I’m getting behind on hunt reports, but we’ve been slowed by some cold weather lately so I thought I’d share a couple. We put one off a couple days so we could hunt on the warmest day of the week, last Wed. 10 Feb. The temperature did get above zero, but the crows were wary and we got 20. At least we didn’t set there all day.
On 30 Jan. we set up for a hunt the next day. Thought of you, Paul, it’s the golf course. Our snow cover has increased significantly and getting close to our blind site was a challenge, but we managed to get in and out without getting stuck. A snow storm was forecast overnight and into the next day. I don’t think we’ve ever hunted this spot when it didn’t storm, but a NE wind is best, and that usually means snow here.
We allowed 45 minutes of extra drive time but it should have been more. Hunting crows is probably the only reason I’d be driving in those conditions. We busted our way in and I was still hanging decoys as crows streamed by. There was heavy snow at times before it quit at around noon. Temperature was steady around 30 with a NE wind at 10-20. Things started a little slow, but turned into steady shooting by mid-morning. The crows were decoying well by then and I was working the hand call pretty hard with good success.
We missed the evening flight by a half mile, but by this time the wind had shifted NNW so they were down wind. The night before they’d went right by our ambush point, into the wind and low. We got a good number to respond, but many of them would come up short. We’d adjusted call and decoys upwind of us earlier, but it didn’t seem to matter. The shooting was still pretty good on the ones that came in, but it could have been better. Number 150 hit the ground at about 5:30 and we called it a day.
We were planning to hit the road in two days and as we packed wet gear, I wondered if it would all be dried out by then. Our trip out was uphill and with the additional snow and wind, our tracks had blown shut. We got stuck several times and had to shovel our way out. Finally got on the road at 7:00.
On 2 Feb. we spent the day scouting and got set up for an AM hunt the next morning. Temperature was 23 and rose to near 40. We had a SE wind that increased to 10-15. Overcast in the morning and mostly sunny by late afternoon. We shot for a couple hours and downed 36 crows that seemed a bit wary, but not like some we’d run into. We did make some nice long shots.
We then moved and set up for a PM hunt. We may have gotten a bit greedy, but were banking on that 10-15 mph wind to allow us to reach a staging area, yet still ambush another flight. The wind lessened and I don’t think we got as many called in as we could have. The staging area was NW of us and those that came from there were soft shooting. The flight over us was coming from the WSW and they were a little higher and didn’t decoy as well.
About two hours into the hunt my partner downed two with one shot. I can’t remember if I’d just shot one and was looking for a follow-up, or just happened to see it. They were crossing to his right through the decoy trees and were slightly behind him when he stoned them. One at about 25 yards, the other at about 35. They were about 25 feet high. A pretty sight and highlight of the hunt.
We’d started shooting at about quarter after two. Number 74 hit the ground at about 5:30, for a total of 110.
We’ve got about a foot of snow cover now. It’s cold and the crows are bunched up. Once it gets above zero we’re ready to get back after ‘em. Until then, I’ll be like Demi and make devious plots.
Randy
I didn't have much time to take pictures and it was dark when we packed up on the two all day hunts. It was too cold to mess with pictures on the other one. A bald eagle swooped in and carried off a hopper that day. Wish I would have got one of that.
(Sorry Paul, many in the kill zone were covered by snow at the golf course, so it didn’t make for as pretty of picture as it could have.)
Randy, I'm impressed with your ability to deal with the weather elements. I wonder how many golfers will be looking at spent shell casings next summer wondering what was going on. Lol. By the way we've had some brutal weather here, I make sure the cows are fed and the water tanks heaters are working then like Bob l spend the rest of my time chucking logs into the wood burning stove. You did well. Paul
Very well written story of your hunt and nice pictures. Winter hunts can be challenging I am hoping our weather in March starts to moderate and the crows start moving north.
Some very nice hunts...well worth the nuisance of wet & cold conditions! Thanks for the motivation. It’s time for me to stop complaining and find crows to kill!
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
Chores take about twice as long and not much else gets done outside when it's 20 below.
We try and get as many hulls as possible, but don't get them all I'm sure. Only bad golfers would be where we're shooting from. The ones that can't keep it on the fairway.
Some very nice hunts...well worth the nuisance of wet & cold conditions! Thanks for the motivation. It’s time for me to stop complaining and find crows to kill!
Demi
Demi,
I always think about Ted, where it's really cold.
We hunted a couple hours this morning and after a nearly half mile of dragging our stuff through a foot and a half of snow, in the dark, I was wondering about my sanity. We were supposed to get 4 more inches but it didn't start until we got out. Our drag back was easier in our old tracks.
For a time, we had as fast of shooting at cooperative crows as we've had all season. We worked hard for the 38 we got, but had great fun. Worth every bit of the effort. And let me tell you, I was a whipped pup after that hike in.
So while one never knows how the hunt will go, a guy'll never find out sitting around and thinking about it. That in part, is what what motivates me.
