Every Fall we organize a crow hunting trip with guide Jerry Tomlin in the Aiken, SC/Augusta, GA area. Our family shares a small place in Graniteville, SC which includes a small cabin that my grandfather built, which serves as our home base. Jerry arranges hunts each morning in some nearby pecan orchards. This is a social event as much as a hunting trip, so I invite three other friends to hunt with me. Jerry got me hooked on crow hunting about 15 years ago and we keep coming back for this annual event.
This year was most interesting...starting with Hurricane Michael, which passed directly over Graniteville, but spared us from major damage. The storm did prevent us from hunting the first day, so we stayed at the cabin and told stories and had some good food.
The next day we took 62 birds in dead calm conditions the day after the storm. The third day we downed 72 crows in a near-perfect line of small incoming groups of birds. The last day, however was another interesting one.
As we were hunting, we noticed a guy, dressed in green and sporting a badge, hurrying towards us as we were waiting for a group of crows. This game warden had gotten a call about dove hunters shooting out of season... yes, we were hunting doves, but they were black-winged doves! We were cordial, so he kept a friendly attitude. As he checked our licenses, it was discovered that one of us had a licence that had expired three days prior to this hunt. Ticket time! But being the friendly and helpful sort, he only issued a warning. After all, this was the first time he had ever come across crow hunters in his job. We finished that day with 26 crows.
Fun times for all and, and after the second half of Crow Week '18 coming up in November, I will post another report.
You always do so well !! I'm not even going to post pics of the TWELVE we got today. By any chance did the game ranger ask about shotgun plugs in your guns ? And i will add that i love your camo & blinds.
The reason i asked about the plug for the gun is that i have 2 older / retired friends,, Both in their early 70's who i can take with me as a partner to get another gun in the blind & up my numbers. Both are top level shooters but never crow hunted, First question from them was, Don't we need plugs in our guns ? I said no, it will be ok. Hopefully it will be. Took one guy with yesterday, Super good shot but cant sit still !! You could see the crows veer off when they saw him move. But at least when he pulled the trigger something fell. Demi, always good to see your reports & pics. You certainly have it mastered !!
I always look forward to your Tomlin reports every year. I’m glad (and a little surprised) that the hurricane didn’t mess up your hunts. Looks like fun! Nice pictures.
AND, did anyone notice that Demi had a Crowbusters-first in his photos?
This was the first time (that I can remember) he has posted a picture of a hunting partner who was taller than he was. :) :)
This was the first time (that I can remember) he has posted a picture of a hunting partner who was taller than he was. :) :)
BH
Thanks, BH.
That is Big George, a founding member of our “Crow Week.” While I am a mere 6’4”, George tops out at 6’9” and gives Jerry fits in trying to brush the blind properly!!
If you look at my avatar pix of our first century shoot, George is in the middle and I’m on the right
Demi
-- Edited by Island Shooter on Friday 19th of October 2018 03:28:36 AM
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
Yes, the FF5 did it’s job as expected. I was particularly impressed with how it pulled fish crows down within range. We didn’t see many fish crows, but it really worked magic on most of them.
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
