Frenchieboy Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Just out of interest: We all know that crows have extremely keen eye sight and can spot something that "isn't right" very easily, and that they are quite intelligent. I read somewhere that they have a vocabulary of something like 27 different words - I don't know if this is right or not but I do know that they have many different calls - A distance call, a feeding call, an alarm call, a mobbing call, etc, and also that they have a very good memory! With this in mind something has come to me that I would be interested in hearing other crow shooters thoughts on: If for instance you were to find an established flight line or a regular feeding ground are the crows able to remember how the ground looked while flying and instantly recognise that something is different or wrong or about the area if something new sudenly appeared? i.e. a new hide that resembles something like a bush that wasn't there yesterday? For instance, if you build your hide and it is not quite 100% or it does not blend in "perfectly" (Maybe you have had to put your hide a few yards out from a dry stone wall or something) would the crows that use that flight line/feeding area regularly be able to remember that the hide was not there before and decide that something was not right (Assuming that they did not spot you or your movement) and avoid that area? If this is the case would it be better to build your hide a few days in advance to allow them to get used to seeing it as something different and get used to it as not being a threat to them - Maybe a permenent hide of some sorts assuming that this is practical? Any thoughts or opinions from the regular/successful crow shooters please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Apparently they have the intelligence of a 3 or 4 year old child, and they can be trained etc, ATB Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted March 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) Apparently they have the intelligence of a 3 or 4 year old child, and they can be trained etc, ATB Flynny I too have heard that they can be trained and this is why I am questioning their ability to memorise "the lay of the land" and recognise something as new, different or unusual! I have also heard that you can fool them (To a certain extent) as they are not so good at counting - If you are going to shoot from a hide and the crows are already flying and spot you then you can get a couple of mates to walk in to the hide with you and then get your mates to walk away from the hide again leaving just you in the hide, this (I am led to believe) can fool them into believing that the hide is empty. I haven't tried this so I don't know if this is actually the case so I would be interested in hearing from anyone that has tried this too! Edited March 26, 2013 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) Hi Frencieboy Have found the same with rooks, when we used to rook shoot at the rookery. 4 guns walk in & 2 guns leave,leaving 2 in the rookery well hidden.If you all stay in they dont come back.Have been on crow flight lines and your right ,the slightest thing sends them off. Ps the shooting sticks are still proving good,cheers Edited March 26, 2013 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesbach Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 I know they seem to be more intelligent than me at the mo!!!!😣😣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Not sure, they are VERY intelligent and when out specifically to shoot corvids I have usually got in under some hawthorn bushes and created a hide that has plenty of top cover so that I can't be seen. A hide that is an extra would possibly be something that would cause them to be stand offish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 they can use tools to solve problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted March 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Not sure, they are VERY intelligent and when out specifically to shoot corvids I have usually got in under some hawthorn bushes and created a hide that has plenty of top cover so that I can't be seen. A hide that is an extra would possibly be something that would cause them to be stand offish! That is exactly the sort of situation that I am thinking about. Maybe you have been able to construct a hide that blends in fairly well but you have not been able to build it right up against a hedge so that it is a little extra to what is normally there! Would they recognise that from their memory as something that is new and out of the ordinary making them more "stand offish"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 That is exactly the sort of situation that I am thinking about. Maybe you have been able to construct a hide that blends in fairly well but you have not been able to build it right up against a hedge so that it is a little extra to what is normally there! Would they recognise that from their memory as something that is new and out of the ordinary making them more "stand offish"? We have just constructed a shooting shed over looking the bread mash at our local spot for the corvids and the rats, the corvids and more specifically the crows are definitely standing off for the moment. We had half a dozen Sunday and I would guess the normal bag size is at least double, pretty sure it will just come part of the surroundings given time mind. There certainly brighter than I sometimes give them credit for! Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 The Rooks in our local Rookery will take flight when I walk down the lane with my dog and gun,but aren't startled when I leave the gun in my vehicle. We have found that the most effective crow shooting we have done is without a hide,when we just get into the hedgerow and keep very hidden and very still until the moment we shoot,but nephew shoots on the farm on which he works and seems to get good bags just by throwing up his collapsible hide directly under a regular flightline whenever he chooses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesbach Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Came to the conclusion that they smell gun oil...!! Can reccy a farm with tools landing and flying everywhere. The minute I set up, which could be in sheds on the yard or in a hide full of camo, they all take flight with no return for the next two hours!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Hi Pete i find no problem with hide,as long as you got a good back ground behind you and you don't move a muscle until they commit to deek. I don't move until i see their heads look down at the deeks then give them it. Iv'e never built a hide before hand, as wind direction etc has got to be right for the day that you shoot. ATB Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Years ago, I had a red Vitara, and the farmer and myself agreed that the Crow's new my vehicle, and associated it with danger, because as I drove up onto the farm, the birds (some distance away) flew off. We proved this, when we went up in one of the farms landrovers, and the Crows stayed there. It's only the Crow's that did this, and I have found that Jackdaw's are really stupid birds when it comes to decoying/shooting them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Years ago, I had a red Vitara, and the farmer and myself agreed that the Crow's new my vehicle, and associated it with danger, because as I drove up onto the farm, the birds (some distance away) flew off. We proved this, when we went up in one of the farms landrovers, and the Crows stayed there. It's only the Crow's that did this, and I have found that Jackdaw's are really stupid birds when it comes to decoying/shooting them. I beleive this to be true also mate, I'm sure they know my reg number ha ha ha ha, ATB FLYNNY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabarm gamma boy Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Just out of interest: We all know that crows have extremely keen eye sight and can spot something that "isn't right" very easily, and that they are quite intelligent. I read somewhere that they have a vocabulary of something like 27 different words - I don't know if this is right or not but I do know that they have many different calls - A distance call, a feeding call, an alarm call, a mobbing call, etc, and also that they have a very good memory! With this in mind something has come to me that I would be interested in hearing other crow shooters thoughts on: If for instance you were to find an established flight line or a regular feeding ground are the crows able to remember how the ground looked while flying and instantly recognise that something is different or wrong or about the area if something new sudenly appeared? i.e. a new hide that resembles something like a bush that wasn't there yesterday? For instance, if you build your hide and it is not quite 100% or it does not blend in "perfectly" (Maybe you have had to put your hide a few yards out from a dry stone wall or something) would the crows that use that flight line/feeding area regularly be able to remember that the hide was not there before and decide that something was not right (Assuming that they did not spot you or your movement) and avoid that area? If this is the case would it be better to build your hide a few days in advance to allow them to get used to seeing it as something different and get used to it as not being a threat to them - Maybe a permenent hide of some sorts assuming that this is practical? Any thoughts or opinions from the regular/successful crow shooters please? i am a keen crow shooter year in year out, no other shooting compares to it! The answer to your question is yes, they will be able to spot a new bush that wasnt there yesterday! And most likely be on gaurd right away making your chalenge even harder! Now the best way to go about this in my opinnion is to build a hide into an existing bush ect! Hollow it out and make your hide inside it using the cut offs to blend your hide into its background! On the other hand if you built your hide and left it there the crows would get used to it given a few days! Make no mistake on it your feild craft needs to be spot on as iv said existing bushes are the best thing to use to build your hide, i know because i favour crow shooting over any and its all iv done week in week out for the last 3years! Its brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabarm gamma boy Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Permanent hides are not a favourite of mine, move around! Crows soon.learn to associate overshot places with danger and steer clear! Atb fabarm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) some very interesting answers my 2 pence worth iv shot crows and rooks hard over the last year all iv"ed noticed is that they learn very quick if you shoot same spot 2 or 3 times a week by the last