We figure any crow shooting we get in the fall is a bonus, but we got four hunts in when the weather forced us out of the field and time allowed. I regret not getting more photos.
My partner scouted our first hunt and we made plans over the radio while picking corn "We gotta shoot some crows tomorrow", was the first I heard of it. Snow was forecast so we set up after dark and hurried home to finish getting ready for an 8 Nov. hunt.
Despite each of us going through a poor spell of shooting we ended with 103.
Saw one dive in from the stratosphere. He was so high I couldn't tell if it was a crow, no more than a speck that started getting bigger. Wings folded back, hurtling straight down like a "crow out of hell". Not sure how he got himself stopped, but he was about twenty feet off the ground when his wings came out, dropped his feet and giving that shrieking growl fluffed over the dead pile. That's when I helped him complete his descent. It was quite a spectacle. I'd never seen one come from that high.
On 22 Nov. we got a morning hunt in. It was pretty nondescript, other than being a rare nice day. 20 warmed to 30 by eleven with a light 5-10 mph NW wind. We managed twenty, but thought we'd get a few more.
We figure any crow shooting we get in the fall is a bonus, but we got four hunts in when the weather forced us out of the field and time allowed. I regret not getting more photos.
My partner scouted our first hunt and we made plans over the radio while picking corn "We gotta shoot some crows tomorrow", was the first I heard of it. Snow was forecast so we set up after dark and hurried home to finish getting ready for an 8 Nov. hunt.
Despite each of us going through a poor spell of shooting we ended with 103.
Saw one dive in from the stratosphere. He was so high I couldn't tell if it was a crow, no more than a speck that started getting bigger. Wings folded back, hurtling straight down like a "crow out of hell". Not sure how he got himself stopped, but he was about twenty feet off the ground when his wings came out, dropped his feet and giving that shrieking growl fluffed over the dead pile. That's when I helped him complete his descent. It was quite a spectacle. I'd never seen one come from that high.
Randy
#1 "He died hungry".
#4 It's starting to snow.
Good job Randy, Glad you got the dive bomber. I hope you got all your crop's in so you can spend more time on the crow's. Paul
We got two hunts in over Thanksgiving. I didn't get any pictures of the second one. Most likely because I was irritated we didn't have a better shoot. My fault, but I'd like to blame a faulty wind direction forecast as well. It should have been a much better shoot than the 55 we got.
The first shoot was in favorable weather conditions, mid 30's with a SE wind 10 -20 mph. Not so good ground conditions. We had a 1/4 mile hike and as my partner said, a guy has to take three steps to make two. We ended up with 86.
Yep, Definitely incoming ! I've made that quick shuffle back to the blind a time or two myself. Or even scoot up next to a tree trunk & freeze while Dale dropped a few , then make a quick dash back to the blind.
Our crops are in and things are winding down. This fall was a long slow grind and it looks like a lot of acres won't come out til next spring. I feel for those guys.
Unfortunately, the first part of our split season is now over til mid-January. We'll cross the border a time or two until then.
On photo #1, is that a deformity or is it something he was eating?
Nice report and pictures, but you missed the name on #4. It should have been titled "Crow Snow has been falling!"
Demi
Demi,
That was a piece of foam like substance. We got another one with the same thing in his mouth. Must have been something they got into and didn't want to give up.
Your wit is quicker than mine. Yours is a better title.
Yep, Definitely incoming ! I've made that quick shuffle back to the blind a time or two myself. Or even scoot up next to a tree trunk & freeze while Dale dropped a few , then make a quick dash back to the blind.
Paul and Demi,
They were definitely incoming! We weren't calling at the time, but something must have looked good. He was moving pretty fast considering the ten lbs. of mud he was carrying on each foot.
Our crops are in and things are winding down. This fall was a long slow grind and it looks like a lot of acres won't come out til next spring. I feel for those guys.
