Charles and I went yesterday after work and scouted our farm for the season opener this Monday. It was snowing hard and many of the crows were already in flight back to the roost as we drove there. When we pulled in, there were around 500 sitting on the ground in an area of about 2 acres. Then when we topped a small rise, another big flock of around 500 lifted off the ground. I'm guessing we saw another 1,000 in the air in addition to the other 2 flocks.
To say the least, we're a little excited about Monday morning. This is the place where my avatar photo was taken. We're going tomorrow after work to freshen up the blind a little and then "snow it in."
Mainehunt, Are the crows feeding? What are feeding on? Details please..
This farm is a large dairy. They spread manure almost daily. Sometimes they spread 6 days a week just to keep up. These crows are eating the undigested grain out of the manure. Last winter the farm bought 8 tons of old bread. The crows ate 3 tons of it in 4 days. LOTS of crows at this place but we only get 2 or 3 good shoots each year there.
Also saw about 500 seagulls there yesterday. Last year the ducks, mostly mallards and blacks, stayed all winter. There is a river near the farm so they have open water and feed to support them. These crows at this farm do not migrate away from here. You can go to this farm any day of the year and there are thousands of crows every day.
The owner loves it when we go there. A friend of mine has a teenage son that works at the farm. Last sumer he bought the kid several hundred rounds for his 12 gauge AND paid him his hourly wage just to shoot pigeons. They got around 350 in one day, 2 of them shooting. I was there the day after they shot and every roof of every building had dead pigeons laying on them. I shot a few that day and while I was there a snowy owl swooped in and stole one of the dead pigeons.
You've got me thinking. There's a mega-dairy farm about 10 miles from my place. I've been wondering about the place for a long time as a ground hog locale. Now, I think I'll ask them about crow eradication.
BTW, you've provided another reason to not "eat crow"--recycled grain.
Good recon!
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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
You've got me thinking. There's a mega-dairy farm about 10 miles from my place. I've been wondering about the place for a long time as a ground hog locale. Now, I think I'll ask them about crow eradication.
BTW, you've provided another reason to not "eat crow"--recycled grain.
Good recon!
Hahahaa most of the crows that we shoot there have big clods of frozen cow manure on their feet. It's amzing that even with 4 stomachs and re-chewing their food, cows still crap out a lot of what they eat without digesting it.
If that farm near you is really big, they almost have to be spreading manure throughout the winter in order to not fall too far behind on it. (Pun intended)
You have a great place to shoot.. The crows are a challenge to say the least....I had a similar situation and had to buy an 80# bag of sunflower seed.. : ) Shooting the pigeons with air rifles would be so much fun...
You have a great place to shoot.. The crows are a challenge to say the least....I had a similar situation and had to buy an 80# bag of sunflower seed.. : ) Shooting the pigeons with air rifles would be so much fun...
We can't bait here in Maine for any hunting except bears. Can't even chum for fish in fresh water, only salt water fishing.
I have plans of buying a good air-rifle to kill pigeons with.
I shot a few that day and while I was there a snowy owl swooped in and stole one of the dead pigeons.
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