So I asked around the other day, for just some stuff the new guy would need to know, and got good responses. This morning, I went into a field right in front of our camp, that crows usually frequent, and set up. Here's my set-up:
About 15 minutes after I started calling, I had over 40 crows directly over me. I had two sentries in the trees, buster ll, a flocked deek, and an E-Crow that makes a crow gathering noise. (Don't worry, a new Foxpro is on the way). I had at least two that I SHOULD have killed, as they dive-bombed my decoys, but I did not expect them to be so doggone aggressive! Also, my blind wasn't exactly perfect, I had hastily strung up some leaf camo material between some trees, on the edge of the tree line. I had no way to get my sentries up high, so they were only about 8 feet in the trees. After all the crows were over me, making a huge racket, I guess they didn't like what they saw because they took out across the road and landed in a power line. So I started adding decoys, moving decoys, turning the E-Crow off and on, you name it, in an effort to get them to come back. But they wouldn't budge. I shot 6 times at two singles that we're probably much too high, but as this is the most challenging type of hunt I believe I have ever been on, I was more than a little frustrated.
Conclusions: With a new caller, and the mix of that and a hand call (Got the combo with the Bob A. DVD), I should have a lot more calling flexibility. Any tips on calling?
Secondly, I think I'll have to get my sentries up higher, either with the fishing line method or some kind of painters pole system. Any thoughts on this?
Lastly, anyone know a good "base-blind" that I can buy, that's easy to put up in the field and easy to brush in? I noticed that when it's cold, I don't like grabbing things, as my hands start freezing, but I think someone in another topic mentioned hedge clippers to get a bunch of concealing brush quickly. Any comments or criticism is greatly appreciated.
If those are trees in back of your blind and they are not to high I would wait for a breeze where they have to come over the trees. If your buster two decoy is north of your blind then I would not shoot that spot until I had a northerly type of wind.
Here are some photos of different types of blinds that I use in the field to help you decide.
I use insulated rubber gloves for handling cold wet brush in cold weather, they are also good for "hot wire fences" so you don't get zapped!
One thing that I've noted from your photos is that you're not shy about placing decoys right on top of you. That's someting I'll try next season, which is ONLY 40 DAYS FROM NOW.
Merry Christmas!
__________________
"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
So Mr. Bob, with that setup, I should have the wind in my face? I know that's not the norm for crow hunting, but you're saying that when I have a grove of small trees behind me, it would be okay?
Because if they land into the wind, then would land right in front of me, and the trees behind me would hide me from their sight until they are landing right in front of me?
ole boy, i think better concealment (and camo instead of blue jeans) should help.
also, once they are on the power line, i don't think there's much sense in going out into the field where they can see you to rearrange your decoys.
i always wear black leather batting gloves when i'm shooting or hunting, cuz my hands are so darn white they about blind game, so grabbing brush etc is not an issue.
i also carry a small hedgeclipper and folding saw with me.
i think the secret is to just keep going out there like you are doing and trying to analyze what works and what doesn't, experience being the best teacher and all.
@jon I was wearing a leafy suit and leafy hat, and they couldn't see me from the power line, but I can understand from the way I phrased it that it sounded like that. I apologize :D
I just looked in the field, and, to my dismay, realized that the black garbage bag that I used in lieu of a decoy bag was in a wide-open spot :/
That, coupled with the false-looking blind and the playback loop on the E-Crow, could have very well messed me up.
The reason I ask is because you want the birds decoying into the wind. You can shoot them going with the wind, it's very sporty shooting but you will kill far more having them come in against the wind. If you are dealing with crows that have been shot at before it makes it that much more difficult to get a good shot if they have to swing past you and fish hook into your setup. If you have them against the wind you can score on far more doubles and triples, going with the wind you only have "one good shot and thats it"
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
@Bob I set up with the wind at my back, I believe it was south this morning. I think my decoys looked okay, but my concealment was poor, and the sun was in my eyes. Which is more important, sun or wind position?
If you were looking into the sun this morning the wind was not out of the south, it was out of the north providing the wind was at your back like you say. South winds are good because "you don't have to look into the sun"
The trees in back of you, are they south of your blind?
Wind direction in relation to where you have the blind and the direction the crows are coming from is "very important" Much more so than the sun!
So, did the birds come in with or against the wind this morning?
I can advise you much better if you can tell me where north, south, east and west are in relation to the trees near your blind location. Also what directions the bulk of them come from?
Bob A.
__________________
To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
@Bob The trees are indeed south of me. Sun was at about 2 or 3 o'clock for me, but it was still in my eyes pretty badly. So yep, the trees are south haha
At sunup the sun comes up in the southeast at this time of year which would be your 10 oclock position if you were facing directly south and the breeze "in the north"
If it were me and the birds were coming from the south, southeast or southwest I would face my blind southwest so you don't have to look into the sun directly, that will hold you until noon time like that.
Here is a morning hunt with a southwest breeze where I did not have to look into the sun all morning.
I understand now!
From your pictures, I see that you either clear an area in very thick brush, or you cut vegetation that matches the surroundings and basically pile it around you to make a blind.
@Bob I have also been wondering about calling to match your decoys. If you have few decoys out, should you try to sound like a single crow? Or can you use something like "Crow Party" or something that sounds like a bunch of crows, even though you have few decoys?
About 15 minutes after I started calling, I had over 40 crows directly over me. I had two sentries in the trees, buster ll, a flocked deek, and an E-Crow that makes a crow gathering noise. (Don't worry, a new Foxpro is on the way). I had at least two that I SHOULD have killed, as they dive-bombed my decoys, but I did not expect them to be so doggone aggressive! Also, my blind wasn't exactly perfect, I had hastily strung up some leaf camo material between some trees, on the edge of the tree line. I had no way to get my sentries up high, so they were only about 8 feet in the trees. After all the crows were over me, making a huge racket, I guess they didn't like what they saw because they took out across the road and landed in a power line. So I started adding decoys, moving decoys, turning the E-Crow off and on, you name it, in an effort to get them to come back. But they wouldn't budge. I shot 6 times at two singles that we're probably much too high, but as this is the most challenging type of hunt I believe I have ever been on, I was more than a little frustrated.
Conclusions: With a new caller, and the mix of that and a hand call (Got the combo with the Bob A. DVD), I should have a lot more calling flexibility. Any tips on calling?
Secondly, I think I'll have to get my sentries up higher, either with the fishing line method or some kind of painters pole system. Any thoughts on this?
Lastly, anyone know a good "base-blind" that I can buy, that's easy to put up in the field and easy to brush in? I noticed that when it's cold, I don't like grabbing things, as my hands start freezing, but I think someone in another topic mentioned hedge clippers to get a bunch of concealing brush quickly. Any comments or criticism is greatly appreciated.
.
