Crow Decoys Needed?

Gundy

Gundy

New member
Just curious on if crow decoys whether it be actual crows themselves or owls are needed during a hunt? I have recently found a nice area pretty distant away from the lake my parents stay at on the weekends. Just picked up a 17hmr and have been squirrel hunting the past couple of weekends, but recently while waiting morning hours on the squirrels some crows have been landing in what seems to be a mullberry tree or something. They have been doing this quite abit lately, and haven't noticed me. Even though the first time I went out with my 17hmr I had on just camo pants and a black shirt. I didn't bug them nor did I let them really see me as I was sitting in the thick of bushes; now I have full camo setup face mask and all. I would prefer to use my 12ga unless they are perched and will come back and land again..

I have done some research on crow hunting, it dosen't start here until Nov 10th, so I figured thats enough time to get ahold of a crow call ( which I just recieved yesterday - H.S. Hammerin Crow Call ), and possibly look into decoys. But from what I have seen I'm almost thinking I don't need any decoys and the hand call would probably would by itself. But I am not sure if they will land after a shot or two.

Any advice on the decoys?
 
If you want to pop a few with the .17, keep doing what you are doing. I've never had much luck in calling crows into a rifle shoot. However, if you get a good spot you can snipe them with some success. They will wise up pretty quick.

Using your 12 gauge you don't necessarily need decoys. You can hand call them in and get shots. I have done that many times. Decoys seem to do two things for me: #1) They give the crows something to look at besides me wiggling in the bushes, and #2)decoys placed correctly will often pull the birds in closer as they see their buddies already there.

There are two set ups for decoys, fighting and friendly (or feeding). I have had luck with both. Fighting usuallly requires an owl/hawk decoy and a couple of crow decoys. Place your enemy of choice in a tree and place a crow or two in a few trees around it. I usually place one on the ground like the owl/hawk has killed it just to get them going.

The friendly/feeding setup requires more decoys. Place them in an area where it looks like they have found a good place to fill up. I've known of other guys to use fake food items like rabbits, spray foam gut piles, etc. for the crows to see. Most states (mine included) won't let you bait them with actual corn or other food. I really don't see the difference in real and fake food for crows, it's not like they are going to be an endagered species anytime soon.

Oh yeah, if you have never crow hunted before you might want to consider NOT doing it. The reason I say this is because after one good hunt you may very well be hooked. You will see and here them everywhere you go. My wife thinks I'm crazy. Hell, I might just be.
 
I was just looking at some new crow decoys online, I thing they were avery green------ fully flocked decoys. They looked very nice, I was thinking of getting a set for calling predators. The one thing is I have no idea of how well the flocking holds up. Another neat item i saw was the metro barrel for choke tubed shotguns. Id try setting out 3-6 decoys and 2 rabbits that you have shot as bait and go from there.
 
For me, I think the need for decoys depends entirely on your hunting style and location. If you are hunting a flyway, you are well ahead of to use decoys. A good decoy speed will bring the birds really close for easy shooting.

Running and gunning, I feel decoys aren't always needed. If you are hunting an open area, I feel decoys are absolutely necessary. Incoming crows expect to see someing, if they see nothing then they are going to be suspicious. Sure you might get a pass or two from virgin birds but they wise up fast after the first rodeo.

If you want to have success without decoys, find spots with heavu tree cover but isn't really tall. Preferrably with some low trees or open fields on the down wind side. Most of the time (but not always) crows will come in downwind. If the wind is strong, they will come in low to avoid the wind which is why you want low cover or open ground in front. Set the caller inside the heavy cover so the crows can't readily see that theres nothing there to see. Position yourself (well hidden) at the edge of the thick stuff to ambush them on the way in. Ideally you kill them right as they reach the edge of the thick stuff.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to deciding when to shoot. Some say kill the first birds in (scouts) and some say let the scout pass and bring back the flock. I believe (and for the method described above it is critical) in killing the scout. The main flock will send out more birds when "buddy scout" never comes back. Waiting for big flocks only educations more birds because you can't kill them all. Of course it only works as long as you are killing birds so take care to make your shots count.

The other thing to mention when using the method described as above is to watch the birds and let them teach you how to hunt. Over time you will pick up ability to reach the land and see where you want to set up and how the crows will respond to it. The trick is to look at the set up as an incoming crow will and in that you find the joy of crow hunting- being able to look at a spot and say "this is where I want to set up, this is how the birds will respond" then and having it happen just as you said it would.

Bonus tip: Open chokes and fine shot (7.5, 8) will have you putting more birds on the ground.
 
Ditto on Mr. Jager's post, with the exception that I like a tight choke. I prefer using #8 shot with an Imp Mod choke these days.

Use to put deks out on every stand, but now we only deploy them if we're using a feeding set up. Deks take up too much time when your running and gunning. More time per stand equals less stands made which equals less oppertunities to kill birds.

Nick T
 
I have always noticed while calling for coyotes that I bring in a lot of crows. I use the crow sounds while calling as an "ambiance" sound. do you see the same
 
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The most effective crow decoy I've seen is a flapping crow decoy. It's placed on the ground to look like an injured bird. Then play the "dying crow" blues at full volume until they start to come in. Works every time for me.
 
I was planning on getting some decoys tonight but... this weekend I saw nearly 50+ birds flying over me numerous times.. so I am thinking if I can get a decent crow call I may be in luck. Its near a lake that has thick tree lines so plenty of cover.. I have H.S. Hammerin' Crow Call but it sounds like a fricken party favor, so I think im going to invent in a jack mincey crow call and give that a shot. I was thinking electronic but I dont want to invest that much money..
 
If you want a good, not too expensive hand call then head over to CrowBusters.com and order yourself the Mallardtone crow call. Hopefully they still carry them. I have a Mallardtone and a Primos on a lanyard together and you can really tell the Mallardtone is much better for sound quality.

My weapon/ammo combination is a Remigton 870 with an improved cylinder choke shooting Remigton Nitro 27 7-1/2 shot.
 
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Yeah Mallardtone dosen't make calls anymore from what I have read. I went to crowbusters.com and was recommended to the Jack Mincey Custom Crow Call and went ahead and ordered one. Hopefully I can get it before this weekend and give it a shot and see how it performs.

I'm thinking decoys aren't really needed for my area, I had huge flocks fly over me Sat and Sunday. Just trying to get ready for when my season starts. Practicing calls and finding a good location.
 


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