I have found owl deeks to be most effective during the spring migration and spring/summer breeding season. Crows will attack these at this time with almost reckless abandon. Often multiple passes will be made at an owl even after shots have been fired, providing the crows have not spotted me. I place my caller if possible directly below the owl set up and pin a dead crow below the owl as this drives crows absolutely nuts.
I have tried owls during the fall migration with mixed results. Most often at this point in the season crows will come into all the fracas involved with the owl and required calling but a couple of fly- bys are the usual result. In my region during the fall crows seem reluctant to engage owls and other avian meanaces as they seem more driven by feeding and migration. Others I understand have employed owls in the fall/winter with better results.
Attached a photo of my typical spring "crow pole" owl set up. Good luck!
Ted
-- Edited by M12Shooter on Tuesday 6th of November 2012 03:27:09 PM
I was reading Popowskis book again this am and He said there are only certain season of the year to use the owl. I have read and reread the article but could not find what season he was referring to. I always am looking for the most effective way to increase the kill!! I shoot mostly in a feeding area but thought I would try the owl. I have 2 different owl deks and would like to give it a try. I have posted alot recently because season has started and so far we have killed 69 birds in 2 hunts. Love this sport!!!!
BTW I must thank you folks for the answers to questions of this forum. They are extremely helpful. Jim
Hi Jim, in germany we use owls late season to get the educated birds. Too early in the season they don't fly well enough to be interested in predators. Using the owl too much ruins the feeding setup (apparetly). I have not tried it myself - yet. Just a thought...
Frankly for years all my partner and I used was a great horned owl decoy with as much as 20 decoys on the ground and it worked every time until they got too educated. However if you live in the flatlands and not many trees it might not work as well particularly in the middle of the day. Also if no decoys work well at all i bet you have what i call 'competition" whereas the birds have already been worked over.
