Crow Busters Forum

boba · Guru

A few noteworthy shoots.

killer Crowalski · Senior Member

Well now you are living the ultimate crow shooters dream! Around here a crow shooter might find some but shooting is another story altogether. Our winter roost in the 70s was roughly a hundred birds and that is pitiful as the out of state further south wintering roosts now hold as much as 19,000 birds (so they say) with the different wintering roosts generally anywhere from a few thousand down to a few hundred by no means a lack of crows except around here and where they hang out it is impossible to get at them...even with high powered pellet rifles...but while nothing remotely like your area BobA.; looking hard there is generally a few areas to shoot a possible Bert Popowskis New England dozen if you get there before the Pheasant and water fowl hunters ply their trade...and competitors....

This one tale is frustrating but amusing...checking out an area we no longer frequented-again-competition my partner and I ran into a pair of game wardens who told us someone pulled a dozen out of this one crow rich area. That is all well and good for those two but right away I told my hunting buddy "Let's go somewhere else-this spot is shot out so we did finishing the day with maybe 6? I don't remember...someplace else...better than nothing of course. But once the bug bites you can kiss your old areas goodbye.

Another old deal is there are hot spots in neighboring states and people think that because you crow shoot too you will be welcomed!! By the farmer maybe not by the locals...on another note it really stinks when there's just so many spots to go and and you arrived hearing an electronic crow caller across the way and try and call them in which to wandering crows must sound like air raid sirens and a warning ...I always say don't try to compete at times like that.....you'll get almost nothing! Years ago when I still water fowl hunted a popular spot soon ended that idea. The opening day was spectacular but it dried up in no time. Basically memory hunters would try that spot...by "memory" hunting I mean you sit there in your boat and no water fowl anymore so all you can do is sip your cup of coffee and remember when...in the meanwhiles that miles high V-formation faintly heard sailing further south to the lakes of southern Taxachussettes and Distant constitutionally corrupt state of CON-nectacrud where the lunatics run the insane asylum.

Big Honkers · Guru

Bob,

218 crows in 85 minutes is real strong. That is 2.56 crows per minute. Shooter's fatigue is a real thing on those types of hunts. Watching, shooting, reloading, moving, and bending at a frantic pace for that long is taxing. It is a good thing that you had two guns, I bet that really helped.

My best crow per hour pace was 2.1. That is 126 in 60 minutes. Like your hunt, it was a real windy day and I was shooting roost bound birds on a cold afternoon. This was in late November. I was hunting solo. Unfortunately, I was only allowed 1 loaded gun in the blind in this area AND I had to shoot with a plug in. Holy cow, talk about speed reloading. I missed shooting at some birds flying by because of that stupid plug but there were a few houses around and I wanted to be 100% legal in case someone called about all the shooting.

It is kinda funny, it seems like I am always chasing these types of frantic hunts in my crow travels and I love them, but honestly, the pace is so fast that you become almost robotic. A slower paced hunt is realistically more enjoyable....to me anyway.

BH

boba · Guru

Jason, I could not agree with you more, I enjoy the shoots anyway I can get them but if it's more drawn out without it being almost dead (AKA no action) it makes for a more pleasurable experience. In the fast paced shoots it's about stamina and focus plus keeping you're cool under pressure.

You had a hell of a morning hunt back in 2010 (if memory serves me right) where you rolled 350 odd crows on a morning hunt out of state. I was also out of state and it was before I met you're father who smokes good cigars!

Here is an old shoot from December 25th 1980 with my old pal Boyd. It was 3 degrees out that morning and I was having gun trouble, we shot 503 crows from 8:A.M. to 4:00 P.M. all 20 gauge in those days. Boyd shot 301 and I shot 202 that day. Wind was SW - 10 to 20 PMH.

Here is the best shoot that Boyd and I had together on December 15th 1982 (all 20 gauge) from 8:30 A.M. to 4:45 P.M. I was shooting a Smith & Wesson 20 gauge pump gun and Boyd was shooting a pair of 20 gauge model 12's. Boyd shot 467 and I shot 392 that day for a total of 859 in one spot all day long. Wind North at 5 MPH and 45 degrees outside.

