For two weeks in a row we returned to a 9000 acre farm. Last week we were at the East end of the farm saw about 100 crows . Not all of in range but we managed to kill 32. That day my buddy and I were shooting very well. This week we went to the west end of the farm near fields close to pecan trees, not lots but enough to interest the crows, plus a new field was just mowed. We set up down below a small hill in the corner of the field. Set up the blind on the edge of a tree row with lots of brush behind us. We were out of the wind but it was gusting up to 30 mph due to the storm out east. Well today three of us could not hit the broad side of a barn. How the heck a crow and fly between 9 shots from 3 12 ga shotgun is amazing. I set the decoys and motion crows too close to the blind about 25 yds. I usually set it up at 30 35 but in the dark I thought 25 was good. Well the only excuse I can come up with is at that range our patterns were very tight. LOL Any one else miss birds that practically fly through your blind. Well I am admitting we were terrible. Other days and shoots we hit most of the birds BUT NOT TODAY. We still killed 35 but we should of had at least 50. We also last week heard three coyotes and saw two but at time did not have permission to shoot them. WE do now! But I do not think it would be smart to hunt them first . That will be a hunt just for them. We had a great time and as my buddy says at the gun range when he is not shooting up to par he "says well what the hell I get to still eat lunch"!! My regular corn field will be harvested this coming week so that will be our next stop. Any one else ever have those shooting days? Will go back in a few weeks and shoot the same area but let them rest and the cold weather up North should bring more birds our way. WAS A GREAT DAY
Thanks for the report. It does happen that sometimes you have an "off" day and another day the gun is a part of you and you just hit any bird, no matter what. I've experienced both... Interesting to read about your setup though. My closest decoy is usually not further than 5 yds away. The furthest I go wit he decoys is 30! I like em to come really close and shoot them without standing up.
"The smartest trick the devil ever pulled, was making people believe he does not exist!" My philosophy when shooting crows.
-- Edited by Zeddicus on Tuesday 30th of October 2012 03:22:29 PM
were you shooting full chokes?? I always shoot i/c works great on the close ones. which I get alot, the prob with tighter chokes is you got to be right on them, if you hit them they explode but if not you'll miss. sounds like a fun couple hunts regardless
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"There is never a wrong time to do the right thing"
James, thanks for posting! Does look as though you guys have a good bunch of land to hunt if and when crows are using it. I do however read with anguish as you describe a bandit flying through a hail of shot patterns unscathed. Low and slow suggested opening up with the chokes which is solid advice. I shoot a modified for most of my crow hunting applications and with this I do at times feel to be handicapped when crows are coming in tight.
Further, on your feelings as to decoy placement being too close to your blind. I must state that I place my few deeks very close, usually within 10 yards or less of my blind. It is my opinion that too many novice crow shooters tend to set decoys 30-35 yards from a blind as one would for waterfowl hunting. IMO the only way sizable kills can be made with regularity are when crows are decoyed in as close as possible with open choked guns and trap loads.
Lastly I read that you are hunting in a group of three which from my standpoint is a crowd. Tough enough hiding one hunter, two is a challenge but three is a big task. Also, I would suggest if you do hunt with a group that you alternate shooters. Knowning that a bird or birds are all yours builds a lot of confidence in wingshooting. Several guys yelling "take em" and jumping up trying to beat each other to the "plum" shots usually results in a lot of rounds fired per crow killed.
Just my 2 bits worth... and do keep posting!
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Sometimes a crow just whips your tail and that is just the way it is. I have seen them survive that many shots all the while over 100 of their comrades lay victim on the ground. Sometimes it is just their day and a Patriot missile could not intersept them. As far as close shots go, I shoot a Imp Mod year round wheater hunting or clay shoothing. On the sporting clay range we shoot at, there are several birds and rabbits that are CLOSE. Some less than 20' when the break occurs. Others are in the 30-45' range. When you connect with an airborne clay at twenty feet and there is just a black dot left, you know they are on. We also have some clays that we can practice shots in the 40 to 75 yard range. Again, I shoot them all with the same choke as I want be eating them anyway.
