I am going to be crow hunting on our land new years eve and both of my brothers and one of my brothers in law are now going with me. I have never taken that many people with me before so i went and made sure everything was brushed in really well last weekend and have tried to explain to them to just watch through the brush and wait for me to say to shoot and try to NOT MOVE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. I have had up to three people in a blind at once and it seems like the more people you add the worse it gets. I know they are just trying to help by watching and scanning but its REALLY hard to get them to listen and not move. How do you all hide that many people?
Been in the same position before and it will cost you some birds but fellowship can be worth it. My advise would be for you as the guide have them take turns shooting and don't plan on shooting yourself. Let them have them all and just tell them you've had plenty and just enjoy watching them. It's hard to hunt 4, heck it's hard to hunt 1 with these rascals at times . Since your committed just enjoy and try to teach a little hopefully they will catch on quick about movement. Look forward to your report on the hunt.
Texas style! You got the crows coming in so they run a horse shoe gauntlet! All got to be camouflaged of course. Let's say the crows are arriving from the east what you do is the right side shoots first and so on. If the crow comes from behind well one of you will knock it down if you can. Are all your crow buddies good shots or else you'll wind up hating their guts? Remember shoot a little ahead in the 30 yard range and under...but personally? I wouldn't do it. I've had too many lousy crow shots in the past. They were great goose shooters but other wise lousy crow shooters. Can you get them to practice on pigeons first?
But again-I just wouldn't do it.....but there are benefits to having so many people-you can carry more decoys and if you got the crows like the midwest or deep south you are all set there; they should be a plus. But also know who shoots when period...you need a leader...you need discipline. It has worked in any case. Hopefully you don't have any egoes there...you'll get mighty irritated too! Plan it out carefully.
Goose hunters do it but watch and see how. How they arrange their shooting.Plenty on youtube!
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Top Cat Statutes never replaced or rewrote the constitution!
Ok seriously, I think Butch summed it up pretty well. Just enjoy yourselves. I've hid that many people along a dense jungle of a tree/shrub row before but then you are at the mercy of the height of the trees around you. A thin wooded area won't work without extensive brushing. Even then, it's tuff to manage/control that many folks.
Have fun and good luck!
BH
PS - Also, if they have wingshooting experience you could split up into 2 groups of 2. If your working with a bunch of deer hunter types I wouldn't do that. Knowing when to shoot can be tuff for some.
-- Edited by Big Honkers on Thursday 29th of December 2016 05:15:57 AM
I always insist that hunters wear facemasks and gloves with full camo when I take a newbie and I call the shots when we have 4 in the blind. Blind ediquite needs to be discussed and have a safety meeting before hand so everyone knows the rules.Have fun crow hunting and carry paper towels to wipe the crow poop off!
Well my older brother couldn't do so it ended up being just us three. Hunt was shot right out of the gate. We where hunting 20 mph winds with 25-30mph gusts so we shot two and called it after an hour and packed up.
Well my older brother couldn't do so it ended up being just us three. Hunt was shot right out of the gate. We where hunting 20 mph winds with 25-30mph gusts so we shot two and called it after an hour and packed up.
With that kind of wind, were the two you shot walking?
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
One day my then hunting partner and I were in the blind when these two goose hunters showed up. I suggested they join us but having little camouflage the birds stayed high and they couldn't hit the side of a barn door at 3 feet. I suspected too they expected a goose or two of which none were even heard; let alone seen. We split on good terms but no promise to link up again but I was ready to quit that area anyways....eventually I did. Never went back.
Funny thing is goose hunters as well as other waterfowl hunters never cover their faces; and some on here don't either. I never understood that.
But regarding 4 in a blind well I read about Texas style and they have so many crows that they have as many as 6 in a horse shoe formation (what else right?) and the crow would run a gauntlet. So long as some one got it ego wasn't of any interest. It can work but better if no ego is involved.
It probably worked so well that I haven't read or heard anything of it in quite a long time...
People have a tendency to underestimate the crow. As most of us know you hit an area too much and they will leave for the next county. I have personally witnessed this. You take guests and suddenly they go independent. Your day is over then and there. This is something to consider when you take others. Part timers who hunt other stuff can really put the ki-bosh on your area but fast.
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Top Cat Statutes never replaced or rewrote the constitution!
First bird that came in I told both the other guys to empty their guns and make sure to have a really good lead. Lol it worked. I hit it on my second shot but they both dumped every round loaded they had anyway while it fell.
. Since your committed just enjoy and try to teach a little hopefully they will catch on quick about movement. Look forward to your report on the hunt.