JustJon Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Hi, Got a friend with a permission that has a tree in the middle of the field, this is a flight line but also a roosting spot for a large number of crows (seems to be more crows than pigeons local to me?) Had a sit under it with him for a bit tonight and birds where flaring off as they saw us, normally the tree would hold 50+ birds by sun down, guess they found other beds tonight. 2 thoughts in my head; Stick a hide up and wait till they naturally come to bed, without seeing us they will come all the way in Or Setup decoys in order to bring more birds in and increase confidence, but would this work at that time of night when the majority of crows are around? Thoughts appreciated? Hinge this may lead to more land and permission for me as well. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Lateral thinking........... Chop the tree down and solve the problem for good! Not many TPO's on trees in the middle of fields! Perhaps check first! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustJon Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Thanks Dekers, I suspectvthey would just sit in the other 3 trees in the field or the bunch surrounding it, or the wood at the back... But for some reason while it's there they choose this one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 If you are completely camo'd up, including face and hands, and keep still, the crows should come in close enough. Wait until a few have landed in the tree, as they will draw in others. Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 Hi, Got a friend with a permission that has a tree in the middle of the field, this is a flight line but also a roosting spot for a large number of crows (seems to be more crows than pigeons local to me?) Had a sit under it with him for a bit tonight and birds where flaring off as they saw us, normally the tree would hold 50+ birds by sun down, guess they found other beds tonight. 2 thoughts in my head; Stick a hide up and wait till they naturally come to bed, without seeing us they will come all the way in Or Setup decoys in order to bring more birds in and increase confidence, but would this work at that time of night when the majority of crows are around? Thoughts appreciated? Hinge this may lead to more land and permission for me as well. Thanks. Simples, shoot them flighting from and to the tree. Shooting at the tree will just make them roost elsewere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) Hi, Got a friend with a permission that has a tree in the middle of the field, this is a flight line but also a roosting spot for a large number of crows (seems to be more crows than pigeons local to me?) Had a sit under it with him for a bit tonight and birds where flaring off as they saw us, normally the tree would hold 50+ birds by sun down, guess they found other beds tonight. 2 thoughts in my head; Stick a hide up and wait till they naturally come to bed, without seeing us they will come all the way in Or Setup decoys in order to bring more birds in and increase confidence, but would this work at that time of night when the majority of crows are around? Thoughts appreciated? Hinge this may lead to more land and permission for me as well. Thanks. Did you ever hear the old country saying " A Crow can count one " I first heard this from a farmer in South Oxfordshire whose farm I use to shoot on . The old country law was if two of you walk to where the crows are roosting the crows will leave as they see you aproach the roost , then if one of you then walks away the crows will see will see this from where they are watching in the distance . They then think it is safe to return as you have left the roost , hence the saying a crow can count one ! ,only to be ambushed on return !. A good way we found of thinning them out was to shoot them at night by the roost against a bright sky , my brother accounted for stacks of rooks like this with nothing more than a bolt action 410 on the same oxfordshire farm , as the rooks circle in the commotion of shots they are unable to see you on the ground in the dark . That dose work if the conditions are just right . Good luck Pole Star Edited September 3, 2011 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 Did you ever hear the old country saying " A Crow can count one " I first heard this from a farmer in South Oxfotdshire whose farm I use to shoot on . The old country law was if two of you walk to where the crows are roosting the crows will leave as they see you aproach the roost , then if one of you then walks away the crows will see will see this from where they are watching in the distance . They then think it is safe to return as you have left the roost , hence the saying a crow can count one ! ,only to be ambushed on return !. A good way we found of thinning them out was to shoot them at night by the roost against a bright sky , my brother accounted for stacks of rooks like this with nothing more than a bolt action 410 on the same oxfordshire farm , as the rooks circle in the commotion of shots they are unable to see you on the ground in the dark . That dose work if the conditions are just right . Good luck Pole Star The counting thing is in regards to nesting crows not roosting, once you shoot one they just bug out again from the tree - unless you get lucky and shoot the boss crow then they go bannanas and make easy pickings. Rooks are totally different very easy to kill at thier roost and both not sporting quarry and not worth shooting IMO the damage they might rarely do is far outweighed by the good. I have no Proof as such of this "boss crow" theory those that have done it will know what i mean instantly though. For some reason one crow carries extra respect from the others and they make a total racket and refuse to leave for some sime when it gets shot first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) The counting thing is in regards to nesting crows not roosting, once you shoot one they just bug out again from the tree - unless you get lucky and shoot the boss crow then they go bannanas and make easy pickings. Rooks are totally different very easy to kill at thier roost and both not sporting quarry and not worth shooting IMO the damage they might rarely do is far outweighed by the good. I have no Proof as such of this "boss crow" theory those that have done it will know what i mean instantly though. For some reason one crow carries extra respect from the others and they make a total racket and refuse to leave for some sime when it gets shot first Ok Kent , the summer of 1985 walking alone a grass head land next to the wood I mention I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SUCKED OUT GREY PARTRIDGE EGGS IN MY LIFE ! , so as for the outweigh the good statment , well every rook I bumped off on that farm never sucked out another Grey Partidge egg ! . That farmer use to go out of his way to look after his partridge stock even to the point off mowing around their nests , & who shoots rooks for sport ? to me its manage the numbers . Pole Star Edited September 3, 2011 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 Ok Kent , the summer of 1985 walking alone a grass head land next to the wood I mention I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SUCKED OUT GREY PARTRIDGE EGGS IN MY LIFE ! , so as for the outweigh the good statment , well every rook I bumped off on that farm never sucked another out another Grey Partidge egg ! . That farmer use to go out of his way to look after his partridge stock even to the point off mowing around their nests , & who shoots rooks for sport ? to me its manage the numbers . Pole Star ps I wish you could have been there to see it ! & the way we bumped em worked & we never enterd the wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 Hi Kent, the last larsen trap I baited with eggs caught rooks instantly. I don't think they would pass up a nest if the saw one. Just an opinion though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 This is not MY experiance of rooks, though i supose it depends on the available food and balance of nature on your own ground. Here they consentrate on turning over muck from the stock eating insects etc. If thet raid an odd nest it does not compare in the slightest to the crows. Neither have i seen Rooks feeding on carion or using bully boy tactics on other birds etc so i suppose its just unattended eggs they take Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 This is not MY experiance of rooks, though i supose it depends on the available food and balance of nature on your own ground. Here they consentrate on turning over muck from the stock eating insects etc. If thet raid an odd nest it does not compare in the slightest to the crows. Neither have i seen Rooks feeding on carion or using bully boy tactics on other birds etc so i suppose its just unattended eggs they take Well Kent perhaps that is your experience but a partridge has to leave the nest at some time during the day for a daily feed ect even though they are known to cover their eggs ,so I have read . I know sneeky clever old crows & rooks & they watch out for every opportunity they possibly can from any vantage point & if they see some thing that looks like a potential meal they will investigate . We must not forget they are also amongst the most intelligent of the bird species we have in Britain & I lived in old Irish rectory for ten years wich had a Rookery in the woods right next door to the house ,it was a rook eduction living there. Regards Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 i would geta lofter up in that tree build a good hide under it and leave it for a few days so they get used to the hide go back set up the lofter and bingo with regards to the crows counting post, they can count so can ravens, and rooks should and are killed on every chance i get!! spreding diesese eating pheasant food bird eggs no better than crows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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