Decided to visit old friends who have a 140 acre backyard; coffee and baked goods following bandits (I hoped). Clear, cold, and only 3 mph wind out of the NNE. A little worried at first, as there wasn’t any response the first 10-15 minutes. I knew the degree of difficulty here was high, as these birds are very educated; shot at by local folks for generations. However, three undergrads flew by.
First one was a nice spiral, crashing down through the branches about 35 feet away. #2 took a real hard hit directly overhead with the no. 6s, folding into a “lawn dart” mode and crashing about 15 feet away with a grand thump on the still frozen ground. As I followed #2 downward, enjoying the sight, another bird immediately came into vision on the right and I swung over to take the shot. Brain said, "No shooty!" A red-tailed hawk seemingly had this bird on its radar for a moment and swooped away. So far, two shots, two bandits. Took a while for #3 to come by and I took three shots; first and second caused crow snow, third shot was too far, but by then I could see it was “going down in flames” about 100 yards distant into the woods. I’ll take it. The rest of the time, no action. They all remained in their hangout area cussing at me and would come no closer.
Afterwards, visited the owners, long-time friends, and told tales for a while over coffee and plum cake. Always a good day when one can outsmart some educated birds.
Done figured you out, you would be "death incorporated " in a crow rich environment. Good to see you putting the hurt on them.
Butch
Thank you.
Just a Humble Pilgrim among all the others here, on the "Path to Crow Enlightenment," trying to do my part while seeking those elusive double-digit TBC days.
Craig
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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
