Crows and owl decoys

[Neilvw82]

Hi guys,

I occasionally hear that it is effective to use a owl decoy to attract crows, has any one used these?

in what circumstances?

which type of owl decoy did you use with what results?

[steve_b_wales]

Not worth bothering to be honest. I have tried a small owl and a large european owl with little effect. It has been mentioned that if you can put a decoy owl, close to a nesting site, you may be able to draw the birds into shooting range, but I haven't tried it myself.

[clanchief]

You will get limited success, and comparing between using decoys and calls and adding an Owl wont make much difference.

 

After owning my Owl for 30 years its not worth the fuss, to be truthful I wonder how many Crows have actually seen an Owl let alone a giant one, as Owls are mainly night birds here, if you could get a Buzzard in a decoy or a floater that might work better.

[Bluebarrels]

I agree with Steve in my experience it's a waste of time.

 

However I have a full fox pelt,made up a body out of chicken wire and covered it with the fox pelt the corvids like to mob it.

 

But like anything they soon suss and fail to commit,I find with corvid shooting you have to think outside the box and offer them something to make them inquisitive,BB

[Neilvw82]

Cheers, I have crow decoys and have had some relatively good success with them, I was in a small wood yesterday and I threw some out to try and draw a few crows in and was wondering whether one of those would of been better, I had heard that they can't resist dive bombing one of the big owls standing over a black rag or crow decoy,

Cheers for the heads up I won't waste my money then.

[Bluebarrels]

Crow socks (have a look in DIY section)work very well along with a flapper,I find May/June is the best time for decoying as plenty of young birds around.Make sure you connect when they come into the decoys because they learn very quickly with the exception of jackdaws which are suicidal ,BB

[Neilvw82]

Cheers Bb do you use a flapper for pigeon as well i had a discussion with someone the other day about this and was debating about updating my heavy duty pigeon magnet/rotary to a lightweight one or investing in a flapper which I've never used well I've used the old ones with bits of string attached but they were a pain

[E.w.]

Your better off shooting a rabbit gut it on the field place a few crow decoys round it and bobs your uncle.

[Danger-Mouse]

, if you could get a Buzzard in a decoy or a floater that might work better.

 

Me and a mate were discussing this. There are loads of buzzards on the land we shoot and the crows are forever mobbing them. I`m surprised no one has produced a buzzard decoy and given it a shot.

[Bluebarrels]

 

Me and a mate were discussing this. There are loads of buzzards on the land we shoot and the crows are forever mobbing them. I`m surprised no one has produced a buzzard decoy and given it a shot.

Yep they like to mob the old buzzards BB

[Bluebarrels]

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/309211-compact-crows/?hl=%2Bcrow+%2Bsocks

Edited February 18, 2016 by Bluebarrels

[Bluebarrels]

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/169407-homemade-crow-socks/?hl=%2Bcrow+%2Bsocks

[Neilvw82]

Cheers I'll have a go at making a few and see how they go

[clanchief]

Exactly what I think, my old owl is a dark coloured affair.

 

But I ask myself when I last saw an owl out in the open during the day, I know some folk that have never seen an owl apart form at a Game fair, crows are the same.

[Neilvw82]

Hi clanchief,

to answer your question I have recently seen an owl three weeks running while out shooting pheasant in season of course. It was in the same place and pushed out by beaters along with a fox in the same place and the same number of times. We have quite a few birds of prey where we are and I like the post before have seen the crows hassle a buzzard hence my interest. I suppose the only way to tell if it would be beneficial is to try, but its nice to get feed back and opinions from others.

Good point you make though and certainly brings a new avenue of thought.

Cheers

Neil

[WelshMike]

I find that the best way to decoy crows is a good pattern, good hide and watch the area to make sure you set up in the right location (all the obvious things ). I dont use flappers or magnets or raptor decoys as I have found them to be a waste of time and effort.