Found about 300 crows using an area. Set up on them this past weekend in 80 acre picked corn field using feeding calls , decoy's on ground and in trees. Things started good at first light put 10 down then it happened. Sounded like the whole murder found 2 Redtails 75 yards in woods off the field, it was great till one of the Hawk's flew south and took all of them with him and they never came back, never even heard them. Didn't use our crow/hawk fight call, didn't won't them all at one time and as loud as they were I don't think they would have responded. First time this has happened,we have had Hawk's around on most of our hunt's and usually they are a plus but this time they got us! Still had a great time, Son an I had some laughs and learned a thing or to.
Yelp I've had that happen twice this year sometimes hawks come to the calling first! When I was younger I thought the hawks were scared off by crows but for the last 25 years I've seen them come right in guess they were hungry!
While duck hunting a few years ago I watched a bunch of crows worrying a hawk. One got to close and the hawk jumped out and grabbed a crow and to the ground they went.
The whole flock of crows went crazy the hawk was not phased in the least he just set about devouring the crow!
A golden eagle screwed up a hunt here. Yes hawks like the red tails do drag the crows away from our set up. Once in a blue moon the hawks (red tails usually) swoop in and drag off a wounded crow. they watch from 2,000 feet up while migrating casually or at the end of the field awaiting the 12 gauge dinner bell to sound off.
Yeah, I even had a coyote come in looking for a free meal once!
I was duck hunting from a blind and called in some crows and dropped one andthen continued with a dying or distress crow call. All I had in my gun was steel shot the coyote didn't get hurt! LOL!
I had some tungsten shot or hevy-shot one in my pocket and didn't expect the yote to come in after 3 or 4 shots!
Ironically when I set out the owl and crow decoys red shouldered hawks in particular will join with the crows to harass the plastic great horned "owl"..one day a male coopers hawk did it too. But all too often the crows attention is drawn else where by a wandering red tailed hawk or whatever hawk and they won't come over .
My owl decoy is huge I've never had any success with it!
I think the crows are intimidated by it! I've been leaving it at home for years now. But I have never used it in the spots I'm hunting now where huge numbers of crows can come in at once.
They might be a little more brave in stronger numbers.
~CBHF~
-- Edited by Huntinfool on Tuesday 11th of February 2014 07:39:15 PM
If a hawks come into the area where we are set up. I leave the blind immediatly and walk stright toward the hawk.. Hawks around here fear humans and will leave.. I usually end up killing a crow or two because they are focused on the hawk....