Does anyone use a motion decoy like the Mojo Motion decoy or others? I would love to get the F5 decoy, but they are usually out of stock and the possibility of killing a donor crow are low each hunt.
I had a mojo and got rid of it after trying it a few times. I wouldn't waste my money on one. My partner and I use his FF5 some of the time and it can help get the incoming crow's attention but I'd say it's not a game changer. We like the Boon Docker decoys for ground use, kinda hard to use in the tree's but can be done. Hope that helps. Paul.
With a little planning, the FF5 flapper does not require a “donor crow” for each hunt. All you need to do is, at the end of each hunt, save a good crow & throw him in your freezer. That will be your donor crow for your next hunt. Yes, a fresh crow is a little easier to use, but not essential.
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
For the past five seasons or so on every hunt, I've been using a motion rig, what some Brits call a "crow magnet" or "whirley" (photos 1, 2). Home-made with the expert assistance of my crow hunting partner, "Larry the Master Machinist" who taught metal technology for decades, and is a dynamite wingshooter--feared by waterfowl and crows throughout SW MI.
Two fabricated decoys chasing each other, each at the end of an eight foot long, 1/4" steel rod. Powered by a 12V wiper motor., you can find out how to make one of these on several YouTube locations.
Also use a modified "Buffy Bat" Halloween toy, to serve as a "bouncer" on the end of a long rod. The Buffy Bat can also be a stationary flapper on a rod (as in the video), or hung from an inverted "L." Buffy is a bit fragile, but fairly inexpensive at about $12-$15 each.
If I were clever enough to figure out how to make a really good video like Dale, I would. However....
These work really well on curious bandits.
Missed last year's two MI seasons due to circumstances beyond my control. Looking forward to fixing that this coming 1 FEB. Did get two nice bucks a few weeks ago in November, however.
With a little planning, the FF5 flapper does not require a “donor crow” for each hunt. All you need to do is, at the end of each hunt, save a good crow & throw him in your freezer. That will be your donor crow for your next hunt. Yes, a fresh crow is a little easier to use, but not essential.
Demi
You have a dead crow in your freezer, you are not married I take it
No, I sacrificed two Flambeau heads which were then secured to pieces of aluminum cut from a scrap furnace shield from my Granddad's Airstream (instantly making them heirloom decoys), using the same body template as I use for my wooden silhouettes. Then I fabricated the wings and tail sections from plastic and roofing underlayment--the same pattern used by the fellow in England. Had to fabricate a carbon fiber rod for the wings' leading edge to keep the wings flapping naturally and their bodies flying level. They work well. Hope to show you someday.
The Buffy Bats Larry and I use are pretty stock, except for painting over the red blinking eyes and white "faces" and using JB Weld to secure a mount (9mm case) for the pole on which it sits, flapping away. Larry hangs his from a string and if flies about a bit--even better.
As for this crow season, I caught a crummy head cold at the end of JAN which is still lingering. Another problem is the deep snow around here and I never got around to buying a sled like yours. So, it'll be another week or two till I get out. Bummed.
As for the bucks, here's the short version: Last year, I decided to "modernize" and go the AR route. I "built" one last spring (kinda like using Legos) in .223 Wylde and took it to Gunsite in AUG. Amazingly to me, it worked perfectly the entire week (about 1200 rounds). Then in AUG, I ordered a .350 Legend upper to get another 100+ yards or so range capability beyond the early 70s vintage .44 Mag Ruger Carbine I have been shooting deer with for many seasons. Having broken in/zeroed in the new upper (about 1.1" groups at 100 yards and still about 1 MOA at 200), I went on opening day to one of my usual crow fields close to town, hoping to nail one of four does that I had regularly seen, but a nice 7 point happened to stroll by (broadside) at 180 yards. The round went completely through. I would never had taken that shot using the old Ruger. I ended up having to haul him all the way back across the cornfield using a couple of ropes; take 10-15 steps, rest, take another 10-15 steps, breath deeply, repeat.... He weighed in at 110, field dressed.
Two weeks later on the 28th, one of my trail cams at a different field showed a brand new big buck that suddenly showed up. As I was going to go to one field or another on the 29th, depending on the wind direction, I went to where the wind was favorable which happened to be the field where the big guy was, never expecting him to show during the day, as it was late in the season and I figured that he had gone completely nocturnal. But, He showed up, broadside, 80 yards away. At the shot, he ran about 40 yards (staying in the blueberry field) because I had taken off the top of his heart plumbing. Again, the round went completely through. So, one could say, a perfect shot. He weighed 169 field dressed and I'm glad I was able to drag him out of the field using my truck, as it just fit between the blueberry rows. I had to call Larry for help to lift him in the truck, even with the hoist.
I am pleased with the .350 (180 gr.) Legend rounds as they are performing as advertised. There are likely better deer cartridges around, but given the cartridge law in lower MI (for you guys in other states, it's "straight-walled cartridge with at least .35 diameter), it's the go-to round down here south of the "Shotgun Line," unless you go for the "thumper" .450 Bushmaster.
So, what's your plans for this half of the season?
Nice buck OA! Wanted to ask you and Big Honkers; I have relatives in West Michigan and visit occasionally. I believe y'all have a split season up there. What is typically the best time to crow hunt up there?
Yep, we have February - March and also August - September crow seasons. Big Honkers is much more knowledgeable than me regarding the habits of our region's bandits, but he is known to cause people to have to become part of the "Witness Protection Program" if one reveals his secrets. Once he honored me by taking me on a hunt to one of his secret locations and required me to be blindfolded as he drove me to the site (photo below of me on the way to BH's crow honey pot).
My own humble practice is to get setup before dawn, because the beasts become active about 20 minutes before predicted sunrise. So, T-19 is about the time the fun begins with some normal, "Hey, it's time to get up!" calls. Usually they come blasting in. Following the initial carnage, their responses dictate what happens next. The action usually ceases around 0830-0900. We don't have anything like a flyway or huge roosts around here and all the heavier travelling is always out of season during OCT-NOV. Given that we're shooting at small clusters in a given area plus some commuters, I have a dozen or more regular locations where I have permission to hunt and am always looking for others, about 3-5 miles apart. We take camouflage and calling (hand and E) seriously around here as the bandits are educated from hearing the same e-calls from all the casual hunters who run & gun and blast away. Nothing wrong with that, as that's how I started out. But, I learned quickly that "hiding" under a tree was good for about one pass and then they left the AO.
Good Hunting!
-- Edited by Old Artilleryman on Saturday 12th of February 2022 03:30:30 AM
I cant really say when the best time to hunt around here is. There is always birds to be had...the question is if a fella can find them. I have had good shoots in all 4 months of our current season structure. From my experience, there is no substitute for lots of scouting & a little luck.