Unfortunately, the first part of our split season is now over til mid-January. We'll cross the border a time or two until then.
Randy
Randy, back in the day i farmed corn & beans in Indiana. Back then i wasn't a crow hunter but i did a lot of deer, rabbit & pheasant hunting. My hunting partner always talked me into leaving a few acres of corn in the field until hunting season was over. We always referred to it as ( THE LAST RESTAURANT IN TOWN ). I'm not to convinced that crows show any interest in soybeans but i know they'll fill themselves with corn. Perhaps some of those unpicked field's you mentioned may be your last restaurant in town. Paul.
Randy, looks like you have been having some fun up North and I could be mistaking but looks like you where hunting out of a Tanglefree blind. Hope they worked good for you guys.
__________________
"If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be wise enough to be crows." Thoreau.
Our crops are in and things are winding down. This fall was a long slow grind and it looks like a lot of acres won't come out til next spring. I feel for those guys.
Unfortunately, the first part of our split season is now over til mid-January. We'll cross the border a time or two until then.
Randy
Randy, back in the day i farmed corn & beans in Indiana. Back then i wasn't a crow hunter but i did a lot of deer, rabbit & pheasant hunting. My hunting partner always talked me into leaving a few acres of corn in the field until hunting season was over. We always referred to it as ( THE LAST RESTAURANT IN TOWN ). I'm not to convinced that crows show any interest in soybeans but i know they'll fill themselves with corn. Perhaps some of those unpicked field's you mentioned may be your last restaurant in town. Paul.
Paul,
Around here crows don't pay any attention to mature standing corn. They like picked corn fields though, especially if the stalks were chopped and baled. Exposes more field loss. Cut bean fields are a favorite as well.
Randy, looks like you have been having some fun up North and I could be mistaking but looks like you where hunting out of a Tanglefree blind. Hope they worked good for you guys.
Hi Dale,
Don't have a Tanglefree yet. However, one may be employed next time out. They went on sale and are in route.
We've absolutely had some fun and have barely got started. Keep after 'em.
Thanks for the pics! Really enjoy them. A couple of questions from a less experienced crow buster.... Looks like you use the same Flambeau decoys as I do. I noticed in your pics you have some of them placed in pairs (fairly close together) I usually spread mine all out. Does pairing seem to work better for you? Also, do you hunt with a SxS? Good looking one in the pic. I also hunt with an old double. It just fits me so well! I think my decoys need painting. Have you had to paint yours? Not sure if I should use Flat or Satin paint. Thanks!!
Thanks for the pics! Really enjoy them. A couple of questions from a less experienced crow buster.... Looks like you use the same Flambeau decoys as I do. I noticed in your pics you have some of them placed in pairs (fairly close together) I usually spread mine all out. Does pairing seem to work better for you? Also, do you hunt with a SxS? Good looking one in the pic. I also hunt with an old double. It just fits me so well! I think my decoys need painting. Have you had to paint yours? Not sure if I should use Flat or Satin paint. Thanks!!
Rob
Hi Rob,
Those Flambeau's are tied together and either pitched or hung in a tree or brush. That's the main reason they seem to be in pairs. I do like to bunch a few together some, but I'm not sure it's any better than spreading them out. The main thing is getting a couple as high and visible as possible.
I use flat when I paint. Either would work I'm sure. I've got some spendy Lucky Duck flocked decoys that are about as realistic as you can get. They don't work any better than a coat hanger wrapped in electrical tape. But they sure do look pretty. The point being, as long as they aren't overly shiny, I don't think crows are that particular of the shade of black.
The double gun pictured above is my partners CZ Sharp Tail. I haven't used a SXS seriously for forty years. Used my grandpa's Stevens 311A as a teenager so share your affinity for an old double.
Keep us updated on how you're doing and post some pictures. Keep after'em.
My fault, but I'd like to blame a faulty wind direction forecast as well. It should have been a much better shoot than the 55 we got.
