I didn't have much to report initially, but was inspired by today's action.
Hunts 1 and 2 were almost identical, in that only two shots fired each. # 1, on 1 FEB (Opening Day) was at the same location as 1 FEB, 16, when I downed five bandits. This time, they came in and flared—even with excellent camouflage; but in the same place. One year since, could these birds have been educated that well by others? Since one year’s absence? They are townies after all. Round 1 was fired at a bird in the stratosphere—wishful thinking. Thankfully, one of the more mentally challenged crows strolled in low and slow and I got him. He crashed into the snow leaving a crater, but then began to hop off. I could not blast him, because the landowner’s clients’ summer homes were in a row behind the “hopper.” So, he became coyote dinner. Four photos: aerial, crow “crater,” blood trail, and row of vacation homes. A lot of work for one crow, but that’s what we do.
# 2, a few days later was at a blueberry field when back in AUG, 16, a friend and I had killed 10 bandits. This time, same scenario as before. At “first call” they came in strong but flared (^*%$#^%$@!) again. As with #1, took a long shot at a high one with no results. Again, more educated birds, six months later! However, this was “Buffy Bat’s” first appearance. My secret weapon, the $10 flapper decoy, drew another one in, low and slow to take a look at the action, flying directly over it and cawing—he bit the grass solidly. See photos 5-9. A lot of work for one crow, but that’s what we do.
#3, Last Sat. (18 FEB), at a previously un-hunted blueberry field. Set up the night prior (luxury). Funny thing happened when I parked the truck while it was still dark enough (I thought), the locals got up early! They almost attacked the Buffy Bat, with one orbiting around it about ten feet up. He came down hard, once I got in the blind! Got skunked a couple of times, but ended up with three down. See photos 10-14. A lot of work for three crows, but things were getting a bit better, it being a gorgeous morning; the "sun ball" came in mighty handy. I might try this place again during AUG-SEP.
Then today--#4. Went to a pal’s “back yard” (nearby home handy for emergency bathroom break) which consisted of cornfields to the north and west, woods to the east, and unkempt vineyard rows behind us to the south. Set up the night prior (more luxury) and by “opening bell” this morning, was the best setup ever. The place erupted in crows at “first call” and it was delicious chaos for a few minutes and settled down to action every 5-15 minutes or so. 20 bandits went down in flames with a few missing in action, going down a good distance from us in the woodlines or funky vineyard to our rear. Buffy Bat performed superbly, but the necessary experiment in, “Just how long will the 2XAA batteries last in this thing?” resulted in it proving good for only one full day’s hunt, i.e., 2 fresh batteries each day to keep him flapping for at least 3 hours. I like him a lot and will write a short post on his adaptation from Halloween toy to serious CrowBuster killing machine! Photos 15-19.It's good to get caught up with my reports.
I recall that I borrowed the idea from you. Camouflage net scraps wrapped around large bubble wrap. Works great. I'm going to switch to an adjustable painter pole instead of the piece of scrap tubing with which I've been experimenting.
Thanks.
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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
Deer season was a bust. To add insult to injury, one hit my car--IN TOWN here two Sundays ago and took out the left side. I thought it was dead, but the furry idiot ran off so I couldn't take it home to the freezer.
However, things are looking up for crow season, as we don't have a foot of snow on the ground to keep us from reaching our hunting properties, and it appears that nothing big is on the way. Our farmers (fruit, berries mainly) are hoping things remain relatively stable with no big freezes, so everything doesn't die, as happened three years ago.
Then again, spring turkey and groundhog are just around the corner. In fact the signs of spring are indeed in the air and also squashed on the road: ground hogs, possum, raccoons, etc., especially the skunks.
Dang OA that's not right, good thing it didn't come through the glass and glad y'all are ok. My season was off to but I clean missed a nice buck on a public mgt. area hunt, think I yanked the trigger don't know for sure then at the end of the season I shot a pretty nice one and took out the front leg on the opposite side, shot was tough but I've made them before anyway couldn't track him up and lost him. Then day before yesterday my huntin friend called and said he found him 200 yards from where I lost the track in some super thick stuff I thought I checked. Would rather miss than waste one. Pic of what was left below.
Excellent reports. Your attention to detail is superb, you even marked the trail of a hopper!
Nice hunt today. Is that a cripple whacking club in pic 18?
Ps - I was in your neck of the woods for the IceBreaker earlier this month and noticed a few townies headed to roost late in the afternoon.
Must have missed you somehow. It was a perfect Sat. for that event--icy cold and clear. Droves of tourists.
No, the device you noted in photo #18 is an important tool to take along on hunts. You never know when you need to check your tires for proper inflation. So that it bounces off the tire properly, it has a couple-three oz. of lead in the business end . I have included another photo for your edification. On that hunt, I found that I had to check one tire. Doing so saved me about $0.25 worth of other supplies that I can use on the next hunt.
-- Edited by Old Artilleryman on Friday 24th of February 2017 11:40:46 AM
I have been checking my tires incorrectly for so many years, thank you for pointing out the flaws in my technique. An up grade in my tire checking device is clearly in order.
How does your tool work exactly? What do you listen for if the tire is a little low in air pressure? Most newer pickups have censors in the wheels that let you know if one of the tires is getting low.
I have run 10 ply tires on my 4x4 pickup for the past four seasons and have not had one flat tire. I need a new set this fall but they are worth every cent.
I hate to take away from OA's post about a good hunt and turn it into an automotive discussion but here I go anyway....
I used to drive a 93 Buick (that I loved) and I used the tire iron pictured here to check the tires. OA, I bet your wooden tire tool has a nicer "thud" or "crack" when making contact with a tire. This one was a little clunky but it did the job nonetheless.
How does your tool work exactly? What do you listen for if the tire is a little low in air pressure? Most newer pickups have censors in the wheels that let you know if one of the tires is getting low.
I have run 10 ply tires on my 4x4 pickup for the past four seasons and have not had one flat tire. I need a new set this fall but they are worth every cent.
Bob:
Since Big Honkers has added to this thread in his own special way, I must respond to your question.
My 1997 Ranger or, as my Spousal Unit (Army for "wife") calls it--my "ugly truck," is too old to have anything as cool as tire pressure sensors. I usually use the visual "Red Green method" of simply looking at it; if it's not flat, it rolls--hence, eliminating the need to check anything as time-consuming as tire pressure. I'm sorry that I don't know how many plies my tires have. At only 197K, likely fewer than when I bought it from the local Ford dealer, which acquired it from some guy in WI. I kinda wish I had some knobby tires on the rear, as it's only a 2WD and gets stuck on a 1% slope of wet grass.
As for the TIRE CHECKER, M-1, it has many potential uses. Primarily, I use it to conserve ammunition. For every hopper I bop, I save about a quarter. Works pretty good--though I should add a couple more oz. of lead to reduce the number of applications to especially dumb bandits with hard heads as happened yesterday. I used entirely too much energy.
Now BH's, tool could actually hold more promise, as it can actually remove lug nuts or similarly sized hex nuts and can also serve as a super-large screwdriver.
