1st time crow hunting

[Outdoor life]

I decided to go crow hunting today for the first time after most of the snow melted today. Evidently I need more practice...saw 3 fly over head...got 1...but it's the first crow I've ever killed.

 

[cecil30-30]

They are smart.You need you a few crow decoys and a owl decoy..That'll get em going.

 

[Outdoor life]

They are smart.You need you a few crow decoys and a owl decoy..That'll get em going.

Thank you, I believe I will try to go out and pick a few up.
I know that about 15-20+ stay on the farm next to this one, in the cow pasture or on a large dead tree all the time...maybe the decoys will bring them a little closer to me.

Do you have a favorite shotgun shell to hunt for them? Cause I was using a turkey load (1300 fps, 4 shot), and even that wasn't an instant kill even with some of the shot hitting its chest (bout blew the wing off though)

 

[Outdoor life]

I always used #6 shot.

still lead shot right? ever tried steel or anything else?

 

[cecil30-30]

I'd use #4 high brass..

 

[Mike Belt]

I'd opt for #6 shot...and decoys work. If those crows are hanging the same spot daily then they're apt to have a roosting area nearby. That's always a good spot in the afternoons.

 

[catman529]

I shot at a few from a cedar thicket. Openings in the tree tops would let me get an open shot and the bird would never see me till it was too late. Only problem was I am terrible at wing shooting and was using a turkey choke that day for squirrels. I didn't hit one crow and still have never killed one.

 

[Outdoor life]

I'd use #4 high brass..

How much of a difference is using brass compared to the lead? I've never used anything other than lead.

 

[Outdoor life]

I shot at a few from a cedar thicket. Openings in the tree tops would let me get an open shot and the bird would never see me till it was too late. Only problem was I am terrible at wing shooting and was using a turkey choke that day for squirrels. I didn't hit one crow and still have never killed one.

I had a turkey choke as well on, with turkey shot. And going by what I've read from other sites, evidently lead isn't used much and neither is a turkey choke, and I too have NEVER been a good skeet shooter, so I think I just got lucky for my firt crow.

 

[Outdoor life]

I'd opt for #6 shot...and decoys work. If those crows are hanging the same spot daily then they're apt to have a roosting area nearby. That's always a good spot in the afternoons.

I do think I'm gonna get some decoys for sure, and that's what I was thinking. So is your 6 shot lead or something else?

Like I said, first time, and I'm checking to see if lead, steel, brass matters.

 

[mike243]

And what Carlos is talking about is the base of the shell.low brass has about 3/8" tall & high brass has 1/2"-5/8" high brass.turkey loads are a high brass load

 

[TNbuckeye]

What do you do with the crows after you shoot them?

 

[JSPAL270]

Opossum's got to eat to

 

[Outdoor life]

Thanks guys! So with the turkey load, I was using high brass and didn't know it.
And since it was my first crow, I'm trying to preserve the wing of it (the one I didn't about blow away), but I guess JSPAL is right, the other critters have to eat. haha

 

[Mike Belt]

If you want a great attractant cripple a crow and let him draw the other birds in. They will try to help him out. I don't know if that's considered legal or not but it works.

Since crows are considered a migratory bird (which is why you have the particular days legal to hunt them and there's a season) I don't know if lead shot is legal but that's all I've ever used and I shoot heavy loads.

 

[Outdoor life]

If you want a great attractant cripple a crow and let him draw the other birds in. They will try to help him out. I don't know if that's considered legal or not but it works.

Since crows are considered a migratory bird (which is why you have the particular days legal to hunt them and there's a season) I don't know if lead shot is legal but that's all I've ever used and I shoot heavy loads.

See that's another thing I wanted to check out, cause I'm not sure they are considered a true migratory bird due to the fact that the guide does not say that a Migratory Bird Permit is required, like for the other birds, and in the ammo chart in the guide crows are linked with the furbearers and not the other birds.

 

[Benelli 4 Life]

Ya dont really have to have decoys , just pick up the dead ones and hang em in the tops of saplins. Heavy load 6's or 4's aint needed either, 7.5's or 8's are fine for crows. All ya need is a good call and try to make every shot count, dont just shoot empty at every crow or they'll just leave and won't come back. Try not to set up in mature timber or the crows will be to high, scrub timber or fence rows work better.

 

[cecil30-30]

Ya dont really have to have decoys , just pick up the dead ones and hang em in the tops of saplins. Heavy load 6's or 4's aint needed either, 7.5's or 8's are fine for crows. All ya need is a good call and try to make every shot count, dont just shoot empty at every crow or they'll just leave and won't come back. Try not to set up in mature timber or the crows will be to high, scrub timber or fence rows work better.

I'd have to disagree with hanging the dead crows..Thats the best way with keeping crows away,is hanging a dead one up..We do it all the time in the garden,shoot one and then hang it up,guarantee to keep the crows away.

 

[catman529]

I shot at a few from a cedar thicket. Openings in the tree tops would let me get an open shot and the bird would never see me till it was too late. Only problem was I am terrible at wing shooting and was using a turkey choke that day for squirrels. I didn't hit one crow and still have never killed one.

I had a turkey choke as well on, with turkey shot. And going by what I've read from other sites, evidently lead isn't used much and neither is a turkey choke, and I too have NEVER been a good skeet shooter, so I think I just got lucky for my firt crow.

