I’ve been wondering how to approach the coming season to increase results. #1, get some clays practice between now and 1 FEB. Now that’s out of the way...
Last year, my first shooting crows, I was trying to do several setups, usually with one beginning in the a.m., with a ready to shoot time just at sunrise. Our crows seem to begin making their morning racket about then or within 10 minutes of sunrise. Also, our SW MI crows seem to be mostly locals; no big flyway groups of thousands like Bob always seems to find.
This coming season(s)—we have two (FEB-MAR & AUG-SEP)--I am going to stay away from the treelines as much as possible and use a portable blind similar to 8fisherman’s recent posting.
Question: What is your experience regarding different results, in setting up during daylight, in an open field, compared to in the dark? Maybe I'm giving them a bit too much credit for reasoning, but do you believe they stay away after watching someone set up blind and decoys, or does it matter more on technique and camouflage after the E-caller switches on and begins to draw them in?
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
Technique (things like positioning yourself with the wind at your back, in the shadows etc) and your camoflage/blind after the e-caller is turned in is far more important as the majority of birds in the area would be out of visual range during your setup.
I haven't set up any afternoon hunts with much success. Mornings - I get in early and get everything ready. Then sit back and drink a little coffee. Something I started doing this year in pecan groves, I start from left to right and number the gaps the crows will be coming in through. This helps with the communication between me and the other hunter(s). And it cuts down on the movement of the hunters because they don't have to look everywhere for the birds. I can say 3 hole and they know exactly where to look.
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If you are not stepping forward, you are stepping backwards. Time stands still no for No Man.
Technique (things like positioning yourself with the wind at your back, in the shadows etc) and your camoflage/blind after the e-caller is turned in is far more important as the majority of birds in the area would be out of visual range during your setup.
We set up with the wind in our face if possible. When we start shooting with the wind in our face, they can't get away so fast :)
But it does not happen too often that we have a choice. Flight pattern, cover & sunup usually dictate where to go and where to setup. Unless it's overcast, wind direction does not come into the calculations.
Zeddicus I will be as kind as possible. Deliberately setting up with the wind in your face puts you at a great disadvantage, that would be the worst possible direction to face and should be avoided. Birds land into the wind not with it. If they should see something wrong, or your movement as you mount the gun, or flaring after the first shot they have harder time picking up speed and making a turn to leave giving better shots. If they are going with the wind they will be flying faster and turning sharper and thus a much more difficult target to engage and will be out of the kill zone much quicker. Putting the wind at one's back or coming in from the side is fundamental to being in the best position to shoot decoying birds of any kind. To set up with the wind in one's face is just plain foolish unless you have no choice.
Zeddicus I will be as kind as possible. Deliberately setting up with the wind in your face puts you at a great disadvantage, that would be the worst possible direction to face and should be avoided. Birds land into the wind not with it. If they should see something wrong, or your movement as you mount the gun, or flaring after the first shot they have harder time picking up speed and making a turn to leave giving better shots. If they are going with the wind they will be flying faster and turning sharper and thus a much more difficult target to engage and will be out of the kill zone much quicker. Putting the wind at one's back or coming in from the side is fundamental to being in the best position to shoot decoying birds of any kind. To set up with the wind in one's face is just plain foolish unless you have no choice.
I always read this, and most of the time it holds true..........but one place I have, the crows fly, and land with the wind......and not just a few, all of them do it....
@ nh: No offense taken! ;) I think when they have the wind behind them, they are easier to shoot cause they have to go against the wind to get away from me. They come in faster, giving them less time to see something they should not... As most of the time wind can not be taken into consideration it's a minor issue for me. But I'll keep my eye on it.
Given that there are number of people who read these forums looking for advice on how to successfully hunt crows I think it is important to provide the best advice and your ideas on wind direction are simply, wrong. Wind direction has to be taken into consideration, you want to try and make sure it is coming from your rear or quartering from your rear for the best shooting. It's basic in the tactics of shooting decoying birds and it's importance in crow hunting is only secondary to how effective your camoflage is. I doubt you will find many veteran crow and waterfowl hunters agreeing with you but good luck to you when you go out.
I think that very few people here hunt exactly the same way. I am sure we all made our experience one way or the other. What's right for me might be wrong for others. True. But since you have voiced a different opinion, a thinking process has been started. And this is a good thing. Now people have to different opinions and can try them both. Let them find out I say.
Many times down here in Bama the wind is minimal. So, wind direction is not that important. I do on the otherhand try to keep the sun at my back on morning hunts. I had much rather them look into it than me.
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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.
Many times down here in Bama the wind is minimal. So, wind direction is not that important. I do on the otherhand try to keep the sun at my back on morning hunts. I had much rather them look into it than me.
I would much rather face the sun than hunt with the wind in my face, the lesser of two evils I feel. Most of my biggest kills and highest shot to kill ratios have occured when all the planets lined up, that is sun and wind at my back with plenty of crows around
Ted
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We don't get any "big fly away groups" here ether, just lots and lots of locals. Setting up in the dark here is imperative, if they see you, then the game is over, and they seem to warn most of the others to stay away too Usually I will start to set up two hours before sunrise, as about 30 mins before sunrise they will often begin to fly, I.e. as soon as a bit of light appears, well before the sun appears on the horizon. Generally you get then anything from 30 mins to 2-3 hours, before it dies off, then you'll get another 30mins or so about 12 ish, and again around 4 ish. And that's it. Sometimes you'll get them come all day, but hats generally only onto freshly planted fields, I the first 3-4 days.
-- Edited by Redditch on Friday 30th of November 2012 09:38:37 PM
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
So it appears you stay put an entire day. That's great, if they keep coming.
Problem here seems to be that our murders are usually small, 3-10 birds, and once the first (early morning set up) burst of activity--perhaps an hour--is over, it's over at that location. That group of locals is wise to what's going on and they stay away. Hence, the need to "Run & Gun" to another location a couple of miles away. That's what we (there are a couple of other SW Michigan people on this Forum) face here, which prompted my question. Keep sending the good photos.
Many times down here in Bama the wind is minimal. So, wind direction is not that important. I do on the otherhand try to keep the sun at my back on morning hunts. I had much rather them look into it than me.
I would much rather face the sun than hunt with the wind in my face, the lesser of two evils I feel. Most of my biggest kills and highest shot to kill ratios have occured when all the planets lined up, that is sun and wind at my back with plenty of crows around
Ted
When there is enough wind to make a difference, play the wind. When there is not enough, I will put the sun to my back.
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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.
If a fella has a good spot where a south wind will help that is a big plus for keeping the sun behind you while your shooting. If the wind is in the northwest and you are looking southeast during the morning hours you are blinded by the sun! Here is one of the sun sticks that my partner & I invented for this type of situation.
like Bob always seems to find.
