henry_o Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I've had a couple of trips to try and tackle the corvids that seem to be everywhere. I took a mate out last week, who i have been encouraging to get into shooting (rallying support!). The trip started out mainly to keep pigeons off the rape they had been hammering recently on the neighbours farm. We got there and **** law only about 50 pigeons lifted... the day before there were hundreds on this spot. We set up anyway hoping that they'd come back in the numbers that were present in previous days. I set out a dozen shells, and a couple of floaters with decoys on that moved well in the wind. Straight into the hide and the first creature heading towards us was a rook, a high confident shot brought him down and he was put 15 yards to the right of the decoy pattern. This shot had lifted a hundred or so crows in the distance on sheep pasture and through the afternoon a few came our way curious about their dead friends on the floor. We managed to bag 18 corvids and 3 woodies. 2 of these were carrion crows which we are assaulting with larsen traps at the moment so that was a bonus! I went out today on the neighbouring feild and only managed to bag 2 carrions, 2 rooks and a jackdaw. They don't seem to be decoying well around here. Has anyone got any special methods to get them in range? Cheers Henry Lost a couple of birds in the rape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I forgot to put my hunters in the truck so has to hide my trainers as best i could in the hide! ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 When decoying corvids I don't use pigeon decoys at all, especially moving ones (floater/rotary, etc.). Its my experience that pigeons come confidently into crow decoys, but corvids are suspicious of pigeon decoys. I don't even put out shot pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 When decoying corvids I don't use pigeon decoys at all, especially moving ones (floater/rotary, etc.). Its my experience that pigeons come confidently into crow decoys, but corvids are suspicious of pigeon decoys. I don't even put out shot pigeons. Useful tip there Cranners, will remember that when I next have a go at the crafty ******* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 how many crow decoys do you use? When i get out i normally only have one crow decoy so tend to put pigeons out without thinking it could make the crows shy! But ive put 5 in the freezer now to use on the next trip so will try without the pigeon deeks. My brother has a pigeon magnet but it isnt working atm so might try fixing that and sticking a couple dead crows on that? I've heard good stories about usng them like this. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 oh and thanks for the reply Cranfield! ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I have about 8 flocked full bodies decoys and they all go out, then I add dead birds. I put them out randomly in no shapes, all about 3-6ft apart Pigeons need a landing strip to come into, but corvids mostly come down like helicopters, so the "killing area" is the whole layout. Corvids also seem to decoy for social purposes as well as feeding, so the more birds the better. I have also just taken delivery of another 5 full bodied and 5 shell crow decoys, which I really like the look of and can't wait to try them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyboots Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 (edited) cranfield where did you buy the crow shell decoys was it a online shop Edited April 22, 2011 by monkeyboots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 From a very, very nice man that is a member here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 Good shooting, Well done. And I like to face veil too! I use as many dedcoys as I see fit. I have about 18, and sometimes put them all out, adding dead birds to the decoys and bulding up the numbers. You don't need all these though, but I have found that the more birds on the ground, the greater the chance of others coming into the pattern. I buy the standard decoys which I pay £10 for 3. I flock them myself to try and hide the shine off them, but they have worked well without flock. Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 Good shooting, Well done. And I like to face veil too! I use as many dedcoys as I see fit. I have about 18, and sometimes put the all out, adding dead birds to the decoys and bulding up the numbers. You don't need all these though, but I have found that the more birds on the ground, the greater the chance of others coming into the pattern. I buy the standard decoys which I pay £10 for 3. I flock them myself to try and hide the shine off them, but they have worked well without flock. Steve. Steve, are you a good flocker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pykie Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 nice shooting mate. What gun is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 I've had a couple of trips to try and tackle the corvids that seem to be everywhere. I took a mate out last week, who i have been encouraging to get into shooting (rallying support!). The trip started out mainly to keep pigeons off the rape they had been hammering recently on the neighbours farm. We got there and **** law only about 50 pigeons lifted... the day before there were hundreds on this spot. We set up anyway hoping that they'd come back in the numbers that were present in previous days. I set out a dozen shells, and a couple of floaters with decoys on that moved well in the wind. Straight into the hide and the first creature heading towards us was a rook, a high confident shot brought him down and he was put 15 yards to the right of the decoy pattern. This shot had lifted a hundred or so crows in the distance on sheep pasture and through the afternoon a few came our way curious about their dead friends on the floor. We managed to bag 18 corvids and 3 woodies. 2 of these were carrion crows which we are assaulting with larsen traps at the moment so that was a bonus! I went out today on the neighbouring feild and only managed to bag 2 carrions, 2 rooks and a jackdaw. They don't seem to be decoying well around here. Has anyone got any special methods to get them in range? Cheers Henry Lost a couple of birds in the rape you wanted by the cops or is that a new type of hide on ya face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
left & right Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted April 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 you wanted by the cops or is that a new type of hide on ya face haha i looked a bit special im afraid, so thought id save embarassment if the mates saw it! has any one seen any fieldsports britain episodes on crow shooting? henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 Steve, are you a good flocker? Yes, but don't tell my wife! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 Nice shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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