I wouldn't waste a turkey load on a crow! But would on a coyote... Maybe you got lucky hitting that bird or maybe you shoot skeet better than me. I haven't shot skeet in a while and didn't practice before dove season so I sucked at shooting the doves... And pigeons and crow. I just need to go thru a couple boxes one day on the skeet range. It would help

 

[Outdoor life]

Thank you everyone, all this info helps!
And Catman, in hind sight I wish I didn't use one of my turkey loads on it, but it got one, so if it works I guess. I, also, need to spend time at the skeet range, cause I really do think it was more luck than good.

 

[Outdoor life]

Also gloves and a facemask are necessary. We've shot 20-22 on some of our best trips. Remember- Fri, Sat, Sun only...

Wow, and I was happy with one haha. And yep weekend till the end of small game season, squirrel, rabbit, and crow on weekends, better watch out haha. I have watched on the show Nature that crows do recognize people's faces...smart animals!!!

 

[Benelli 4 Life]

Ya dont really have to have decoys , just pick up the dead ones and hang em in the tops of saplins. Heavy load 6's or 4's aint needed either, 7.5's or 8's are fine for crows. All ya need is a good call and try to make every shot count, dont just shoot empty at every crow or they'll just leave and won't come back. Try not to set up in mature timber or the crows will be to high, scrub timber or fence rows work better.

I'd have to disagree with hanging the dead crows..Thats the best way with keeping crows away,is hanging a dead one up..We do it all the time in the garden,shoot one and then hang it up,guarantee to keep the crows away.

My dad crow hunts nearly every weekend and this is how he does it. 2 or 3 times he has killed over 100 birds in one set up. If he dont kill 40 or 50 in a day he dont think its been a good day.He always carries 5 or 6 boxes of shells with him in his vest, because he has had to leave the setup to go after more shells. I kinda think he knows what he is doing.

 

[Mike Belt]

Smart is an understatement. They have sentrys, they have advance scouts, and they are more observant than turkeys. I used to hunt a pecan orchard from the loft of a barn. I'd cover up the open loft with old cotton sacks and just stick the end of my barrel out a small hole. If they caught a glint off the barrel they were gone. (old cotton sacks tells you how long ago that was, lol.)

 

[Outdoor life]

Smart is an understatement. They have sentrys, they have advance scouts, and they are more observant than turkeys. I used to hunt a pecan orchard from the loft of a barn. I'd cover up the open loft with old cotton sacks and just stick the end of my barrel out a small hole. If they caught a glint off the barrel they were gone. (old cotton sacks tells you how long ago that was, lol.)

haha. you actually just gave me an idea to hunt from my grandpa's barn, which also overlooks well what used to be a pecan and walnut orchard, but had turned to just a regular yard with scattered nut trees, since a few have fallen over the years, and crows and squirrels do stay there, just never have my gun with me when they are around

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

Ya dont really have to have decoys , just pick up the dead ones and hang em in the tops of saplins. Heavy load 6's or 4's aint needed either, 7.5's or 8's are fine for crows. All ya need is a good call and try to make every shot count, dont just shoot empty at every crow or they'll just leave and won't come back. Try not to set up in mature timber or the crows will be to high, scrub timber or fence rows work better.

I agree a small cedar thicket on top of a rolling hill is perfect they will come in right on top of you. Or sit in hardwood with some 22 shorts and let em land

 

[rukiddin]

You can shoot those high brass loads if you want to, but your wasting money. Low brass 7 1/2's or 8's will kill any crow that flies. They are not hard birds to bring down. Just like ducks, let'em get right. They are very smart and a turkey has nothing on crows as far as eyesight goes.
We used to start out at daylight on big deer clubs. Find 10-20 year old pines and turn e caller on. Shoot 8 or 10 then move 1/2 mile and do it again. We'd do this all day.

Also, a mojo dove set up in the middle of 1/2 dozen crow decoys will drive them nuts. They can't stand it!

 

[backwoods7]

I never use decoys. Highbrass #5 shot is what i prefer, but habe used 7.5s with succes also. I like a modified choke. Get hunkerd down in a fairly open patch of woods or on the edge of a field and start calling. Im not the best at it but kill quite a few each year

 

[Outdoor life]

Thank you everyone for your help! When next season starts I'll be ready. My weekends here lately have been full, but MAYBE I'll get to go for like an hour (maybe 2) one last time crow hunting and small game hunting this Sunday after church.

Thanks again.

 

[Hunter 257W]

If you want a great attractant cripple a crow and let him draw the other birds in. They will try to help him out. I don't know if that's considered legal or not but it works.

Since crows are considered a migratory bird (which is why you have the particular days legal to hunt them and there's a season) I don't know if lead shot is legal but that's all I've ever used and I shoot heavy loads.

I have the Johnny Stewart caller with the Wounded Crow sound and it is a very consistent producer of crows. I always look forward to hunting crows when deer season is over because of the contrast from sitting day after day looking for deer with no action vs. calling 1 minute before targets(crows) show up. The other calls work good to pull them in but that wounded crow sound will get them to circle back several times before leaving. And yep, if you can get a real wounded one on the ground so much the better. I rigged up a wounded woodpecker decoy inside of a crow decoy to give the look of a downed crow with one flapping broken wing. That just adds to the realism of the wounded bird sound. I know that a skilled caller with a mouth call can beat an electronic call but there's the problem - I'm NOT a skilled caller!

I've hunted them a lot with blaze orange on and can't tell it makes a difference but what does matter is motion and covering your face. Don't dare raise your gun if they are close until you are ready to shoot either or they will flare and be gone. People speak of them with contempt but actually they are a great game bird.

When it comes to shells, I usually use 1 1/8 ozs of 7 1/2 shot. Sometimes 8's.