Here is a solo hunt from December 30th 1982 where I shot 382 crows from 7:40 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Wind Southwest 5 MPH 10 degrees outside that day. Used a model 3000 Smith & Wesson pump gun in 20 gauge. It was overcast with snow on the ground that day.

If you see Joby tell him I send my regards.

boba · Guru

Here was a wild shoot from November 10th 1975 when I was first getting started with my crow hunting mentor Boyd Robeson.

We shot 153 crows in 45 minutes of wild hysterical shooting! We setup in a real hurry (because we were late) on a flyway shoot. We should have been there at least an hour sooner! Wind was SE - 15 MPH bluebird afternoon.

Hard to believe Boyd will be gone 20 years this December! Make the most of it, you only go around once!

boba · Guru

Going through my log book from 1974 to 1977 and found my best shoot up until that point in time (January 25th 1976) I shot 198 crows from 7:45 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. I killed 80 with my model 42 Winchester pump (it was a 410 gauge using a 3/4 ounce load of 7 1/2 shot) and the rest with a 12 gauge over & under.

Here was a decent shoot from October 16th 1976 where Boyd and I shot 371 crows on an afternoon flyway shoot. I used 100 410 gauge hulls and 200 20 gauge hulls on this shoot. The majority of the shots were within 25 yards that afternoon.

boba · Guru

On October 13th 1977 Boyd and I rolled 542 crows in 3 hours and 15 minutes in Stafford County Kansas. From 6:00 P.M. to 7:15 P.M. it was as fast as you could keep your guns loaded! All 20 gauge.

boba · Guru

Here was a 95% average, I shot 99 crows with 104 20 gauge hulls out of a Smith & Wesson model 3000 pump gun. It was in Reno County Kansas on November 4th 1983. 4:10 P.M. to 5:35 P.M. The shooting was 30 yards and under that afternoon.

boba · Guru

Here is a very good shoot from December 6th 1983 in Sedgwick County Kansas where Boyd and I rolled 635 crows from 9:A.M. to 2:P.M. 22 degrees out I used my 20 gauge model 870 Remington on this hunt. Boyd - 334 Bob - 301

boba · Guru

Here is another outstanding shoot from December 20th 1989 in Sedgwick County Kansas.

Boyd and I shot 657 crows from 8:40 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Boyd - 330 Bob - 327. 20 degrees out that day, all 20 gauge.

boba · Guru

Here was a wild solo hunt from November 29th 2002 where i shot the first 100 crows in 25 minutes, fast as you could keep the gun loaded! I shot 506 that day from 7:00 A.M. to 5:15 P.M. I used 607 20 gauge hulls for an 83% average. This was in Sedgwick County Kansas.

Here is an outstanding shoot with Drew Moore one of the old members of crow busters from December 5th 2003 in Oklahoma.

We shot 516 crows from 11:30 A.M to 5:40 P.M. that day. Bob - 265 Drew - 251 I used 336 12 and 20 gauge hulls for a 79% average.

Then on December 11th just 6 days later Drew and I shot 505 crows (Oklahoma) Bob - 279 Drew - 226 from 9:45 A.M. to 4:15 P.M. We were hunting over a harvested peanut field. I used 350 12 and 20 gauge hulls for an 80% average.

boba · Guru

Here was another very good hunt in Oklahoma.

I shot the first 200 crows in 1 hour and 12 minutes! I was in that spot from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. I wound up with 500 for the day with 692 20 gauge hulls for a 72% average. This was on December 1st 2004. I made over 12 triples on that shoot.

Drew Moore joined me on December 7th just 6 days later and we both shot 309 out of that very same blind. Bob - 153 Drew - 156 I used 226 12 and 20 gauge hulls for a 68% average.

boba · Guru

Here was a shoot just 3 days later in Arkansas where I got my hind end out of the wind because it was gusting to 40 MPH that afternoon! The crows were flying about 3 feet above the ground bucking that head wind! This was on December 10th 2004; I was 7 miles from the roost that afternoon and shot until 4:00 P.M. that day. I killed 198 crows with 409 12 and 20 gauge hulls for a 48% average.

killer Crowalski · Senior Member

Arem't we missing a few photographs Bob?

boba · Guru

On December 14th 2006 Dick and i shot 558 crows on two hunts that day. 260 on a morning hunt then another 298 on an afternoon shoot at a different spot. 68 degrees out in Oklahoma that day and clear outside. Dick - 301 Bob - 257 I used 348 12 gauge hulls for a 74% average. This was in 2006.

boba · Guru

On November 8th 2006 in Oklahoma Jerry and I shot 452 crows from 8:30 A.M. to 3:45 P.M. We were shooting over peanuts and it was hot as hell 88 degrees outside!

