I am just look g for any advise as to what I should be looking for when scouting for crow. I have been driving around and it just all seems random. I might see 5 crow I. Ight see one. But they are always flying in different directions so I have no clue where they are coming from or headed. What are some things you all do/ look for when scouting? What time of day do you usually go? What signs are you looking for? How do you choose what group to follow? I just can't seem to get a head on these birds. Am I possibly just in a staging area and that's why the are all over the place? Any advise will be appreciated.
Jaco, scouting for crows and hunting possibilities are a part of my daily life from mid March when crows arrive until mid October as they depart southward. Crow behaviour changes greatly throughout the season as the northward spring migration differs much from huge fall feeding/migration gatherings.
Keep an eye on the sky morning and evening. I look for birds on the move to and from roosting locations. A dozen or so crows sitting and/or frolicking around some old dead cottonwood on a warm summer evening could be the makings of a nice little shoot. Also crops that crows like to feed on...sunflower here during the fall, fresh cut hay in mid summer as crow feed on grasshoppers, crickets and such exposed by cutting. Cattle and hog operations draw crows like a magnet at certain times of the year.
The possibilities are endless, the quest for more targets never ends for a tortured, hopelessly addicted crow slayer like myself. My wife refers to my condition as "crow blindness".
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Most important, get a good pair of binoculars, and then watch for "flight lines", generally along roads, rivers, field boundaries, even telegraph or power lines. These will be from night/day roosts, to feeding grounds, and back again.
As stated above, certain things will attract them to feed (over here at the moment it's cut silage fields, where they dig for grubs and worms).
Freshly planted or harvested crops, wild and fruit berries, even some types of leaves, pecan nuts etc, all are potential food sources for crows
You have to put hours of scouting in generally, but once you find a good flight line or feeding place, you have it made
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
Where there is feed there are crows but not necessarily the rule. I have watched crows totally ignore fields full of corn in example but spring was a different story...
Very good advise from these crowkillers, only thing I will add is this time of year you can meet a lot of farmers,landowners and talk to folks and gather a lot of information and possibly obtain permission for the fall.
I agree with above, this time of year is not the ideal time to be scouting for crows. I'd save the gas money for a few months.
There is nothing wrong with casual scouting. Always be on the look out for birds during your normal travels. If you see birds consistently in the same areas, there is a reason for that.
I just picked up 3 very promising crow hunting spots for the fall, I used all the advise from M12, Bob, BH and the others. I had noticed 2 of these in the fall and the other while out driving with my wife. This time of year here Owners can be approached much easier and are more receptive than closer to the fall when they are hit hard by deer and other game hunters. As with anything hunting related what works here may not be suitable for your area. One tip I do as much research as possible and take references from other landowners and in the case of 2 of these spots they knew my references, that is part of my research before going. To be successful use all the advise and add in your commond scense and your knowledge of your area and it's landowners (public & private) and you will find good areas to hunt. Last but very important guard your spots, don't tell anyone (BH & OA use blindfolds on each other ) LOL!
Good luck and I look forward to reading about your hunts.
Thanks for all the advise. I wasn't aware of the smaller family groupings this time of year. Would help explain why i cant get a good beed on them. I have been taking all back roads to work the last couple of weeks and staying off the interstate looking for more. Right now we have no shortage of food here but I do have a couple of feed lots lined up for this year. One looks VERY promising . Feeds several hundred head of cattle and grows around 100 acres of corn and a river runs along the entire back of the property. Tha KS for the advice everyone.
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