Crow Busters Forum

TruAbleDog · Newbie

Why am I missing?

oldshotty · Veteran Member

I cant hit a crow to save my life. I have killed two, one was very close and the other one was sitting in a tree. I have been told its about lead but I just cant figure it out. I shoot trap real well but sucked at skeet the only time I tried it, but its not always while they are moving, sometimes when I call a crow in it will only get so close then it starts to hover looking for the sound and I still cant hit them. It may be they are to high I don't know. Know I'm not saying I'm the best shot in the world but I hunt and have no problem hitting running rabbits, squirrels, coyotes but when it comes to crows I just plain suck. I actually have stopped hunting them because its pointless to call them in time and time again just to miss and educate them to the calls for no reason. I have watch video after video, talked to clay shooters and everyone says its lead but I be damned if I can figure it out. I will add I have hunted all my life but never birds so I'm new to shooting flying targets but not to guns and shooting. I have patterned my shotgun with different shot and chokes and think I got it all figured out just to get out in the field and look stupid, its really quite disheartening because hunting crows is all we have for bird hunting where I live other than waterfowl which I have never done but would like to try but its pointless if I cant hit anything flying.

TruAbleDog · Newbie

Thanks for your honesty in anycase!

killer Crowalski · Senior Member

Where legal to do so you could try shooting pigeons or blackbrds especially starlings. THis will improve your hits. HOwever, try a ten inch lead if at 45 yards away. When you got the back end only? Aim right at them and send lead up the porta potty!

If you can get them to come at you with a wind at your back you should get scores...if I were using an improved cylinder? I'd get them to come in around 15-20yards....when they are close you don't need much lead. I don'tbother leading them at all and watch 'em fall! Have you seen BobA s' videos? He don't lead them by much even though they are out 45-50 yards!!

He's not doing much-maybe the length of the crow itself and that's about 2feet maybe?

I learned by shooting blackbirds passing by....

10gacrowshooter · Senior Member

Keep your head down "wood to wood" swing from back to front "butt, body, beak, bang" with gun still moving as soon as you come to beak pull the trigger with a follow through. I miss a lot too and other days I can't miss. if what you are doing doesn't work don't keep doing it try something different. slow down your swing (that my problem most of the time, swing to fast)

scott

camo · Senior Member

I did a ( POI ) point of impact test with one of my shotguns & it shot 8" low @ 25 yards !!! i had to modify the stock ( COMB HEIGHT ) to get my point of aim to match my point of impact. you can do a google search on how to do a POI test with a shotgun. it's simple. after doing some research i found it's a bigger problem with shotguns than one would think. I think you definitely need to start with that.

boba · Guru

In any sport that requires good hand to eye coordination you need plenty of practice! One must try to remain loose (easier said than done with pressure on you) so you don't tense up. Then there are other things to be aware of such as your stance in facing the shot so you don't get all twisted up and out of position on the shot. A proper gun mount so when your cheek hits the comb on the butt stock on your firearm your master eye is looking directly down the rib or middle of the barrel and not off to one side!

Judging distance with birds in the air where there is no background for depth perception can frustrate any new shooter. In time if you do it long enough you will know by the birds size in the air and your skill level at the time weather the bird can be killed by you or not. Sometimes you blow the shot anyway but experience will tell you if it was a killing shot to begin with.

As time goes on and you start to get a little more proficient you will start to be much more fluid and relaxed as your confidence starts building. No two men shoot a like, the slower swingers need more lead than a fast swinger does on the same types of shots at the same yardage. Wing shooting can be described as getting in to the rhythm or groove and once you are there believe me, you will know it.

M12Shooter · Guru

Hitting birds angling away at 40 or 50 yards would be a difficult shot for a novice...let alone with a small 20 gauge shot charge and IC constriction. Get the birds in tight as possible, that means good cover. Wood to wood as stated. More game birds have lived another day because of over zealous shooters raising their heads right after the shot. Also...just my opinion, if you're shooting and auto maybe only put one shell in the gun to start. Knowing you only have the one shot is psychological in knowing you have to make it count. Three shot salute is so common on our marshes and uplands. Practice, practice and practice as Bob A stated.

Ted

KenCrow · Senior Member

Years ago when I lived in Atlanta, Ga. I was talking to a Winchester representative about trap (clay bird) shooting and he said this to me: "Hitting them is not hard, but missing is a lot easier".

That quotation is still true today.

KenCrow

Mainehunt · Guru

As another said, 45 yards is a long shot for a 20 gauge.

Want to see me start an argument? Watch this.

Use bigger shot size, at 40-60 yards I kill more crows when I use #5 or #6 shot instead.

killer Crowalski · Senior Member

Mainehunt wrote:
As another said, 45 yards is a long shot for a 20 gauge.

Want to see me start an argument? Watch this.

Use bigger shot size, at 40-60 yards I kill more crows when I use #5 or #6 shot instead.

You got me thinking!!! I seem to be better at longer ranges!!

10gacrowshooter · Senior Member

killer Crowalski wrote:
Mainehunt wrote:
As another said, 45 yards is a long shot for a 20 gauge.

Want to see me start an argument? Watch this.

Use bigger shot size, at 40-60 yards I kill more crows when I use #5 or #6 shot instead.
You got me thinking!!! I seem to be better at longer ranges!!

maybe your shooting to far in front of them at closer ranges??

killer Crowalski · Senior Member

I know someone who does exactly that!!! Leads them as if they were 60 yards out! And yet they are about 25 feet out and he leads them by 3 feet!!! I should laugh but I don't find it funny!

Lefty2Barrels · Senior Member

Im no expert but I rarely take out my modified choke. So, Im saying try a tighter choke. A 20ga and 40-50yd shot with an IC is possible....you need to put the pellets in the birds. Try a modified choke along with what others have mentioned. ESPECIALLY keeping “wood on wood” (keep your head on the stock) thats one of the most important things to do!
Is it possible for you to switch to a 12ga?

Lefty2Barrels · Senior Member

Try playing with different leads (sight pictures). In my experience a crow doesnt fly very fast and at 45* the lead may not be as much as you think. Yuo could be shooting in front of them.

Island Shooter · Guru

TD,

Shooting better will take work and practice. It is terribly hard to learn to shoot via an internet forum because you (or the posters) cannot see or know what you are doing wrong. The best, quickest and cheapest way is to seek help through a good instructor. He/she can watch you shoot and offer professional advice on how to correct what is going wrong.

Because hunting is similar to sporting clays, my advice would be to visit a good sporting clays facility and ask for help. Texas is the epicenter of competitive shooting and you won't need to go far to find qualified help. In Austin, there is a great club that has the resources to help you shoot better. Capitol City Trap & Skeet also has instructors available to help. This will be your best first step: www.capitalclays.com/instructors/ I've shot at Capital Clays and it was a good experience.

If you have the same experience as I did, you will be amazed as to how much a lesson can help you shoot and hunt better. Good shooting and keep us posted with your progress.

Demi