I thought this recording of crow calls is really good. The download link did not work for me but I was able to download the MP3 file using another method. What do you guys think of it?
I have listened to, downloaded, and recorded many, many crow sounds, some with very good quality and some poor quality. Even after six or seven years of crow hunting, I don't by any means consider myself an expert and I don't shoot a hell of a lot of crows, but I will offer my opinion based on my experience messing around with calls and listening to crows in the field.
First, I like the one you posted, it's varied with good volume and several crows, but it does have a lot of noise (or hiss). I always have avoided too much background noise (wind, babbling creeks, sirens, cars), giving the crows much respect that it is due their hearing. I have been known to use Audacity editing software to edit, remove noise, and boost volume if I really like the call. Otherwise, I try to stay with cleaner recordings.
The other thought about that particular sound is the I think it is just a little aggressive, and might spur a fight rather than a leisurely, relaxing feeding invite. I could be wrong, but the sounds are a little excited -- it actually sounds to me like crows react when they see me crossing a field to my deer stand. "Alert" but not yet "danger." After listening again, it is bordering on "danger" - it sounds like the crows can see whoever is recording them.
That said, I would use it as a last resort or try it out at the end of a hunt. If they do come to it, I suspect that they might keep their distance. Now, I really am curious to see how it works!
Rook-ie, last night I took the MP3 file I downloaded from that video and did some editing with Audacity. I was able to remove about 98% of the background noise/hiss. I also found a few places in the recording where the caws had some distortion so I toned them down or removed them. When I got it to a point I was happy with it I did a cut and paste until I had a 30 minute long loop and made an MP3 file of it. Like 10ga said I am quite sure this calling will bring in crows, the question is will it do it as well as the Johnny Stewart Crow Come Here or Crows Fighting Owl. I live in an area with only a few places to hunt, different sounds can sometimes get a few educated birds to make a mistake.
I have been crow hunting since 1967. Yep, that is a 6 in front of the 7. Without being arrogant, I feel that much experience stored in my brain, qualifies me to know what works and does'nt work when crow hunting. At least where I have hunted (Georgia, and North Carolina).
Would like to point your attention to the posting that NHcrowshooter made a few days ago, about the crow sound he found on youtube. I listened to it thoroughly, and I am sure it is one of the best all-around call sounds that I have ever heard. If I could have but one call sound to crow hunt with, it would definitely be at the top of my list.
Take a listen to it, and imagine you're in a pine tree thicket, and crows are gathering there for some reason....maybe they have just finished breakfast, and are just chewing the fat with each other. Now, imagine you are in a blind shooting over a picked corn field, and notice that the sound resonates with the very sounds that crows make in a feeding situation. Now, you have moved to a blind near a flyway, and the crow sound has just enough aggressiveness in it attract fly-by crows to your blind.
Use your imagination to relive other crow hunting situations you have been in, and determine if that call sound would be appropriate at that particlular time. 'bet it would!
I have already loaded my FX3 with the sound, and eagerly waiting to use it!
I believe we owe 'ol NH a round of applause....applause....applause!
Thanks Ken. What he neglected to tell you is that Ken PM'd me asking me to burn a disk with the file I edited with Audacity. I sent him short MP3 via e-mail which he said he was able to put on his FoxPro caller. If anyone else would like to try it I have the file available here:
Hi guys. I was looking through past posts and saw this thread. Thank you NH for posting the link. I can't wait to get it on my Foxpro Fury and try it out this weekend. I apologize because I am not very tech savy but I have a question. I have the Johnny Stewart crow and owl fight on cassette and I love the sound. I would love to get the sound on my foxpro. I have read that you can convert the cassette to mp3 format with a converter. My question is, is there anyway for somebody who has already done this to post the sound like NH did. Like I said I am not tech savy so I don't know if this is even possible. Thanks guys
Above all, I didn't realize one could put their own sounds on Foxpro! Thought you had to get em from the supplier. What's the procedure for adding from your computer? Is this somewhere in an old thread?