Beginner Crow Hunting

[Randyjr.]

Crow season starts here in MN in the middle of July. I went out last year, but was a novice and didn't have the best results. I have really only hunted small game. I have a 20 gauge bolt and a 12 gauge pump, both of which I shoot a few times a year - but am ready for more. Should I take the 12? and what load?

2. I heard that Crows are pretty smart, do I need to cammo up completely and make a blind this year?

3. I've done some pre-scouting - does it pay to throw out some feed, like dead fish in the middle of the field where they are feeding (or other dead refuse - I have no idea)?

4. Has anyone tried a plastic owl?

5. When making decoys, can I simply use cardboard cut-outs spray painted black with a few sentinals?

I think that this is a great and fun sport (having only done it last year)and I have permission from 1 farmer to take crows that are adjacent to a WMA next to his land, but want to maximize results. I would appreciate any advice and information and am very excited about giving this a go year 2.

[trolloni]

randy,check out Crowbusters .com bring youre 12 with 6's full camo, face mask , owl decoy and crow decoys bring a e caller try crow in distress ,or crow owl fight, crow reville, bait kinda works just do it early before season to get em hangin around before season, dont do it during season, is it legal ?one word of advice have the gun loaded in youre hands when you turn that caller on !let the first one come in and and call the others in ,wont take long theyll come remember this every one you smash you are are saving at least 7 other birds lives thats the average that one crow kills and eats a year!

[Randyjr.]

Thanks for the info and Crowbusters is a great HSOforum. I'll check on the legality of baiting - good point. I'm going to give it a go.

[Acemac]

do you need a license for this? what is the limit?

[Heartman]

Acemac, good questions. Also, is there any valid reason for having a crow season? Just seems like more unneeded legislation, but maybe there is a valid reason? Who knows?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Also, is there any valid reason for having a crow season?

The American Crow is protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

[Heartman]

Thanks. Seems there isn't much good to them - but they do migrate.

[Randyjr.]

Here is what the regs say about license:

Quote:

Crows

• Crows may be taken without a license in season or at any time

when they are doing or are about to do damage.

• Electronic calls or sounds may be used for crow hunting.

• Crows may be taken with a legal firearm (shotgun not larger than

10 gauge, rifle, or handgun), bow and arrow, or by falconry.

And there is no limit. Since I am not hunting on private property where they are about to do damage, I will be waiting until the July 15 opener.

[MinnesotaMike]

They are ALWAYS about to do damage.

[dogs]

My understanding is that was that Mexico wanted protection on them, so it was a trade off for protection on ducks down there. For letting the 1st one go; I'm a kill the scout/all of them type person, what happens to me is they will set 150 yds away after they pick ya, or circle to high, or off to the side and the others relize there is a reason there not right in there and hang with them. Instead of baiting run and gun them if you got a Elec. caller(its a must).

[Randyjr.]

Here's some questions for the vet crow hunters, then. I've scouted several places and feel I have a 4 or 5 places to set up.

1. When you go in and set up what kind of terrain are you looking for? if it matters?

2. Where are you placing your decoys? can they be in the grass, trees etc?

3. I have an electric caller - picked it up this week. It has a remote, so do I place that out by the decoys?

4. Can I use my hand caller with the electric caller?

5. Should I stay at one spot or move around throughout the day?

6. I've done a lot of duck hunting, is it similar?

7. Where are you placing your owl decoys? I am trying the owl decoy for the first time (only my second season hunting crows).

Sorry about all the questions - I'm getting into this and would love to know what the experienced crow hunter does.

[trolloni]

randy ,set up on flat ground if you have no choice cause of hills set up at the top or else when they come in they will be to high for a shot if youre at the base of it,decoys should be at the tops of the trees use a light bulb changer i put one decoy under my owl decoy like its his snack! owls pick crows off of the roost at night thats why they gang up on em in daylight try to kill the owl! place youre caller out by youre deeks crows are like turkeys they know exactly where that noise came from,use youre mouth call excited caw!caw!caw![that means come help,help,help in crow]move around definatly hide youre vehicle as best you can,about 2 or 3cracks at uneducated crows,one chance at educated ones if they come in at all!you can tell em theyll sit in a tree a quater mile away and warn the incoming,shootin at em is simalar to ducks only you can use lead unless youre on federal ground,high brass 6 works good 50 yds with a mod choke. i put the owl out in range cause they will divebomb em!good luck hope you smash a few it is addicting!after ya have a flurry they stop coming shut the caller off pick em up hang em in forked branch use em for deeks it is effective.

[Randyjr.]

Great advice. I appreciate it. The owl decoy setup makes total sense. There are a billion bits of advice on the internet for deer, duck, etc. hunting, but not too much on setting up (and the how to) for crow hunting.

[dogs]

Should I stay at one spot or move around throughout the day?

I keep moving, how far depends on the wind. 20 minutes a at a spot is good for me. Nice thing about owl decoy is to watch the hawks nail it.

Where are you placing your owl decoys?

ussally on a corner post and hang an airborne crow decoy with with wings on conduit (L shaped) buzing about it, like any decoys monement is the trick. If you get to fancey set up the take down time is to much. Often thought of a black radio controlled airplane

(I off to e shopping)

I've done a lot of duck hunting, is it similar?

No pickin, no fighting for spots, no 4am wake ups, no dog fights at boat landings, no huge set ups, and no dorks sky bustin...exactly the same.

If teal and wood ducks and bills were as smart as crows 75% duck hunters would quit.

[Randyjr.]

Love the advice, Especially the duck hunting advice That's hilarious

[jeffreyd]

we have a crow type bird here in az but it kills quail. so in the summer like now, is the new hatch of quail chicks running around with mom. last year this darn black bird was attacking the quail that live in our hedges. it had the mom pinned and i scared it away. then it came back in the back yard, i slide the sliding door open got my bow with a field tip and was standing in the house ready to pin it to the ground. just as i am ready to release, my wife walks in and scares the dog out of me, yelling at me that i cant to that etc. so i put the bow up, not away just up, left the arrow nocked and ready.

next day wife at work, darn bird had quail pinned again so grabbed equipment and thru the screen door, standing in my living room, i pinned that darn bird to the ground. quail flew away, black bird went into bag and trash and wife just found out yesterday that i pinned that bird cause another one came sneekin around.