[JC Blauvelt]

Now that the big game seasons are over it is time to educate the local crows. This we have been doing with some varied sucess. The problem I am having is not attracting them but getting them in range. They circle over head at 50 to 100 yards. Lots of cawing and excitment but they will not come lower. I have full camo including gloves and face mask and try to stay under some branches so they can not see me from over head. I have tried different calls on the FoxPro,decoys, flapping decoys, and an Owl decoy. Any suggestions?

 

[Vardoc]

Are you using a shotgun or rifle? I try to set up where there are some tall trees within 100 yds or so. In my experience, they often circle, causing a ruckus, then land in the tops of nearby trees. That's when I try to whack them, but only if I have a safe background. With a shotgun, try placing a burlap bag on the ground in the crude shape of a deer and place decoys around it. Incoming crows will hopefully conclude it's a carcass and will come in close. Good luck!

V.

 

[keithcandler]

We have the same problem here in SC......

most of the guys think of shooting crows as they circle directly over head...good luck! After they have been called several times, they are very smart. They will even remember from year to year!

A board member sent me a Red Fox Pelt. I put out the pelt on sticks to give it live and it seemed to get a few more in.

Bottom line, in a lot of places, shooting crows is a long range shot gunning affair. I shoot 3" magnums, 1 5/8 oz of Copper plated buffered #5's @ 1300 fps. I can nail them at 45-60 yards...sometimes that is all the shooting you will have.

If you ever shoot one and break it's wing, catch it and carry it from stand to stand in a bag of some sort. Tie a 6' string on it's foot, we killed the

 

[JBD-TN]

I love crow shooting with a passion, I am not the best at it but I only have places to hunt and they get educated fast. Check out Crowbuster. com website, they have some good tips on their site for calling,decoy placement, and such.

Last year I hunted near my home on a farm, the first morning I bagged several crows, I picked up and moved 200 yds and killed several more just using the foxpro and a hand call without decoys. The next week I hunted it in the early afternoon. The crows would not resond to my call period. Since it was a pleasant afternoon, I placed 2 decoys in a tree and placed " Buster" in the field and turned him on (basically he is an oversized blackbird that flaps his wings). I could see several hundred yards and would watch for crows traveling in the distance. I would call only 2-3 times, just enough to get their attention,and they would usually lock in on buster's motion and come directly in to investigate. Here is the buster decoy in the pic:

I liked the tip above about the fox pelt, I am going to give that a try soon with a tanned grey pelt I have laying around!

 

[Shmartin70]

Here is what I have found

They fly high on sunny days and alot lower on cloudy days.
The best day that I have ever had was a cloudy day snowing pretty hard.
Killed 50 in a hour.
Also I like to hunt where there is a single tree out in the middle of no where.
Sit under this tree and they will land and take the top bird.

 

[JC Blauvelt]

To Vardoc: We are shotgunning them on the wing.

I am on the east coast and there are lots of trees here and the fields are not real large. So they have lots of trees to sit in. I have seen them fly over and then go off 200 yards and sit in a tree and watch. I have also noticed that they fly real high on clear days. Lower when the cloud cover is low. Makes sense. Getting them to drop down below 40 yards is the problem. I think that they are able to see down into the brush real well from up high. If they do not see what they are looking for they shy off. I am going to try a feeding decoy pattern and less calling. I may invest in a hair on deer skin for "bait". Since there tends to be lots of road kills around here.

 

[Stash247]

Crows, and dogs

First rule I remember, about training dogs, is "You gotta be smarter than the dog"!
Crows are 'Trash Birds', by law, and in fact, but they did not get there, by being stupid.
If you want to be successful, they must never see what they have seen before, and run from!
When you set up, consider how you must look, from above, as it is their perspective, and make your set as invivible as possible, from that angle. A Ghillie suit is not out of the question, or a flat board, to sit under, but anything looking like a human will spook 'em- they're that smart!

 

[FRED M]

Crow Hunting

I have to agree they are smart but they can be fooled. I have been sniping them from inside the house. One at 50 ft with a RWS 45 17cal and the last one at 50yds with the CZ Hornet.
Don't set up in a valley as they will fly over the tree tops on the hill and never drop down into range in the valley.
Complete camo is a must. The sun on your face is like a beacon, they will spot you in a second. A wide brimmed hat covered in camo netting, some what like a bug net works for me.
High brass 6's work much better than skeet or trap loads, you want to reach out. Altho I did see one dropped at 70yds with a 1 1/4oz load of #9.
Last week I went to the club after shooting hours and called in about 50, but none came in closer than 100yds. I did it just to get them riled up.
Bottom line is they are targets of opportunity, be happy when you nail one.
The days of Bert Popowski, stacking them like cordwood are over.

 

[woody w]

calling crows

Now that the big game seasons are over it is time to educate the local crows. This we have been doing with some varied sucess. The problem I am having is not attracting them but getting them in range. They circle over head at 50 to 100 yards. Lots of cawing and excitment but they will not come lower. I have full camo including gloves and face mask and try to stay under some branches so they can not see me from over head. I have tried different calls on the FoxPro,decoys, flapping decoys, and an Owl decoy. Any suggestions?

Over the years of calling crows we have had the same problems. There are two things that I notice that cause this. When the crows start to come (turn the volume down on the fox pro) the louder the volume the farther out they stay. and don't over call the same area. We have more action wing shooting crows than about anythine else. Have fun Woody W