Hello folks. I haven't been hunting/killing crows for very long, and I have a very basic question. I know that there are probably a "scad" of articles and scientific studies about crow migrations, routes, dates, etc., but I can get a faster, more accurate, and concise answer from the folks here that have been doing this for decades than by researching, and hoping that I find the right articles or studies. The above having been stated, my questions are; for the state of TN., what part of the state has the principal migratory flyways for crows, and what times of the year do the migrations occur? I have always begun my hunting when the corn has been harvested in the fall, and continued to shoot on every Fri., Sat., and Sun. (that the law allows) until Feb. 28. I have always done my shooting in East TN. because it is where my property is. This is a haphazard, "catch as catch can" approach to shooting. I would like to know when I can expect migratory crows that are not as call and decoy shy as my resident crows. Thanks for any information you would care to impart.
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"When you have shot one bird flying, you have shot all bird's flying. ...the sensation is the same, and the last one is as good as the first." E. Hemingway "Fathers and Sons"
I would suggest to start keeping a daily log with information such as date, location, weather/wind direction/fronts, shots fired, crows killed etc. You will see a distinct pattern/timing emerge for your area if there is a migration, especially in the fall. I am going to guess mid November for your area thinking you would be a couple a weeks behind New England.
-- Edited by nhcrowshooter on Tuesday 6th of August 2013 02:46:51 PM
As stated above, if you keep your eyes and ears open for crow activity on a constant basis, you will see distinct seasonal patterns in feeding and migration in your region. This IMO is very evident if one spends many years of observation and crow shooting.
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
In the South, as a rule we do not have major migrations of crows. The larger flocks are local birds that will congregate in the fall and winter and roost together. Most birds here, according to the studies I have read, will only move a few miles to as much as a couple of hundred miles to their roosting and wintering areas. The large migrations you read of happen up North in the boy's that have posted above stomping grounds. Your best bet will be to keep that log and spend more time scouting and driving than hunting.
Good luck.
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
My suggestion is This: Take the time to read past post!!!! Go back to at least 2008!!! It doesn't take that much time maybe an hour a night for about a week. You can skim thru them fast if you are looking for particular info. You will learn more than you can imagine by doing so. My method is very simple and it works every time. I start after the weather gets cool and the sun is completely gone by about 5:45pm. FOLLOW THE BIRDS!!!!! They start community roosting in about mid October here. If you see crows or even a pair of birds flying in a straight line about 100 or so yards high, simply follow them!!! They are headed to a roost somewhere. You need to know the county you live in and parts of the surrounding counties. Now there may only be 25 to 50 birds roosting there and that may not be the exact spot where they are roosting. The later it gets and the more birds that start coming in they will establish a roost in that vacinity. It is vital to not hunt within a 1/4 mile of the roost. 1/4 mile is the closest you want to be!!! Birds will pick a direct path to this roost. That is the path you want to get in. I have learned this the hard way, I burnt one by getting too close. If the birds are not disturbed in the roost site they will continue to roost there every year. I've seen roost grow from 4 or 5 hundred birds to uncountable thousands. The problem I have had in the last couple years are guys like M12 SHOOTER!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not to mention any names) And SHANEDOG!!!!! Hanging Harvard scrolls around these birds neck by the time they get to me!!! I know for a fact these birds have graduated their schools of knowledge before they get to me! I can only promise you this, if you are south of me they will dam sure have been to grad school if they pass thru here . I have ask those 2 to stop huntin crows but they just wont do it!!!! Main problem is that alot of us use the same sounds. I burn the local young birds hard the first couple weeks of November. Then I have to work hard and get smart the rest of the season. Just follow the birds son they will tell you what you need to know. Time in the field and doing your home work will pay off I promise
I'm saving my money and plan to see which is cheapest to bribe: BH, Chip, M12, NHC (or best offer); so that one of them might take me with them one day.
-- Edited by Old Artilleryman on Wednesday 7th of August 2013 11:10:52 AM
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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
Folks, thanks for all the advice and support. I probably overlooked the main thing when I question about migrations. Crow hunting is for fun and enjoyment. I'm not in any competition to kill more crows than anyone else; I'm there to enjoy whatever shows up. I genuinely admire those of you that are dedicated enough to devote time and resources to your sport, but I have just as much fun getting away for a couple of hours as most folks would for a couple of days. I'm blessed to live in an area that has mild winters, plenty of cropland, and forested areas for roosts. There will always be enough crows to keep me entertained, migrations or not.
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"When you have shot one bird flying, you have shot all bird's flying. ...the sensation is the same, and the last one is as good as the first." E. Hemingway "Fathers and Sons"
I appreciate all of you for not laughing me off the forum, but I researched online (what I should have done before I asked) and true crow migrations only occur from the frigid parts of Canada as much as 1000 miles into the northern/mid-northern states prior to bitter winter. True migrations do not occur in the central and southern ranges of the crows. Apparently, there are no migrations here in East TN., but what I am observing are congregations of resident crows for readily available high-quality food sources, i.e., harvested grain fields, ripening pecans, etc. The uninitiated members of the congregations are just local crows from urban areas that have not been hunted.
Another fact reported by a Cornel researcher is that 45% of the total crow population succumbed to the West Nile Virus from 1999 to 2010, and that hunting only makes a minimal effect on crow populations. The migratory bird treaty between Canada, U.S., and Mexico provides for state hunting seasons to be 124 days, which works out for 4 days a week for 8 months. I started crow hunting around 1999, and I thought I was making some headway on the crow population (at least locally), but it turns out it was a virus thinning them out instead. Anyhow, please accept my thanks for not laughing and pointing!
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"When you have shot one bird flying, you have shot all bird's flying. ...the sensation is the same, and the last one is as good as the first." E. Hemingway "Fathers and Sons"
