No big body count from the 30 SEP final day of the MI crow season. Yesterday, went to a friend's nearby 200 acre farm/"game preserve" to do some multi-tasking by setting up for both crow and turkey. He has two flocks of about 10-20 turkeys or one big one of 20+ depending on the day. Set up on the NE corner of a cornfield at the intersection of a treeline--not my favorite, but that's were the turkeys were reported to be (right?). The usual happened, in that right about official sunrise, I turned the caller on and the morning mob of 6-7 came zooming right in, but real high, as these boys and girls had been shot at a lot.
They remained in the stratosphere but I took one shot anyhow with no results and they bugged out. Later, after some intermittent calling, one "low-information bandit" (LIB) came by low and slow and I got him on his second orbit using the "fighting call." Maybe he took that second fatal look because of the owl decoy with the "dead (black stuffed socks) crow" in its talons, or he really felt good because of the sentinel up high. Anyhow, shot/puff of feathers/folded up/dropped like a stone, right into the poison ivy behind the owl on a stick and the sentinel. Sorry guys, you'll have to take my word for it--I wasn't going into that stuff just for a photo--even though the poison ivy has pretty red leaves this time of year--even for you. Oh yeah, the 20+ turkeys didn't show up. But I've got until 14 NOV for them.
Good shot #2 was of another, more colorful species migrating through the area.
Since I don't have much more to say about crows this year, I might as well show you my first deer (good shot #3) from last Saturday, an outcome of the 2-day MI anterless season. My first-ever shot at a deer was on Ft. Benning, GA back in 1971. Second shot was 21 SEP 2013--a long dry spell, eh? A very healthy doe at about 95 pounds, whose more interesting parts are now in my new freezer sharing space with the spring turkey. Wild game for Thanksgiving Dinner! What could be better? Lotsa freezer space left, so will keep trying for another turkey and also for something with horns on 15 NOV when deer gun season begins.
Wishing all of you the best of luck during all your other convoluted crow seasons and other critter hunting seasons. Waidmannsheil (for Zeddicus)! Good Hunting!
Craig
-- Edited by Old Artilleryman on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 02:15:10 PM
Congratulations on your deer Craig and good to hear you have broken that dry spell! I have always found the table qualities of white tailed deer to be far superior to that of the common crow anyway
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Like Jason, I always enjoy your write-ups and photos. Like you my deer hunting experience is limited. One in total back in December of 2009. I did use a gun made famous by a certain San Francisco Police Inspector, who wore badge number 2211. The TCP likes to earn style points whenever feasible.