Jerry - 222 Bob - 230 I used 330 20 gauge hulls for a 70% average and Jerry used 350 20 gauge hulls for a 63% average. Jerry wanted to setup again for a flyway shoot at a different spot but I was worn out from the heat that day. I said we will have at it tomorrow, I want to relax under the air conditioner at the motel.

On November 13th 2007 Jerry and I shot 429 crows over peanuts again in Oklahoma.

71 degrees outside we hunted for 3 hours and we were done, the crows quit! Bob - 221 Jerry - 208 I used 349 12 gauge hulls for a 63% average.

On December 17th 2007 in Oklahoma Dick and I shot 458 crows from 2:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. 50 degrees outside that day. Bob - 221 Dick - 237 I used 302 12 gauge hulls for a 73% average.

On October 26th 2008 Jerry and I shot 425 crows from 8:00 A.m. to 10:45 A.m. ( 179 crows on a morning hunt ) then an additional 246 on a flyway shoot later that afternoon. Bob - 209 Jerry - 216 I used 251 12 gauge hulls for an 83% average.

The very next day on October 27th Jerry and I shot 404 crows from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. 64 degrees outside and I used 274 12 gauge hulls for a 77% average. Bob - 211 Jerry - 193.

boba · Guru

On December 13th 2008 Dick and I shot 543 crows in Indiana on two different setups that day.

We shot 280 from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. then an additional 263 on a flyway shoot later that afternoon from 1:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Bob - 264 Dick - 279

The next day we shot 261 on a flyway shoot from 12:00 P.M. to 5:45 P.M. 52 degrees out that day. Bob - 127 Dick - 134

Still Indiana, on December 17th 2008 we shot 198 crows from 12:00 P.M. to 4:45 P.M. 28 degrees outside. Bob - 97 Dick - 101

The next day we shot (Indiana) 159 crows from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. 31 degrees outside. December 18th. Bob - 80 Dick - 79

In 6 days we shot 1,339 crows on that trip.

boba · Guru

On December 29th 2008 Dick and I shot 442 crows in Oklahoma in one spot from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. 58 degrees outside. Bob - 220 Dick - 222

All Oklahoma:

On January 6th we shot 311 Bob - 164 Dick - 147

January 7th we shot 353 Bob - 179 Dick - 174

January 8th we shot 230 Bob - 116 Dick - 114

January 9th we shot 361 Bob - 190 Dick - 171

January 10th we shot 135 Bob - 64 Dick - 71

This was January of 2009.

boba · Guru

Here are a couple of Oklahoma photos.

boba · Guru

Here was a decent field hunt on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. Dick and I shot 300 plus crows on this field hunt.

We were hunting on both sides of the river, Kentucky and Illinois.

boba · Guru

Here are some crow hunting photos in Illinois.

I shot a very nice piebald crow on this hunt, Dick is holding it up for this photo.

Dick took the photo of me in my motel room just before heading out in the morning.

boba · Guru

Here are some photos of a field hunt in Oklahoma in 2009 with Jerry.

boba · Guru

Here are a couple of photos of an Arkansas crow hunt.

Granite Jaw · Senior Member

Thanks for sharing some of your past shoots Bob. Enjoyed the recollections. Just a couple of notes on each hunt can really jog a guys memory.

Randy

boba · Guru

I was just mentioning some of the high points and trying to forget the beatings Randy.

It's nice to see how things improve over the seasons as you gain more experience and land access.

I will be leaving in 10 days to check out a potential new area, only time will tell if it's a wild goose chase or not.

Dale · Senior Member

Man oh man! That is a LOT of shooting in a short time span. This which you speak of (over two crows a minute) is what myself and Paul have been trying to get done. We have failed so far in our attempts, we have had spurts of awesomeness but only spurts. This year I hope we can get ourselves in the right positions more often to experience this.

