maddog100 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hi all, have been asked to shoot rooks on some land, had a quick bash set up 4 decoys and hide was ok but no joy any tips on how to get them to come right in? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Never been one for decoying rooks so far, but I won't miss brancher day - May 12th and this year Jake (10) is coming to have a go as well ATB Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnykiller Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Try a stuffed fox if you can find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 (edited) a good hide is the main thing..make a good hide(roof if possible!), cover all skin and stay very very still get under a flightline sometimes a caller works with a couple of decoys if you plan on shooting them in a wood get a couple of people to go into the wood with you, stay in the wood for a few mins then get 2 people to walk out(so the rooks see them leave), they cant count and when they see people leave they assume the woods is empty/safe and should return. Edited February 20, 2011 by TJ91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 If you can't shoot on the rookery, find where they are feeding. Put out your decoys, stay well covered and they should come. There is a lot of folklore surrounding rooks, but I haven't found them that hard to decoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 ... get 2 people to walk out(so the rooks see them leave), they cant count and when they see people leave they assume the woods is empty/safe and should return. That always makes me laugh about corvids - the most intelligent birds but they can't count! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 That always makes me laugh about corvids - the most intelligent birds but they can't count! i never believed it when the old bloke down the road told me, i just laughed at him.. then someone else mentioned it so i had to give it a go done it many times now and it seems to work well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 We shoot a lot of rooks on our shoot last year we shot over 400 in two weekends. As said befour the hide will need a roof we shoot through a three to four inch slot. A caller will help a lot as they are coming in the bigger the pattern the better I always have ten to twenty dead birds in the freezer. A Floater helps in the right place but a rotary is a no no for rooks. Good luck mate I find them far more rewarding than decoying pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 ... we shoot through a three to four inch slot... What's your tool of choice? Good old air power? Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 What's your tool of choice? Good old air power? Duncan No never tried that I use either my 12g or 28g and try to build a pattern where my kill zone is straight in front of me but it dont always work like that. Try to stay in the hide as much as poss I take my .17 for triming up the walking wounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 No never tried that I use either my 12g or 28g and try to build a pattern where my kill zone is straight in front of me but it dont always work like that. Try to stay in the hide as much as poss I take my .17 for triming up the walking wounded. the 17 is a good idear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 we have permanent bale and pallet hides set up around a pig unit. some huge rookeries on the neighbouring estate who do not allow any form of shooting so plenty to go at when they cross the boundary dont shoot from the same place to many times...rooks wise up to it very quickly if one or two notice you they will probably circle high above an dput off any more heading your way, a shot to disperse them is sometimes necessary keeping well concealed is the main thing imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 (edited) No never tried that I use either my 12g or 28g and try to build a pattern where my kill zone is straight in front of me but it dont always work like that. Try to stay in the hide as much as poss I take my .17 for triming up the walking wounded. Love the idea of the 17 for 'trimming up the walking wounded'. Sounds like a sniper in range of a casualty department! Trimming up the wounded sounds a bit like 'smoothing off' the ice cream tub! (see wife) Spot on about keeping concealed - all corvids have excellent vision, be it colour, movement, depth perception or distance. How does the 28g compare with the 12 btw? Cheers Duncan PS using my hw100s I culled a couple of dozen rooks last year from their roost in decent tall trees: lost loads unfortunately for tall trees snagging them on the way down or in deep undergrowth but such is life and the day was a memorable one! Taking 'little legs' in the spring for a rook shoot. Duncan Edited February 20, 2011 by The Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Love the idea of the 17 for 'trimming up the walking wounded'. Sounds like a sniper in range of a casualty department! Trimming up the wounded sounds a bit like 'smoothing off' the ice cream tub! (see wife) Spot on about keeping concealed - all corvids have excellent vision, be it colour, movement, depth perception or distance. How does the 28g compare with the 12 btw? Cheers Duncan The 28g is great its all I have used this game season I have tried 21 24 28 gram cartridges in it and they all do the job realy well and befour any one says anything the 28 gram dont kick at all although I am a big lad. I think it paterns better than a twelve I have killed some realy good pheasants as a back gun to someone using a 12g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Interesting about the 28g,; i may have to have a go with one although I'm just getting used to the 12's at the moment. Thanks for the feedback Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Interesting about the 28g,; i may have to have a go with one although I'm just getting used to the 12's at the moment. Thanks for the feedback Duncan You would be more than welcome to come and have a go with mine if you dont know any one else with one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 That is very kind of you crouch valley and one I'd be happy to take you up on when possible - I'll pm when I'm going to be in your area PW doesn't cease to amaze me - there's a lot of decent folk that 'as guns on 'ere! Cheers, Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 That is very kind of you crouch valley and one I'd be happy to take you up on when possible - I'll pm when I'm going to be in your area PW doesn't cease to amaze me - there's a lot of decent folk that 'as guns on 'ere! Cheers, Duncan No prob mate give me a bit of notice if you can. If I see the rooks starting to come in i will give you a shout it normaly starts on the spring drilling I can be about sometimes in the week if that helps as I keeper the shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 No prob mate give me a bit of notice if you can. If I see the rooks starting to come in i will give you a shout it normaly starts on the spring drilling I can be about sometimes in the week if that helps as I keeper the shoot. Absolutely spot on, I'll give you as much notice as possible (movements are largely customer driven) for when I'm going to be 'in area'. This time of year (and for the next couple of weeks-ish) is when I have the most time available for shooting and pest control, so it's nice to be able to 'make hay while the sun shines'. Come mid-summer, I barely have time to breathe, let alone squeeze a trigger! Cheers Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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