Advice needed on Crow Shooting

[basil 0]

Ok I now have crows to deal with and i need some top tips,

 

I have 12-15 decoys and all the hide bits and also a predator enticer (feather duster on a stick) and the enticer works a charm it doesn't bring them in in flocks but it does bring in one or two at a time,

 

however i really need to be seen to be doing some good work and at the moment the crows seem to be getting the better of me, there are power lines that run along the site, and then take a sharp right on the neighbouring property. the first time i came there were hundreds sitting on the powerlines on his land, which is why i got the permission, however the crows now sit on the powerlines and watch me from the neighbours land.

 

The farmer has maize for his cattle and he complains to me that the crows are at the maize.... while there is evidence of this i have yet to see it!!

 

What can i do to bring them in to the maize and my hide! I have patience and i can sit still for hours when i need to and i will happily sit in my hide for hours just watching but i would like the to come in in flocks of 5-10 rather than one or two.

 

cheers in advance Matt

[SportingShooter 0]

First of all its night on impossible to predict the size of the groups the crows will come, in. If the enticer brings them in ones and twos, try the pattern without it.

 

You seem to have a good understanding of decoying, it is just that, getting crows to come to your spot rather than go somewhere else. The only thing which you can do is to put your decoys out under a flightline and this should do the job.

 

If you were to invest in more equipment, then a rotary machine with a few dead crows on and set at a slow speed(about 25-28 RPM) will also attract them.

 

I find that when decoying over crops that the best pattern is a unregulated one. No precise shape like a horseshoe just a fairly random scattering.

 

Crows will damage all crops(apart from oats I have found), they do this by landing in the standing crop and causing it to flatten, they will then eat head and move on to another patch.

 

Regards

SS

[brno17 5]

you seem to be doing nothin wrong mate but my advice would be to invest in a flapper, it drives them nuts they seem more intent on watching and calling to it than watching you in the hide. ive had my best days by not bothering with a feeding pattern a such but once you have a few with the flapper throw them about randomly in front of your hide making sure a few not all have their feet pointing skyward with wings spread, this will bring in every crow in the area as soon as some start cawing to them not just one or two, theyll come lower and lower until theyre in shot if theyre keen they dont go very far even after shots theyll go high then drop in again if you can keep their interest with the flapper. youll shoot far more crows getting them riled up than trying to simulate feeding. one last thing once you think theyre in range wait a bit longer cause they take a bit of knocking down ( although they dont like 32grams of 5s much ) and dont even blink until your ready to fire. hope this helps and good luck.

 

alan

[basil 0]

Cheers for the replies guys,

 

I do have a flapper i invested in one of these new airpro with the wings that spin on a pole!!! However due to a minor technical issue (the fact that im an ass) the wings were not spinning so it was just bouncing in the wind

 

fortunately my mate has no issues with spending a few quid so will buy pretty much anything that might be useful so looks like that means a rotary too.

 

I have plain grass to work with grass mud and maize, and a cow or 2, i would love to sit under the flight path but i have a public path which nigh on follows the bloody flight line and a golf course at the end of the land which again runs under the flight line neither of which i can go near!!!

 

Im using size6 32g and its not dropping them as id like but full choke does kinda keep it clean, why use a 5? i have been told to try 7.5's as the spread is better on crows, but im still not sure all sorts of suggestions gives me something to think about, im really after new ideas or tips,

 

how many flappers is justifiable in a pattern?

[brno17 5]

when i said a flapper i meant the kind you put a dead bird on not a decoy so if your thinking of flapper and a magnet shootwarehouse do both for 99 quid i think. the reason i use 5s is because crows are a tough bird with tough feathers the slightly bigger shot gives better energy at normal ranges, 7.5s are for clays

Edited May 16, 2008 by brno17

[basil 0]

Ok my mistake

ok i shall add a flapper to the trolley as well real birds for that me thinks!

 

yeah i use 6 32 cause they are nice all rounders

 

5's for high birds and crows is prob not a bad idea! 7.5's i use blue diamonds for all my clay shooting but i might test the theory one day!

[SportingShooter 0]

It depends on a few things which shot size you stick with, this subject always causes fierce debate but it is a very simple answer to all of the questions.

It is what gun and cartridge combination that kills at the ranges you shoot at.

Ive found mine to be 28gr No.7 through my trap gun with 1/2 and 5/8 chokes. This combination will drop crows at 60 yards. But it takes a lot of practice to come to this decision.

If you find you need 5's,6's or 9's then that is what you should stick with(and yes 9's will kill crows in the right situation but its not advisable to try).

Full is very tight for decoying, with 6's id try 1/4 and 1/2, this will get a dense enough pattern and a large amount of pellet strikes(in theory).

 

Good Luck finding out.

SS