Any Luck Baiting Crows?

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DragRacer383

New member
Have any of you had any luck baiting in crows. My problem is I've poped a couple and now I can call and they will circle over, but not land and there out of shotgun range. I went and got 50# of corn and spread it out. Its been 2 days since then. (about 2 weeks since I shot at them). So far None have come in. This evening I called in a about 20. No shooting or nothing just trying to get them to see the corn. None came in to eat.
I even made a couple primitive decoys.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong. Or are they just that smart? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Corn works good for crows so does table scraps dead critters or just about any thing that looks like food.I think the trick is to place the bait where the crows can come in and check it out before they light right on the bait.They like to sit in a tree,on a power pole or up on a hill and look around before they light on the ground.I have never had one just drop out of the sky and start eating.Sometimes they look around a few minutes and light but I have had them sit and look for 30 minutes.I try to put my bait in a line with my shooting position so once they light and start feeding I can line two or more up in the crosshairs.Some times you get a double. It may not be very sportsman like,but this is about the only way to get a safe shot at a crow where I live. (houses everywhere) I have two places I keep corn on the ground one at 400 yds and one at 500,and to tell the truth I miss about as many as I hit.
 
DragRacer383,
Crows:
Have excellent eye sight.
Remember areas that they've been shot at, more than one time.
Don't readily come to a baited area.

However, complete camo can beat their eyes.
Not hunting the same area unless it's been a couple of weeks since the last time you hunted there.
As for bait, I've not had or know of anyone that has had good success with it. I'm not saying that it won't work, but rather more work than it's worth.

My best and most consistant success has been with 6 crow decoys, an owl decoy and a tape player with a "riot" or "fight" tape. Ohh yeah, and lots of ammo. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I always set the crow decoys up in branches, as high as I can reach or bend down branches. Set the owl decoy on the ground, so that it's lower than the crows. Put the tape player about 10 feet back from the decoy spread and never get more than 20 feet from the tape player. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

As the crows come in, they usually are attracted to the sound and the decoys will keep their attention off of you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

After the first few shots are fired, they'll flair off, but if you hold your position the tape player will entice them back....thinking that the "fight" is still going on and seeing the decoys will convince them to come back.

I've only ever been "shut-out" (no crows show up at all), about 4 times in over 25 years of crow hunting, using this method.

My weapon choice: 12 gauge (auto or O/U), 2 3/4" ammo with 1 1/8oz. #5s or #6s. A modified choke tube on cloudy days (the crows will fly lower) and on clear days a full or x-tra full or turkey choke tube, for more range.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
DragRacer383,
Another thing, it's best to not hunt in an open area like a fence row with a few trees. The crows will veer away from you before they get within your range. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

On the flip side of that, don't hunt in a wooded area with trees that are 100 feet tall either, as it will keep the crows out of your range. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

In the hotter months you'll have to be out there at first light. After the sun comes up, they'll spread out in small family groups within a couple of hours and after that the hunting is over.

In cooler months, the best hunting will be first thing in the morning and last until noonish.

For more info, talk with these guys: www.crowbusters.com

Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
I wouldn't give up on that corn. Keep checking it out. Where I hunt a truckload of corn got dumped late last summer. It took several weeks, but once the crows found it they come to it every day. Ive hunted over that corn probably a dozen times now. I kill some everytime out. They are very wary now. But I can still take some.
 
I was fixin to try stealing one of their road kill dinners and moving it out on the grasslands about 25 yards from my Ameristep hunting blind...then the season ended before I got to try it....

Yes, there is a regular season for crows in Colorado................
 
I do alot of baiting at my house. Throw the table scraps out about 100 yds or so from the house and sit at a table I made behind the sliding glass doors going out to the deck. I keep the blinds closed and crack the door. I usually do it when the wife isn't home. Keeps from scaring the heck out of her when I light one off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
DragRacer,

I heard from a business acquaintance of mine that turkeys and crows love sunflower seeds. Trick is, you'll have to get them to notice them first. Try tossing something more visible out for them to see. Old bread, biscuits, something rather visible.

Oh yeah, you do know it's illegal to bait crows in Arkansas right? I don't know if a warden would be particularly upset to discover you baiting crows, but some are reall horses you know whats.
 
one word. Ketchup. well some more words.. Get some deer hide, or a carcass, and dump that ketchup on the snow. Crows zone in on it like flys on well you know.
 
I read about the ketchup setup by Jim Schlender.
The article was in Predator Hunting 2004-2005 magazine.
=================================================
Predator Hunter 2004-2005
700E. State St.
Iola,WI 54990-0001
=================================================I learned from this magazine;cats,coons bears,mountain lions,coyotes,a good read..
edited to add this.
 
Not sure how far from "town" you are but around here a black garbage bag or two along the edge of field works real well. I fill them with boxes and paper to give it shape, and some food scraps to keep em interested once they start into the bag.
 
They do around here, drive around on garbage day crows all over the place ripping into and shredding bags. They make more mess than a dog or coon would.
 


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