Mason4796 Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) 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 February 21, 2018 by Mason4796 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 Use the same cartridges that you do for pigeons. Use a similar kind of set up that you do for pigeons. An early start is a good idea. I would set up for first light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 As above. Ask the landowner what he wants doing with the dead crows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haynes Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 As above. Chuck the dead birds on the farmers muck heap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason4796 Posted February 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 Thanks Welsh Mike! Very useful indeed and greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weejase Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 Get yourself a primos power crow caller. Crows are easier to shoot than pigeons as they seem to just hover for longer. I use 4 flocked full bodied crows in a random grouping to start and add the shot ones. Best time of the year for me is cut silage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 I’m a great fan of the primos crow caller. Throw the instructions away and practise mimicking what you hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Mason4796 said: Thanks Welsh Mike! Very useful indeed and greatly appreciated! No worries mate. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longstrider Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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 .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 On the hide element ... this one was a beauty.... https://www.dropbox.com/s/2sgqo07gbhtr35c/Photo 03-02-2018%2C 10 34 22.jpg?dl=0 Coupled with an FF5 on a maize stalk and 6 decoys I managed 80 by 10am a couple of weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 I don't see the need for 5s on crows. Obviously some do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 Ok well not bang on .but say at the head Just not as much lead as you would give a pigeon .it's very easy to miss infront of a crow .but jds are a bit faster generally . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 One dead one on its back can work well at brining them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 As for cartridges I just use whatever I have; and swiiiiing through as always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 face veil gloves try and be as smooth as silk don't jump up like a jack in the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AYA117 Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 (edited) 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 February 22, 2018 by stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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