Crow Busters Forum

I hope it's 575 pounds of steel shot. Federal law requires the use on non-toxic shot when shooting crows on a depradation permit. This has been in effect for a couple of years.

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/12/02/2010-30288/migratory-bird-permits-removal-of-rusty-blackbird-and-tamaulipas-mexican-crow-from-the-depredation

"We also require the use of nontoxic ammunition for all take of migratory birds under this depredation order to prevent toxicity hazards to other wildlife. Further, we require reporting of control actions taken under the order to give us data on the number of each species taken each year to better monitor the effects of such take on populations of those species. We expect the respondents to be mostly State and Federal wildlife damage management personnel who undertake blackbird control to protect crops. We also make the list of species to which the depredation order applies more precise by listing each species that may be controlled under the order.

"The requirement for nontoxic shot in depredation control or in hunting is already applied unevenly; nontoxic shot is not required for all migratory bird hunting. However, we are concerned about lead poisoning of migratory birds, and will seek to apply nontoxic shot requirement more evenly by implementing the use of nontoxic shot as we consider revisions to the current regulations."

Can't wait to hear the stories! Meanwhile, try this...and celebrate!

Where we shoot we fall under 50 CFR: 21.43...Have fun!! Let that big 10ga sing..yee haw..

jonthepain wrote:

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the last time i tried for a depredation permit i gave up after 2 hours on the phone and being transferred a gazillion times, mostly to people who had no idea why i got sent to them.

you get tired of 'splaining the same dang thing over and over again

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 This is where volunteering at the local WMA and shooting range that is run by the wardens helps. It doesn't hurt that it is located on the same site as the district office and I know those guys also. Don't get me wrong, I have NO pull (and I mean ZERO) with any of them nor would I use it even if I did. If any of my buddies at the range or office were to catch me doing something illegal with regards to the game laws, they would write me a ticket. I would actually expect them to do so. I just happen to know them on a first name bases. After finding out who deals with these issues, it was easy to call and talk with them without getting a big run around.

In the very beginning of the process I did have to make a few calls to find out who handled this. Once I realized it was one of our local boys, that call was easy. I have got to brag on them for what happened next. I gave them my farmers name and number. They contacted him, made an appointment with him for the next morning to visit the orchard AND actually took him the application for the permit. He filled it out and they then hand delivered it to the state office for approval. Then they followed through with it to follow it progress keeping us informed as the process unfolded. I am not sure how much more service you can get than that. I know on the final day they were working on it they had visitors from the legislation on site and they still took time to fill this. I sometimes give them a hard time like not knowing crows are a migratory species, but in all seriousness, Our game and fish boys ROCK!! I just wish the state could afford to hire a few more of them so they could cover more ground.

Well, Got to get back to pulling that handle and stuffing those crow killers!

Just finished stuffing another 5 gallon bucket full of shells. One day and a wake up!! Will go out tomorrow afternoon and set the blinds up for the first time this season! Can't wait!!

Blinds are set up and ready for us to step into in the morning. I scouted the orchard this morning and it is FULL of uneducated birds. They just sat in the trees and let me walk under them. They flew all around me not even giving me a second thought. When I walked across an open field, the crows used me as a flight marker and would actually fly straight at me then turn to go into the orchard. This should be fun! In the 30 min I was there, I saw as least 100 birds. We saw that many again late this afternoon while we were sitting up blinds.

Had a great hunt this morning. Skeet and I shot 94 American and fish crows. We both shot exceptional well. We were kinda in a hole as the pic shows the orchard is up the hill from us. With the blue bird sky and the up hill advantage to the crows, they were high to very high fliers. Nothing a little hot lead and 3/4 choke couldn't handle though. We are finding more and more that it is VERY easy to OVER LEAD crows, Especially if they are tall. Choke up on that lead just a little and watch the feathers fly!!

Well, that should be enough crozac to tide us over till season opens which is two weeks and the first chance either of us will be able to get out again. Wasn't a bad hunt for the first of the season and a good chance to knock the dust off everything.

10gacrowshooter wrote:

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GREAT JOB 8, love the pic!!!!!  10 ga cs

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 Thanks.

You can barrley see one of the crow's back sticking out of the grass. The grass is taller that it looks. A wider angle pic would have captured lots more dead birds but it would have also given away this location.