Checking in with an long time pecan orchard owner last week, he informed me that Clemson was hosting a conference for new owners at his property the next day. I hurried up to join the crowd and got my face in front of about 15 orchard owners. When I introduced myself as "...not a pecan farmer, but someone who offers Free Crow Removal" there were lots of chuckles and one owner who said "I need to talk with you!"
This farmer had recently planted several acres of new trees that were just beginning to bear nuts. The crows had moved in and decimated his first crop. Although the crop damage was almost complete and the crows mostly gone, he wanted me to hunt the property. As this will be a good long-term contact, I scouted the orchard on the way home and we set it up for a hunt on Monday.
Monday came and we placed the blind by a group of mature trees adjacent new trees. The crows were in the area, but they were a little wary coming in as the orchard was by their house and both he and his wife had been shooting at them to scare them off. It was a fun morning, but most incoming groups came in complete silence due to the possible threat. We ended up with 27 crows killed. They were very pleased to see the destruction.
Demi
Photo #1: Pecan orchard outlined in red & blind location at "X"
Good job Demi, Since those crow's were gun shy i'm curious as to how you enticed them within shooting range ? I see you had the FF-5, Did they come in to the decoy's or did it require some talking to them ??
The usual methods (hand call, supplemented by the Foxpro) worked pretty well, but as mentioned, most sneaked in silently without growling or calling within maybe 1/4 mile. They would answer my calls while far off, but when they recognized the orchard, they went to the mute mode.
The owners had only killed one crow, so the birds were just wary of the noise rather than being educated after seeing death and destruction at this orchard.
The FF-5 flapper, along with the brushed blind, did the trick of bringing them in without any flaring. They also allowed us to bring down several groups that initially came in very high but set their wings and worked down to within shooting range... a very pretty sight to see!
Demi
__________________
The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
Same experience here with "educated crows". They shut down the vocalizations and approach silently. Love to hear the newby's come in yelling at the top of their lungs.
Always fun to hunt a new location, I suggest you try some raccoon calling with your FOXPRO. Those striped bandits eat pecans all night long.
I suggest you try some raccoon calling with your FOXPRO. Those striped bandits eat pecans all night long.
Regards,
Bob,
We have an ongoing battle with the raccoons at our house and I trap them regularly. But tell me more about calling them in a pecan orchard. Will they come in during daylight?
This could be an added bonus for the pecan growers.
Demi
__________________
The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
The coons will be hard to remove as you have a food source. They travel 30 miles a night just to feed. Run hounds on them for a few nights and they will not return. If any of you have hunted coons with hounds they can outrun a dog anytime, and stay a mile ahead of the hounds.
Well done as usual Demi. Always enjoy your reports and pictures. Your're always on the ball when it comes to making contact with those who can provide hunting opportunities. Thanks.
