New crow hunter advice please

HDyote

HDyote

New member
I want to try crow hunting this weekend, havent had any luck with the coyotes lately so thought Id try a crow hunt. If I download some crow calls for my ecaller, what else do I need? Will be using my 870 12ga, what size shot? would 7 1/2 work? Hunt in field or in the woods? The property I would be on has fields and woods. Any advice would help!
 
7 1/2 is plenty for a crow, there really isn't much to them under their feathers. If you don't have decoys you would be better off setting up in trees. The thicker the better. Don't expect them to come to the call making noise, they usually will circle without making any noise. I would set up 30 yards from the caller with a good opening above you, and expect them to come tree top high. Kill them the first time they circle, if they circle more than once they usually get higher each time. They are smart and have very good eyes so if you move you will get busted, so wait until the last second to move. If there are big flocks where you hunt, 12 or more, keep calling after you shoot, I usually will switch to a different sound and if you knock some down use a crow distress sound, you will likely call some back
 
I have much better luck w/ #6 shot. Camo is essential, and don't move until they are on you and you are ready to shoot.
Crows come like wildfire to calls, but wise up in a hurry. Change locations and calls, then lay off a few days before calling again.
 
Thanks guys, I would like to have some decoys, but want to keep cost minimal especially for first time out. Ill give it a try and hope for the best!
 
You dont need decoys, set up is important, if you know where they will be coming from that makes a big difference. I have found it really does'nt matter where you set up as long as you have clear shooting,and good cover, take the first shots you get or the gig might be over. I like to use #5 shot but thats just me.
 
If you are near a gander mountain they have a styrafoam and a hard plastic decoy for $5.00 a piece. I havent tried them yet.
Mike
 
go to a farm that is calving right now. Find some after birth and set up. Decoys and a very good investment. I have 5 crow decoys and an owl. Very effect and fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Quote:
go to a farm that is calving right now. Find some after birth and set up. Decoys and a very good investment. I have 5 crow decoys and an owl. Very effect and fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


I've heard of guys making a portable gut pile out of styro-foam spray and then painting red/black. Havent tried that myself.
 
I have decoys and did some experimenting last year. I personally had better luck without the decoys and just hunting in thick woods. But here we don't have huge numbers of birds either. The numbers I encounter are only 1-5 birds per spot, with a rare bigger flock. I basically run and gun, much like calling coyotes. I give it about 30 - 40 minutes per stand depending on if I see or hear new birds in the area.
 
crows are so smart. They always have a lookout man sitting on top of a tree watching everything out. Don't let him see you and then start the callin'. If you trick him, you'll trick the whole flock. Its not uncommon to have 20-50 birds come in at the same time. With 2 guys we can thin them out pretty good. Its very hard to call in the same bird twice in the same day, or week even. We always go to a bunch of differnet properties when we go out, get fresh birds each time
 
I really enjoy Crow hunting... there is always some action when we make a set-up. TKA250 and others have summed things up pretty well. If you find a location where you hear ANY Crows that's when you want to find a wooded/brushy area preferrably pines or hardwoods with leaves. Find areas higher up on the side of ridges > higher than where you hear the Crows. It's important that you find cover that is NOT VERY TALL - You don't want in hardwood timber with 80 foot tall trees. I like pine patches with trees about 20 - 30 feet in height. Crows will arrive just above tree top - giving you good shooting.

I prefer #5 shot - helps with some of the longer shots > which we all take sometimes in desperation or on the last few birds that comes in farther out. I use all the crows calls on my digital e-caller... After each volly of birds things slow down momentarily > that's when I switch calls and they or another group comes in again. It's usually good for 4 to 6 groups. GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HUNTING. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
If anyone is thinking of buying crow decoys, by far the best out there are the Avery Greenhead Gear FFD crows. I know they are pricey at about $12 a pop, but I have never seen birds react to a crow decoy like these. We put them out on a "warm" manure field in july last summer, and 2 of us shot 47 crows in one set up, just hiding in the corn and using the call about 2 times all morning.
 
The ones on my foxpro scorpion worked great for me last weekend.....Although one set took about 20 minuted to get them in.....I also had luck with getting the blue-jays stirred up first then started on the crows......
 
I have to recommend you getting the dvd's by Bob Aronsohn. They killed over 4,000 this season, and he has killed over 125,000 in his crow hunting career. His blind system and decoy system are both unique.
 
Here in Ohio, our crow season is only open friday saturday sunday, so Ill be at it tomorrow and hopefully be able to drop a few!
 
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