Crow hunting

[chino1969]

I've been popping crows lately in PA. with a caller, an owl decoy, and several crow decoys. This is one of the most intelligent birds that I've ever encountered. I set the decoys and caller 200 yds. out with the decoys in an old tree. The caller was turned on after I was in position and the crow sentries came in to check out what all the ruckus was about. When they saw the owl and heard the crow/owl fight tape, they signalled for re-inforcements. Within seconds a small flock,approx. 20 birds) began taking up positions in the old tree. I settled on the second crow down from the top and held center of mass on him. The 50 grn. Nosler Ballistic Tip travelling at 4150 ft/s. from the .22-250 A.I. smacked him solidly enough to emit a black puff of feathers before he dropped like a rock. The flock dispersed and flew over the set up later but would not land. Any body else out there hunting these critters?
Chino69

 

[patchhound]

I`de try to get a little closer and break out the Ithica 37. The crows did`nt come this year here in WY, It`s kind of strange, last year there were thousands and so far I have not seen one in town.

 

[steveyrock]

I shot a few last week on a farm next to a landfill but they are not congregating at the dump till the ground gets frozen hard and they have to scavenge.I love pass shooting with a shotgun when the crows are really running the flyways in the morning and then again late afternoon.We use the electronic call with two loudspeakers mounted to the barn and decoy's on an old corn crib.

 

[Rustystud]

You need to find a roost. Then you will be able to shoot until you run out of shells.

I have hunted crows with both a shotgun and a rifle.

You would be surpirsed how many crow hunters there are. They are a secret breed not wanting to let the other crow hunters where they are hunting.

They often make two and three day pilgramiges shooting crows ever 5 miles or so.

Good luck
Rustystud

 

[Preacher]

Crow seasons are a deal with Mexico, and different states use the allowed amount of days however they see fit.
I like to hammer them with my 22/250AI with 75gr Amax's at a distance or up close and personal with my Extrema, and decoys.... from Sept 1st till it ends in early spring.

 

[halfmile]

Definitely smart critters. I had a tree full outside my bedroom window waking me evry morning at 5 am. so I zapped the one walking across my lawn like he owned it.

I left the corpse lie there for 3 days. The whole treeful went someplace else, never had another problem.

HM

 

[garyw]

Over here [uk]the crows are classed as an agricultural pest and can be shot all year round being part of the corvid family[rooks,magpies,jackdaws]they are indeed very intelligent.
best times for shooting them is just after crops have been drilled;when the crop shows through the crows will walk up the lines of growing plants and pull them out.whole fields can be wrecked in a day or so if left alone.
Best results are to set up at dawn on fields being damaged with decoys and build a hide into a hedge;the shooter must be well camoflauged and keep real still until a crow/crows find the field at first light.With good field craft and a good spread of decoys you can have a lot of shooting[with shotguns] untill the black hoards wise up.Another way is to lay a bait out usually a dead rabbit or pigeon with a few decoys round and lay in wait.
Then IF THATS NOT ENOUGH when the crops are ripening you can have another bash at em.
.

 

[chino1969]

Definitely smart critters. I had a tree full outside my bedroom window waking me evry morning at 5 am. so I zapped the one walking across my lawn like he owned it.

I left the corpse lie there for 3 days. The whole treeful went someplace else, never had another problem.

HM

I've noticed the same thing with dead crows and the flock avoiding the corpse. I shot a crow in a freshly cut field, went back the following week with decoys and caller. The decoys were set up 50 yds. from the dead crow, which I had forgot about. I managed to get the flock in but they would not land. They kept flying around their fallen comrade and raising a ruckus. I learn something else about their nature everytime I hunt them. They are very gregarious and communicate with each other constantly about potential foes, etc.
Chino69