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Mason4796
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Morning all,

I have recently been contacted about a local permission where the land owner would like to me come and help dispatch a number of crows with my trusty 12 bore. 

I have been pigeon shooting before but never shot crows. I wondered if any of you kind folks could answer a couple of the below questions?

 

1. Ideal cartridge for crows

2. best method (Pattern of decoys, considerations for wind direction, placement of hide, general set up)

3. best times of day to set up/ start shooting

4. Best way to dispose of shot corvids/ crows afterwards

5. any general hints and tips from those of you that regularly control the crow population

 

many thanks in advance! 

Edited by Mason4796
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2 hours ago, Mason4796 said:

Morning all,

I have recently been contacted about a local permission where the land owner would like to me come and help dispatch a number of crows with my trusty 12 bore. 

I have been pigeon shooting before but never shot crows. I wondered if any of you kind folks could answer a couple of the below questions?

 

1. Ideal cartridge for crows

2. best method (Pattern of decoys, considerations for wind direction, placement of hide, general set up)

3. best times of day to set up/ start shooting

4. Best way to dispose of shot corvids/ crows afterwards

5. any general hints and tips from those of you that regularly control the crow population

 

many thanks in advance! 

1- 30 gram 6s 

2- Full bodied decoys , 15-20 works well, plenty of space between decoys and a "landing zone" kept clear where you want them to come into. Make sure you keep really still in the hide until you are ready to take the shot as they are canny birds and have fantastic vision 

3- First thing in the morning is the best time with crows but make sure you are where they want to be and not where you want to be. 

4- see what the farmer says but I chuck them under a hedge or out of site somewhere and the foxes etc tend to clear them up pretty well.

5- Dont be afraid to change the pattern if its not working, keep still and keep your face covered, remember that carrions are tough old birds and take some stopping so keep the ranges sensible. Dont bother with whirlies or flappers with crows, to much effort for very little return. Get a crow caller (not an electronic one as they are illegal), and most importantly...have fun 

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Make your hide as invisible as possible

Just A net infront of a hedge .wont cut it usually .make sure you have as much cover above you as you can (but still able to shoot up wards at an angle .most the crows will come over high and see down into your hide otherwise. 

I'd go with 32 grm no 5 .And keep ranges to about 35 yds .aim bang on they fly slowly .

Random pattern on the deeks pretty close together .2 yds maybe .As many as u can .

And I'd chuck them deep in a hedge or ask the farmer. But not left in plain sight for someone to find . (Including the farmer ) 

 

If your unsure .take a photo of em and show him that. But take them away and bin them .

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Don't place decoys facing the hide, and if possible, place a few on fenceposts/walls facing towards your pattern. These 'act' as lookouts and should give other birds more confidence. I have found that Jackdaw's are pretty easy to decoy, Crow's are more cautious. If you can, keep some of the shot birds in a freezer to use next time you are out.

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I always use 32g of #5 for black-jobs. 1/2 choke in my Hatsan Escort and a set of flocked full body decoys from A1.

 

Set up good and early on the spot they were feeding on the previous day and make sure your hide is as good as you can make it. Wear a face veil and gloves to 'hide the white bits' and stay still until you swing the gun onto the bird.

Once they start to hammer Spring drillings they can be almost suicidal, still coming in even as you shoot the one before. They are wary as hell, but once they're committed to coming in to the pattern they can sometimes even come right in even if you're walking through the pattern picking up dead ones. Don't leave the gun in the hide !

I use those little BBQ bamboo skewers from the Pound Shop to loft the heads on dead ones and replace the decoys with real birds as the day goes on. Make sure you gather up the skewers at the end of the day though as they are deadly for dogs (like punji sticks).

All my dead either go on the muck heap or out of sight under the hedge for Charlie to find. Leave a couple of dozen crows in the same place 2 or 3 days in a row then sit out for an evening watching the spot with the rifle for extra sport ;)

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On 21/02/2018 at 10:47, WelshMike said:

 

5- Dont be afraid to change the pattern if its not working, keep still and keep your face covered, remember that carrions are tough old birds and take some stopping so keep the ranges sensible. Dont bother with whirlies or flappers with crows, to much effort for very little return. Get a crow caller (not an electronic one as they are illegal), and most importantly...have fun 

 

I would bother with a flapper , I normally put a couple of ff5’s out , some days they are deadly ..well worth the effort 

34 gr 5’s pigeon extreme are my current favourite ..

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6 minutes ago, moose man said:

 

I would bother with a flapper , I normally put a couple of ff5’s out , some days they are deadly ..well worth the effort 

34 gr 5’s pigeon extreme are my current favourite ..

I agree about using a flapper. I have one, and fitted an intermittent timer. It flaps for approx 15 seconds, and stops for 5. Excellent for Jackdaw's, but I found that some Crows, especially the more mature ones, can be slightly nervous. Also, I've used a rotary, and found the same results.

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22 minutes ago, moose man said:

 

I would bother with a flapper , I normally put a couple of ff5’s out , some days they are deadly ..well worth the effort 

34 gr 5’s pigeon extreme are my current favourite ..

My personal opinion is that they are not worth the effort and dont make much difference, but that is from my own experience. If they work for you great. I have found that a good set up in the right place and they come screaming in without the need for magnets and flappers. 

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10 hours ago, Ultrastu said:

Make your hide as invisible as possible

Just A net infront of a hedge .wont cut it usually .make sure you have as much cover above you as you can (but still able to shoot up wards at an angle .most the crows will come over high and see down into your hide otherwise. 

I'd go with 32 grm no 5 .And keep ranges to about 35 yds .aim bang on they fly slowly .

Random pattern on the deeks pretty close together .2 yds maybe .As many as u can .

And I'd chuck them deep in a hedge or ask the farmer. But not left in plain sight for someone to find . (Including the farmer ) 

 

If your unsure .take a photo of em and show him that. But take them away and bin them .

Aim bang on? How does that work?

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Blimey I never released just how. Complicated crow/rook shooting was , ?I was going to have a go this weekend , just turn up with half a slab of ounce 7 s , my semi auto and a bit of choke .and maybe just take a chance on being somewhere that they want to be .  After reading this I’m terrified I might as well sit in doors  ?

Edited by stevo
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1 hour ago, AYA117 said:

If you want to shoot past 30-35 yards, 34-36g 5 or 4. Rooks and Crows are a tough bird and at range deserve respect (as does any bird ) 

Makes me wonder how I have ever shot a 50 yard crow with 28 gm 7.5.

Crows must be seriously hard where you live, since you seem to need a light goose load to kill them!

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