Dale · Senior Member

I also have to add, that you showed great resolve Jason. I on the other hand would have begged for forgiveness or just took my ticket. Either way, there would of been no plug and two guns.

killer Crowalski · Senior Member

Verrrryyyyyy interesting BobA;.....this is what I like reading and it is quite the challenge to recall every shot when you shoot a hundred in a shoot....I can hardly remember the shots when I get a dozen!

On another note they are starting to dribble in and our crows have crept up to about a dozen now. (Locally)….the weather don't favor any reason for large numbers (given new England and all that now) but over all they'll be in New England in numbers soon enough....but the overall picture as I see it the plains are a world apart from the north east and no real comparison (who didn't know that?) but our difficulty is there is enough feed to hold them even briefly in old haunts before the real estate developers moved in transforming an otherwise relatively obscure town into a college area and New Hampshires' version of the bigger Taxachussettess police state hospitals...formerly acres of cornfield wiped out and posted other wise...however for you Plains dwellers our areas are most insignificant but doable....I just got the word a former farm I thought that went anti hunting really isn't. But what amuses me is the pheasant hunters try to hunt the pheasant like they saw on the American Sportsman! That's Iowa NOT New England! The pheasants all hide along the streams and woods around here and even when there was corn field they didn't stick around in the corn at all or at least no longer than they had to!

boba · Guru

Here was the second biggest solo hunt of my life on November 17th 2010 in Oklahoma.

I shot 568 crows from 7:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. then picked up and setup that afternoon on a flyway shoot and shot 143 crows from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. I used 895 12 gauge trap loads that day for a 79% average. 55 degrees out with a SW breeze of 10 to 20 MPH. Total of 711 crows for the day!

Then on November 19th just two days later I had my biggest solo hunt of my life!

I killed 834 crows in one spot all day long in Oklahoma. I used 46 boxes of 12 gauge trap loads that day! I had a little over 500 down by 11:00 A.M. I shot until 3:45 P.M. that day. I fired 1150 rounds for a 73% average that day.

Two months later (but still the same season) on January 2nd 2011 Dick and I shot 589 crows from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. 12 degrees out. Wind W - SW - 10 - 20 MPH. I took some good action photos on this hunt (cost me a lot of birds!) Dick - 329 Bob - 260 This was in Oklahoma.

Here are some photos of that particular hunt.

Granite Jaw · Senior Member

boba wrote:
I was just mentioning some of the high points and trying to forget the beatings Randy.

It's nice to see how things improve over the seasons as you gain more experience and land access.

I will be leaving in 10 days to check out a potential new area, only time will tell if it's a wild goose chase or not.

Good luck on your scouting trip and good hunting this season.

Randy

boba · Guru

Randy, I check things out with no expectations because the odds are not in you're favor but once in a great while a new hunting ground emerges! This is what happened in 2010 I found a new area and had two days back to back where I shot over 500 crows each day. It was two setups each day, one morning hunt and one afternoon hunt.

I called my partner Dick and said "ya better meet me, I have more crows than I can handle" so within 24 hours Dick arrived at my motel room after driving over 1,000 miles one way! Dick has mentioned to me many times that it is difficult to find a really good crow hunting partner. You both need the time, money and know how plus have no family obligations! Dick and I are as free as a bird, neither one of us have kids and both of our wives have passed away. So we stay in an area as long as the shooting holds up then move to a different area and repeat the process, Dick calls it our crow hunting tour.

Bob A.

Mattie · Veteran Member

Enjoyed this post verymuch.I have a couple M12 in 20 guage and enjoy shooting them,but am always hesitate about taking 12 gauge shotguns with them because of getting the mixed up in the heat of battle and sticking a 20 gauge round in a 12 gauge barrel.But due to the shortage of shells,Im thinking of going 20 gauge on em.Im sure my rate of kill wont be that good though.

DuckWyatt · Veteran Member

I enjoyed reading about all of these hunts very much. The photos were quite a treat to have with the stories. Bob you should take some of these photos and stories and compile them in a book. It would be a prize to all of us crow hunters. There probably isn't a hunter on here who hasn’t learned a bunch from your experiences.