My buddy Brian and I went to a new farm in central Alabama Saturday morning. Big peanut fields and the farmers promised 10,000 crows. LOL Well, not sure about that total but we had a great shoot picking up 182. I put the crows in stacks of 10 and the picture shows 174. We were setup in a small china berry tree island in the southern part of the field. We picked up 8 more after we had already thrown all the others into the island. Sorry.
We set up on the west side of the island so that we would have the sun to our back. The wind was light and from the north. We put 7 decoys in the trees around us and had the Fox Pro with 3 speakers going. Had one pointed southwest, one west, and one north west. I wanted to have the birds come in into the sun. It was pretty cold and the decoys kept frosting up some. Had some birds flare early. But, they got better as the day went on.
Had lots of high fish crows. I love those high shots. We didn't have near as many soft floaters as we normally do in a pecan orchard. The birds would start across the field low and slowly climb as they neared. I wish I knew what caused them to do that. But, it always seems to happen to me when I hunt large open fields. We broke a lot of wings and had to chase them dang runners down. Was a great exercise workout. LOL
I did have out a few decoys on the ground but they kept frosting over. So, after we killed 3 or 4 birds, I pulled the ground decoys.
The birds responded great to the Bob A call package. They really loved the first two, they didn't like the fighting calls near as much.
There were lots of peanuts on the ground. In fact, some locals came in about 1 PM and started walking and picking up some. That is when I started breaking up and getting ready to leave. If I had had another 30 minutes, I think I could have broke 200.
Fire away if you have anymore questions.
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I hunt therefore I am!
If you are not stepping forward, you are stepping backwards. Time stands still no for No Man.
With peanut fields flaring crows has been my experience as well. They have a long time to have a look at the set up and get very cautious and climb higher and circle.. Really frustrating.. The reason for using 6's..( had to get that in there)
We normally set up 10 to 12 decoys. But lately just 2 or 3 early. Then fill in with the dead..
Frosting decoys? Urinate on them..Joking..We try and get them in the sun.. hasn't been a issue.
Might not have been 10,000 but for sure there's 182 less now! Congrats on a great hunt. I've had some of the same problems with them gettin higher as they come in and flaring off in large ag fields, we had some luck lowering the volume or just cutting the sound except for the mouth calls. But they know the surroundings and as I talked to a hunter a while back he and I both have been in pine thickets deer hunting when a few fly over high and flare at the slightest movement, their vision is truly remarkable. Plus I'm almost positive your birds had been shot at before which makes your hunt that much more satisfying to fool that many. And as far as the fish crows, dang rascals don't play fair (lol)
Barry: Wonderful dark objects sir, spread across a very wet (recently) harvested peanut field. Other than the nice piles, one can still clearly see lots of peanut "debris" that will lure crows in for some time to come...opium for sky rats! Us Southerners might not have the flyways of others, but we have an abundant supply of peanuts and pecans fields and orchards that in season offer some of the finest "feeding" situations on the planet. I have killed many crows with pecans or peanuts still tucked tightly in their beaks!
Loved your set up: breeze and sun at your back sure gives the shooter an edge especially with high flying rain crows...so grab any advantage you can!!
Over the years, pecan and peanuts have produced my gang's finest hunts, the highest TBC's and with the end of the deer season in a few days ( Jan 1st ) our 2016 crow offensive can begin.
Happy New Year gentlemen and lady crow busters both young and old!!!
Thanks, I try to learn as much as I can and I still think I am a rookie.
I have 3 speakers in my setup. I normally face them at a 45 degree angle to the left, 1 straight ahead, and 45 to the right. When birds come in from behind/side they flare when they get in the noise stream so to speak. I guess it hits them to hard with a direct call. I tried turning the volume down some but it still seems to happen. Suggestions?
__________________
I hunt therefore I am!
If you are not stepping forward, you are stepping backwards. Time stands still no for No Man.
