fieldwanderer Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 I'm after having a serious go at the crows this year and have been doing a bit of reading up on the subject- I've not had a permission with enough crows to specifically target them up until now. I've come across a bit of conflicting advice though; I've read that an owl "decoy" will keep crows away. I've also read that they make a great decoy as corvids will mob a preditor in their territory! Is it worth getting one to use as a decoy or not? Any other tips would be much appreciated, I'm really not getting anywhere with the clever little ****! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 My advice would be forget the owl. I've tried it with little success. I'd use crow decoys and a Primos crow caller. As you start shooting some birds prop them up with sticks and use them as decoys. I've found as you start shooting the things more will come, just keep adding them to your decoys. Most importantly, good field craft. These birds are on the ball and will see anything. Cover your hands, face and keep still in the hide. Good luck mate let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 My advice would be forget the owl. I've tried it with little success. I'd use crow decoys and a Primos crow caller. As you start shooting some birds prop them up with sticks and use them as decoys. I've found as you start shooting the things more will come, just keep adding them to your decoys. Most importantly, good field craft. These birds are on the ball and will see anything. Cover your hands, face and keep still in the hide. Good luck mate let us know how you get on. This post says it ALL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 My advice would be forget the owl. I've tried it with little success. I'd use crow decoys and a Primos crow caller. As you start shooting some birds prop them up with sticks and use them as decoys. I've found as you start shooting the things more will come, just keep adding them to your decoys. Most importantly, good field craft. These birds are on the ball and will see anything. Cover your hands, face and keep still in the hide. Good luck mate let us know how you get on. This is the same as i do. and iv'e been crow bashing for years. Only time a owl works is if you loft it up in the evening on the trees that carrion crows roost. This only really works after trees have lost their leafs and before they depart from their roost woods to nest about march time here. Not tried it on rooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted March 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Thanks chaps, field craft I think is ok, got the relevant kit and been Decoying pigeons for years now.. The problem I have is getting them to come to me, admittedly I've not decoyed them at all yet. I do have a primos crow call (not the power crow, the other one) but it just sounds like one of those things at kids parties that uncoils and makes a sound when you blow it to me, I've experimented but can't get a much better sound - that normal? I'll get some decoys and try harder ASAP, not feeling very rich after blowing £600+ on reloading stuff last weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 If you have a flapper in your pigeon kit, these also work wonders on the crows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 If you have a flapper in your pigeon kit, these also work wonders on the crows +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazbev Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 As above, with the leaves off the trees now they can be shot if you stand in a little clearing amongst trees with a primos caller and get cammod up. Movement will ruin your day so keep barrels high and shoot at the last instant if they see you one flip of the wing and they are off.Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kody Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 +1 +2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBW Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 A single decoy either on a prominent fence post or up a tree or even sat next to a rabbit with the guts burst open is what I do, also using the primos call, get well cammed up and as mentioned previously don't move a muscle till the last second, I always sit with the wind blowing into my face so when they come in if you fleg them you get a bit better chance of a second shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted March 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Any of you got any tips for using the crow call? I have the primos crow call - not the power crow; it looks similar but is green clear plastic. I can't find a picture. It sounds a little like a crow but I don't think it's realistic enough and neither do they - from what I've read, it's made to sound like an American crow. Am I doing something wrong or did I just buy the wrong one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probuck Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 Ive tryed the owl thing..rubbish.!! Just stuck this in as i noticed your last question about callers didnt have much luck. Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) Try blacking out some old full body decoys with paint or boot polish or a pair of tights. I have even heard of a simple crow shape cut from ply and sprayed black working. I know the wallet pains well with a new baby. Edited April 5, 2013 by Amazed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) Any of you got any tips for using the crow call? I have the primos crow call - not the power crow; it looks similar but is green clear plastic. I can't find a picture. It sounds a little like a crow but I don't think it's realistic enough and neither do they - from what I've read, it's made to sound like an American crow. Am I doing something wrong or did I just buy the wrong one? Whichever one you have, it isn't a case of just blowing into it, all you get is a kazoo (sp) sound. You have to blow using your diaphram and make a Grrrr sound if that makes sense. That makes a difference as to what comes out the caller. The pitch of your caller may be different to the Power caller but I don't know whether that'll make any change to the calling success rate here. I've got the Power caller and rather than waste time out in the field I put a few crow decoys out in the back garden and sat indoors with the french doors open and practised blowing eventually I managed to get some crows floating over the garden so I assume my efforts are reasonably crow like. To prevent embarrassment I did my practising on a weekday whilst the neighbours were at work. Lol Edited April 5, 2013 by PhilR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 The Primos caller works by making a 'grrr' sound when you blow into it. Don't give up on the Primos caller, especially the Power one, as this is about the best bit of kit you can buy for attracting Crows, and I speak from many years of experience, using one. Don't waste money on the Crow caller from Holland(?) that retails for around £33.00. I bought one, tried it, and sold it the very next day. The Primos caller will do everything, and more, than this other one, for a fraction of the price. 'Clever' is an understatement with Crows. They are very intelligent, and if something does'nt look right, or sounds right, they won't come near, with young Crows being the exeption. I have used my Primos callers to attract Crows, Jackdaw's and Rooks. I've even called in Seagulls, just to see if I could do it. Good Luck with the Crow shooting. Nothing beats it in my eyes. Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted April 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Sorry, forgot to post an update! Thanks very much for all the help. I had a decent try easter weekend, set my hide up the night before and kept hold of a rabbit and a crow that I'd shot. Up just before first light, I was really struggling - I work nights and my day is normally 10:30am to 02:00am the following day. I went and slit the bunny open (it was pregnant Daisy, the dirty little devil started licking at it but I soon shooed her away) and propped the crow up by it, settled into the hide just as the blackness turned to grey. Spent quite a while calling with my new "power crow" call, sometimes it worked, others it didn't. It was bloody freezing despite being well wrapped up! The first 5 crows I shot got propped near the rabbit and I made a total of a dozen or so by about 11am. It went dead then so I called it a day but good to see some success Despite her shivering, Daisy seemed to enjoy herself and retrieved all of them with little fuss, she's coming along nicely but it's a slow process and seems to be two steps forward one step back most of the time Sadly, no pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE AD Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Buy a stuffed fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Sorry, forgot to post an update! Thanks very much for all the help. I had a decent try easter weekend, set my hide up the night before and kept hold of a rabbit and a crow that I'd shot. Up just before first light, I was really struggling - I work nights and my day is normally 10:30am to 02:00am the following day. I went and slit the bunny open (it was pregnant Daisy, the dirty little devil started licking at it but I soon shooed her away) and propped the crow up by it, settled into the hide just as the blackness turned to grey. Spent quite a while calling with my new "power crow" call, sometimes it worked, others it didn't. It was bloody freezing despite being well wrapped up! The first 5 crows I shot got propped near the rabbit and I made a total of a dozen or so by about 11am. It went dead then so I called it a day but good to see some success Despite her shivering, Daisy seemed to enjoy herself and retrieved all of them with little fuss, she's coming along nicely but it's a slow process and seems to be two steps forward one step back most of the time Sadly, no pictures. Be very careful sending your dog for crows, if you've winged one, their first instinct is to attack the eyes and that beak is very effective! It will make a nasty mess of a dogs eye with no difficulty. Glad you are finding success on the crows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.