day they avoid it big time. I"m very good at hide building full cammo and no moment and some times i feel that they can just see you or they can tell some things wrong . On the few days when you get things right there the easiest birds to shoot when they glide in and hover over the pattern crow are my number 1 target had some very good days on them . And for the flight line bit we was bang under them last week day 1 on day 2 they were coming back 200 yards down range in to the rookery cracking birds hard to kill and also very bright swiss Edited March 26, 2013 by swiss.tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabarm gamma boy Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Its a learning curve that never ends with crows as you know urself swiss they cotton on fast, iv been having a hard time with them at the moment the last 3or 4 outings iv had all at different farms have been poor, there alot harder to get them to the pattern as there in there nests up here sitting on eggs! Only geting a hand full or 2 if im lucky comitting to the pattern where as previous we were getting great days regular! Roll on may/june the young birds decoy great lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 I'm not a regular crow shooter but would agree, from my experience, jackdaws are less intelligent and easier to shoot from concealment. Crows are considerably more wary. I dont shoot rooks (when I can see the beaks) but they too are more wary than Jackdaws considering that they too are a gregarious bird. To test this theory, I built a pole hide with nets and top cover in the open in the field next to the house which is directly under a flight line to the roost near me (forest). For the first four days absolutely nothing came within gunshot of the hide, even though there was no-one in it. I moved the hide to the field edge at 90 degrees to the flight line and well hidden in a wood edge. The crows, usually ones/twos, flew a good gunshot away for 3 days, the pigeons didnt bother. When I moved the hide into the trees under the flight line (well concealed), the crows seemed not to see it, Maybe their peripheral vision is more active in threat assessment ? The jackdaws didnt seem to bother after the first day, but always flew in small groups. When a lad, I had a pet jackdaw and tried to teach it to talk - bit like trying to make politicians honest, you'd think you it could be done but itslike XXXXXXX in the wind. I find that the resident magpies are the most aware of humans - I'll be borrowing a larsen to get rid, as shooting could take forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 I too have heard that they can be trained and this is why I am questioning their ability to memorise "the lay of the land" and recognise something as new, different or unusual! I have also heard that you can fool them (To a certain extent) as they are not so good at counting - If you are going to shoot from a hide and the crows are already flying and spot you then you can get a couple of mates to walk in to the hide with you and then get your mates to walk away from the hide again leaving just you in the hide, this (I am led to believe) can fool them into believing that the hide is empty. I haven't tried this so I don't know if this is actually the case so I would be interested in hearing from anyone that has tried this too! This is correct,I often get a lift to a hide area in a 4x4,you can mess about setting up etc and often have shot a carrion or two before the vehicle is out of the field ! It`s the best way ,other than getting set up pre dawn for carrions. The other species aren`t in the same league for waryness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Years ago, I had a red Vitara, and the farmer and myself agreed that the Crow's new my vehicle, and associated it with danger, because as I drove up onto the farm, the birds (some distance away) flew off. We proved this, when we went up in one of the farms landrovers, and the Crows stayed there. It's only the Crow's that did this, and I have found that Jackdaw's are really stupid birds when it comes to decoying/shooting them. That's exactly my experience Steve. I started shooting around some cattle barns and the crows flew off on my arrival and returned once I'd moved my truck out of sight. Nowadays if I drive up there they fly off and don't return. However, if I get a lift in a farm vehicle there's no problem they depart and return quite quickly. No doubt it won't be long before they wise up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probuck Posted April 4, 2013 Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 That's exactly my experience Steve. I started shooting around some cattle barns and the crows flew off on my arrival and returned once I'd moved my truck out of sight. Nowadays if I drive up there they fly off and don't return. However, if I get a lift in a farm vehicle there's no problem they depart and return quite quickly. No doubt it won't be long before they wise up again.Haha...same here they know my car.!! As soon as i get in the lanes to goto the farms, the scouts warn everything within miles...Now that really upsets me. There a scout at the moment that sits in the same spot on top of a tree...If i can just shoot that one i might have a good chance of getting somewhere without the early warning system blasing its beak off lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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