Historically i never plugged my shotgun(to allow 2 shells max. in magazine) for crow hunting.
Recently a friend told me he came across a game warden that told him, "crows are migratory and thus need to plug the shotgun and Electronic calls not allowed for migratory birds". ! When i read my state regulation booklet, it is unclear/open to interpretation.
Spent my life hunting crows and meeting wardens that were if anything very supportive and encouraging about guys shooting crows.Afraid to call the wildlife department for if i hear the same comment, it will greatly crimp my style if can go back to only use my mouth call, plugging the gun is not such a big deal, i just have to remember to do it.
If it was between 1968 to 1979 it is quite possible our paths have crossed in Caddo County, Oklahoma.
In regard to your question about plugs, it depends on the state. I know, it makes no sense to me either! If you are still hunting anywhere in Oklahoma I wouldn't worry about "not" having a plug in the magazine tube. PA, MD, require a plug but I never used one when I was back there, I just took my chances. I've only run into a game warden four times in the past 40 odd years in the field hunting crows so the odds were with me greatly. It's just a law that makes no sense so you have to use your own judgment on how you want to handle it.
Kansas has no such law when hunting crows. Neither does Nebraska or Iowa.
Jim Lundquist & I got checked one year and the young warden wanted to haul us both in before the judge! The reason? No plug in the gun for crows! I said to the young warden (about 25 years old) perhaps you could call an older warden to see if it's worth your time to haul us in? He asked why? I said I very much doubt the judge in this county will do more than just a slap on the wrist. He did call an older warden and that older warden told him "leave those guys alone" and that was the end of that! The moral of this story is that a lot of dumb laws are on the books but are not enforced by the state wardens.
Bob A.
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
Gives me a bit of relief, I have yet to meet a warden personally when crow huntin that asked about plugs or our e-calls, but my friend's experience did give me thought for maybe times changed.
Sometimes they will ask if you have a huntin license and a verbal yes is enough without even showing it to them.
Caddo county; had many a conversation with other out of state hunters as per their license plates. We were in-state novices, but holed up in DnJ crow roost resort OR camp at state parks if not too cold outside. We would see them reloading during slack time at mid day, then we would try to guess wind direction(hope for a strong wind), then all head out to hunt the flyways coming in. One older gentleman at the time was from the Dakotas, he took his vacation crow hunting, we joked he chased the same birds all the way south to Caddo county. Previous to meeting these guys i used #4 or #6 for thats what it said on the back of a box of shells or thinking crow same size as a duck. That Dakotan is the man who got me into my favorite 12ga. general crow load; 1oz. #9 (reload). cheap to shoot, easy to reload. The #9 grey cloud of multiple pellet strikes/shock is hard to beat. Those days are what hooked me as a teenager on crow hunting, the ultimate wing shooting sport with almost guaranteed action every time you blow the call! . Season opens 10.Oct.....
That used to be called Stewarts Crow Roost Motel in the old days.
That roost got an awful lot of pressure due to the outdoor writers of the day. It was some sight to behold that is for sure! Those back roads were awful when they had any moisture down there, you had to go slow or you would be in the ditch!
Good talking with you.
Bob A.
__________________
To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
As Bob noted, PA requires a plug shotgun for all hunting. Electronic calls have always been legal in the last 20 years I've live in PA. Only recently, last year or this year, have the use of electronic decoys been allowed for use for crow. Waterfowl does not allow any electronics, except for the special snow goose season. Just have to read the regs. PA regs are very clear & I know not all states are as clear. For instance, they are very clear to note the use of air rifles are prohibited arms for any hunting. I live in a special regulations area where the only rifle allowed for hunting is any rim fire caliber and can not be semi-auto; shotguns can be semi or manual loading. Even with al the special details to the law, I think it's one of the best states that I have hunted within.
I have yet to meet a game officer. Last year, my brother in law was checked beside our hunting club property. We have a public road running through the property and the officer was driving by on the opening day of the rifle deer season.
I know some states do require a plug however I cannot recall any states that do not allow e-callers.
Does anyone know of a no-ecaller state?
Highstan, to me it sounds like the warden is assuming he knows the laws without "really" knowing the laws. Migratory bird status does not automatically equate to no ecaller allowed. Using his argument, there would not be a state in the union where ecallers would be allowed.
Here in SC shell limiters ( plugs) are required. Our neighbor to the south (GA) does not require a "limiter." ,...In SC crows have a season ,,,Nov 1-March 1.. No Limit. However ,we can hunt crows under CFR 50-21-43.. So what does this mean? On October 31 my dad can crack the door from his garage shoot crows in his pecan trees. He must have a license, with a HIP permit, use steel shot, and also have a shell limiter. The very next day, Nov. 1, he can shoot crows in his pecan trees, but now he can use lead shot.. NOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
I have learned that at least in my state the F&G department does not know HOW to hunt crows...no idea whatsoever..they march lockstep to what ever the equally crow ignorant beauracrats in Washington say as the bible.
I ran into a game warden here and there who came to check our "pheasant tags"-and were very surprised that we were actually shooting crows!
Ironically we needed pheasant hunters in the fields a quarter mile away if that to get the kind of shooting we did in another field where no corn was grown but hayed ...so you can expect apparent stupidity from any or most game wardens where crow shooting is almost unheard of.
