Crow Busters Forum

Redditch · Guru

The difference In size

Gadget Bob · Guru

Hello boys,

Field Marshal Woody requested I post this related photo on behalf of Redditch, our good CrowBusting buddy from across the pond!

I have found out from past dealings with Skip, when he make you an offer, you cannn't refuse!

Talley Ho,

Redditch · Guru

Lol, thanks, the photo from the previous posting kept appearing when I clocked this to post it. Hence the request.

M12Shooter · Guru

Bottom one looks too me like it would be about the size of a North American Raven. Up here in Canada ravens often exceed 5 pounds, whereas the Common or American crow seldom exceeds 1.5 pounds.

Ted

Redditch · Guru

The top one is the jackdaw, about 8-9 inches long, and double hat in wingspan if stretched. We have several species of crow here, and at time the RSPCB (Royal Society for The Protection of Birds) have tried to have them all protected as either endangered or unique.

The main ones we shoot are:

Jackdaw
Rook
Grey
Hooded
Carrion

The hooded is a cross between carrion and grey.
Grey and hooded are predominantly in the North of The UK, not liking the warmer weather of The South so much.

The larger species tend to be very wary and operate either solitary or in pairs, not often you will get more than three maximum flying together, whereas the smaller ones of turn up in five, ten, fifteen, and sometimes twenty a a time.
All of these species are prevalent in the north, but as stated, the greys and hooded are not so common in the south, and hence were the latest attempt by the RSPCB to have them removed from the general licence.The greys and hooded are highly intelligent, more so than even the Carrions. They will peck the eyes out of lambs and sheep, as they have learned that once blinded, they soon fall over and don't get back up, so they can then attack the soft under belly.

Low and Slow · Senior Member

Redditch wrote:
The top one is the jackdaw, about 8-9 inches long, and double hat in wingspan if stretched. We have several species of crow here, and at time the RSPCB (Royal Society for The Protection of Birds) have tried to have them all protected as either endangered or unique.

The main ones we shoot are:

Jackdaw
Rook
Grey
Hooded
Carrion

The hooded is a cross between carrion and grey.
Grey and hooded are predominantly in the North of The UK, not liking the warmer weather of The South so much.

The larger species tend to be very wary and operate either solitary or in pairs, not often you will get more than three maximum flying together, whereas the smaller ones of turn up in five, ten, fifteen, and sometimes twenty a a time.
All of these species are prevalent in the north, but as stated, the greys and hooded are not so common in the south, and hence were the latest attempt by the RSPCB to have them removed from the general licence.The greys and hooded are highly intelligent, more so than even the Carrions. They will peck the eyes out of lambs and sheep, as they have learned that once blinded, they soon fall over and don't get back up, so they can then attack the soft under belly.

I found some info here http://www.arkive.org/raven/corvus-corax/

it states the Raven is 54-67 cm in length, wingspan 115-130 cm

the American crow is 43-53 cm, wingspan 85-100 cm

Carrion crow 44-51 cm, and 84-100 cm for wingspan

"Hooded" or "Grey Crow" 44-51 cm long, and 84-100 cm for a wingspan

so it sounds like your "carrion" is real close in size to our "American",

both are "punks' compared to the RAVEN, interesting info, you learn something new every day, or at least you're supposed to

Hooded/grey crow info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_Crow

-- Edited by Low and Slow on Tuesday 9th of October 2012 08:48:49 PM

Redditch · Guru

Low and Slow wrote:
.

I found some info here http://www.arkive.org/raven/corvus-corax/

it states the Raven is 54-67 cm in length, wingspan 115-130 cm

the American crow is 43-53 cm, wingspan 85-100 cm

Carrion crow 44-51 cm, and 84-100 cm for wingspan

so it sounds like your "carrion" is real close in size to our "American",

both are "punks' compared to the RAVEN, interesting info, you learn something new every day, or at least you're supposed to

The greys and hooded are generally slightly larger than the carrion, and are much heavier in build (weight and muscle) too. They take an awful lot of punishment, which is why I generally go for no4 as the shots are generally at long range too. I wish our crows came as nicely as the ones I see in the American videos LOL, but we very rarely have days like that. Mostly they stay out at 40-60 yards and circle around, then land out there if given the chance. So, next time I go to the gunshop, its another 1,000 of 36gr no4 please

Redditch · Guru

The Raven is a protected bird here too. In fact, it is "the Queens bird"

Low and Slow · Senior Member

These boys in Ireland seem to bring them in fairly close,and their blind wasn't even that great to speak of, but they got quite a few. even though they are

"popping up" and flaring birds

Bob · Guru

That part of Ireland looks like some of the terrain I hunt in in the USA.

I bet those birds would have come in a lot closer if a fella could use a hand call well. It would have helped a lot if he had his decoys closer to the blind, the dead ones too. Just shows what can be done with no calling at all. I used to hunt them late in the year like that with no calling because they were so spooked they would not come into any call. It was always a slow shoot but better than nothing. If you could shoot 100 birds you were doing ok for that type of setup.

Redditch · Guru

I have my nearest decoy set up at 10-15 yards, and my furthest at about 25-30 yards (the floaters and whirly). Over hear electronic calls are forbidden, and we have to use mouth calls. It's very difficult because most of the mouth calls (and electronic calls too) tend to be American and therefore higher pitched than ours (try a Nordic crow call and You'll see what I mean).
The guys on his video DO APPEAR to be using an electronic call, a "U-Caller Extreme" from he sound of it.
I've used electronic callers in the past in countries where they are allowed, but ever more countries are banning them. I can't see why, as most being American made have the wrong dialect for our birds, and therefore don't work.
I found an electronic magpie call worked better than most electronic crow alls I've tried in the past.
It's difficult here to make hides using brush, because the farmers have the hedges there to protect the soil from being blown away, to keep animals fenced in, and to provide habitat for wildlife. They would not look kindly on anyone taking chunks out of it to build a hide.

Therefore most of us just have nets and poles, and camo clothes, and that's it.