It takes a lot of consistent practice to hit close birds with a tight choke, but it also takes a lot of practice to hit close birds with an open choke. Sometimes when you are just fooling around, take a few shells and all the chokes you have and shoot some 10 yard pattern boards. If you have never done this, you may be surprised at what you see. There will be little difference in the overall diameter of the pattern between the full choke and the open choke. In most I have patterned at 10 yards, it is only a matter of couple of inches.
Also take into account what happens on a close bird verses a normal or long bird. Lets say bird (A) is at a comfortable distance of 30 yards. You pick your spot raising your gun when the bird gets to that spot. If you have a good form, your gun will touch your shoulder and your cheek at the same time with the bead directly in between your eye and the correct distance in front of the bird. You track the bird a few feet which involves the muzzle of the barrel moving only inches and bang... dead bird. Lets say bird (B) surprises you and is already at a distance of 30' and is inbound at twenty miles an hour. If it takes just 1 (ONE) second for your brain to realize the bird is there, throw the gun up and attempt to acquire the target the bird is already directly overhead as it will be traveling 30 feet per second. While your are throwing up the gun the crow will see you at that distance and start to maneuver. If you miss that first shot, you are now twisting to attempt to keep up with a freaked out bird that in now on full afterburners and in full evasive maneuvers. So bird A the muzzle moved a total of 3 to 4' with a dead bird. Bird B the muzzle moved 12' resulting in an empty gun, a bruise on your bicep (when you didn't get the gun stock into position) poop on your hat, and you looking like one of the shooting gone wrong videos.
And we wander why we miss those layup shots.
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
That was a great lesson on shooting and very informative. Part of my problem these last 2 hunts was a new Beretta Extrema 2. I have patterned the gun and I know it shoots like my trap gun about 80/20. I have a friend which will shim the gun this week. I had to do this same thing with the last Beretta. It is hard in all the excitment to remember to shoot low and I did kill my share of the 35 birds but hope it will improve after I lower the POI. Thanks for the post. Jim
You mentioned that it was quite windy on the second hunt when you shot poorly. I think those two things often go hand-in-hand. A strong wind often makes followup shots MUCH more difficult.
I guess the moral of the story is dont miss the first shot! Sounds good, right?
In my opinion 95% of good wing shooting is self confidence. If you are confident in your own ability you stay loose and are much more fluid in your gun mount and swing on any target you may aquire.
Even the best shots miss once in a while, crows make a very difficult target when they turn 90 degrees faster than you can blink your eyes! That's why I love hunting them because of the different types of shots you get, especially after the first shot goes off.
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
I have had crows do some amazing moves on real windy days. Moves that would make a pigeon proud! Not much you can do about that other than make sure you make the soft shots and wait until that flying magician straigtens out before you shoot. LOL
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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.
Here is what happens when one gets to close to the muzzel and contact is made! This bird was on the wing inbound at no more than a few feet when the wad passed through it. The bird was blown backwards about 20'. I have posted this before. It was shot 3 years ago. Bob has a pic of one that Dick is holding that has a whole clean through it. Wild stuff.
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
In the "On Line Videos Section" Dave (one of my old shooting partners) hits one like that on video, you see the bird get pushed by the shot charge. Thats when you know they took the full load!
I don't think your crow in the photo knew what hit him!
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
When a crow is flying into the wind it can appear to be going like a race car...you just lead them by their the end of their nose. Further out? A little more lead and lead. When the wind is at their rear? depending upon the windspeed you got to lead more and here again it depends upon the distance...the closer the less lead and often no lead at all.....
Just how I like them "low and slow"
. Low and slow suggested opening up with the chokes which is solid advice. I shoot a modified for most of my crow hunting applications and with this I do at times feel to be handicapped when crows are coming in tight.
... and do keep posting!
