knocks him out in mid air and he looks to be dead as hell. We used lead 6's, 5's and 4's on those damn scoters.
Bob A.
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Have to agree L&S that wind is a good thing when hunting crows, especially on a flyway. Keeps them coming in true. Just that too much IMO is not a good thing. This morning the first three crows I drilled just followed each other in to certain death as though they didn't hear the gun shots. Likely shots were muffled by the strong wind. All shots were very close, in fact, several crows would have tolled in to almost within an arms length if I would have let them.
Crow that flew off on me was strange. It didn't appear to be injured in any way. Must have been grazed by a pellet which stunned it for a moment as Bob stated. Not uncommon to see a crow hobbling or flapping off after a fierce firefight but they all appear to be not firing on all cylinders. Used a 12 gauge today with 3 dram 7 1/2 shot.
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
I shot in high wind one time with Jerry Tomlin.. Was using 6's ( as required by the outfitter ) ...and dropped about 30%.. Ended up going to the vehicle and got a few boxes of 5's.. Crows were dropping after that........NH is correct.......
A number of years ago prior to 2001 I started hunting with a very nice young fella by the name of Drew Moore from Kentucky. He wrote the article "Ole Time Crow Shooting in the 21st Century" in the Advanced Articles section on the Home Page.
Drew hunted with Jerry Tomlin and he and his friend had one of the largest shoots Jerry ever had at the time, they shot 130 odd crows between them that morning. When they were done and picking up all the emtys on the ground Jerry noticed that all Drew and his friend were using were 7 1/2's and 8's. Drew was a pretty fair hand with a shotgun I don't know about his friend I never saw him shoot.
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
The primary ingredient for any large shoot is having lots of birds in the area. Then the competency of the shotgunner followed by the effectiveness of the equipment. A load of hard number six loaded into a standard trap load will do everything smaller shot will do and be more effective at longer ranges. I think I would be considered a pretty fair hand with a shotgun too, I'd rather not have my load be a limiting factor in what I can accomplish with the gun. To each their own.
Sound wisdom NH very sound wisdom,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I believe now without a shadow of a doubt that you are "Almost" as hard headed as I am!!! LOL!!! I agree 100 percent with everything you said except the effectiveness at longer ranges part. BUT the very best and truest part of your statement was and I quote "To each their own" I think the difference in our opinions lies in the last inch and 3/4 of the barrels of our guns
I think this discussion is as old as the shotgun itself. I think it all depends on confidence. Only if you're confident when putting up this gun of yours you will be hitting them considtantly. Confidence comes with knowing your gun and experience. I shoot fast 2.9mm loads, they work for me in my gun as the tried and tested pattern shows, a friend shoots 2.7mm and he kills em clean. Who is to decide what's right? Not me, that's for sure... Doubt is the biggest enemy of the shotgunner! Know your material, know your abilities ... And kill crows!
The first bird of the double went down squalling so I went over to locate it in the grass as I planned to dispatch it. Crow started flapping madly when I tried to catch it and to my astonishment it regained flight and flew off, seemingly unharmed. Unfortunately my shotgun was safely tucked into my hide a short distance away.
Ted
-- Edited by M12Shooter on Tuesday 2nd of October 2012 09:06:43 PM
LOL, had the same the other day with a double. The first got up and flew away as I went to dispatch it. For a change I had taken my gun with me, and reloaded too, so he got a quick double tap at between 7-10 metres, and the second shot blew him in half LITERALLY. His back half and tail dropped straight down, and the front half of wings, chest cavity and head landed about 3 metres further away. He still lived a couple of minutes, but by. Using both halves put together on the ground he still made a reasonable decoy. Good job carrions are big, had t been a jackdaw there would have been nothing left LOL
-- Edited by Redditch on Friday 12th of October 2012 10:29:21 AM
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
I think this discussion is as old as the shotgun itself. I think it all depends on confidence. Only if you're confident when putting up this gun of yours you will be hitting them considtantly. Confidence comes with knowing your gun and experience. I shoot fast 2.9mm loads, they work for me in my gun as the tried and tested pattern shows, a friend shoots 2.7mm and he kills em clean. Who is to decide what's right? Not me, that's for sure... Doubt is the biggest enemy of the shotgunner! Know your material, know your abilities ... And kill crows!
All the confidence in the world can't change physics.
Just how I like them "low and slow"
I think the difference in our opinions lies in the last inch and 3/4 of the barrels of our guns
