GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: beachgunner on December 01, 2015, 12:40:06 PM
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Folks,
My neighborhood has become overrun with crows. I am on the East Coast in a coastal suburb, and what started out as maybe a small flock of 20 birds or so has exploded to several hundred crows easily. They have chased all the hawks and other raptors out of the area, which has in turn lead to an explosion in the squirrel and rabbit population, but that's a different topic.
So, I want to start taking out these crows. Problem is that every time I try to stalk and sneak up on them, I can get no closer than 50-75 yards. They are much more cautious than squirrels. Do I need to set up a blind? Can they be baited?
Where is the best place to shoot them? Head? Neck? Chest? I have no experience with these critters, but I really need to control them.
I am using a .22 Crosman NP2 Trial, usually with CPHP 14.3 g pellets. They do very well with squirrels, but don't know how well they will work on crows since I can't seem to get close enough!
Any and all advice welcome on how to reduce their numbers.
Thanks!
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Crows are TOUGH ... feathers are like light armor.
Found FAST .177's with there minimal frontal area get threw and drop em head or body shot.
Same with .22's got to shot em pretty fast & hard to make it threw the feathers if body shooting ... 14.3's from a Spring gun at 13-15 ft lbs power IMO is NOT ENOUGH GUN for body shots at that range leaving you to head shoot em.
* If guns NOT ACCURATE to stay inside 1" at 50-75 yards ... then IMO that guns NOT up to the task of effectively and humanly dispatching crows.
Only way I ever get a closer than 75 yard shot on crows is to ambush them by happen chance.
*** ABSOLUTELY DO NOT go outside after shooting one !! ... his buddies will see you and there THAT SMART & your crow shoot opertunities will become exponentially more difficult from then on.
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A blind is best, they are very smart and usually have a lookout posted. I have gotten them, 6 or so with my 850 ( and another 4 or so with the Disco 30+yds) at 30yds from a blind but be sure the rest are long gone like Scott said. I knew it but went out too soon and there were a few off in a tree and saw me, they have not been back for 3 years now.
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Thanks guys. Yes, I'm thinking a blind will increase my chances for certain. I don't have a crony, but I think my NP2 has enough power to do the job inside 20 yards. I'm very confident from that range and I'm thinking head shots may serve me better? I've only shot a crow once and it was about 30 yards. I was standing in my family room and was able to open the slider enough to take a shot at one down on the ground below the bird feeder. I thought I missed, but I definitely heard that "thwack" you get when you hit flesh of quarry. He flew up to the fence, sat there for a minute, and then flew off like nothing happened. I was aiming at the breast and think that is what I hit.
So, I believe you Scott. Those feathers must be plenty tough.
Thanks again.
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If you would like to see some good video on the subject viie
Huntersvermintv,you tube, his most recent is shooting with a HW97 from a hide.. Thanks
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I have only taken one with my Condor, aimed center breast but hit low vitals at about 70 yards. He flew to a tree, and when I went out there later he was dead sitting in the tree. Took him from inside the house.
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I have taken a few at different ranges with both my .22 and .25 cal. The farthest with my .22 has been 68 yards with Baracuda Hunter HPs. A few flaps and dropped. The farthest with my .25 has been 122 yards with JSB King Heavy MKIIs. Dropped him immediately without one flap. My best advice is to stay hidden. Whatever you do, do not let them see you. Hide under a tree, blind, in your house or whatever it takes. Get your shot of then vanish.
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Some good advice here so far. So heres my .02 cents worth.
If shooting them with a .177 you have few choices other than head/neck shots, or center breast/back shot. Those armor plated wings make penetration into the body kind of tricky.
Now lets talk range and concealment. Unless you plan on taking only a few before they wise up and make your job harder by staying out of reach, I suggest you set up a blind very far away, as far away as you can shoot accurately, and make sure youre in it long before they arrive. This is besides letting them get used to seeing it around with nobody shooting at them. That way it will take them a while to figure out theres someone inside that thing taking potshots at them. And try to change up the times you shoot at them if at all possible, mornings one day afternoons another evenings the next. The idea is to keep them guessing. As regards the far away location, these birds are really smart, and if you are too close when you start they will very quickly make it their business to put a lot of distance between whatever they think might be possibly causing the threat in that area. And your blind will be first on the list. Its less likely to be perceived as a threat as quickly if its a bit far off and they dont see you.
Good luck in your efforts, hopefully you will get a lot of them bedore they wise up & clear out.
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I haven't killed a crow since I was a kid. The only grow hunt I have been on as an adult resulted in a single miss that scared off every crow on the property.
That said, as a little boy I probably killed thousands with just a .177 crosman and some copperhead pellets. Shot placement- almost straight up through the body as they sit on the powerlines lololol.
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Crows pay no attention to cars or trucks because they are so common. Try to get in position before they get there or just drive on in, most times they won't leave, some shelled corn is good bait too. As for shot placement shoot from the "arse end up", no armor there. Good luck.
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If I can, I will pop the look out. That might give you another shot at one of the rest😃 Like all said, stay covered, or you will be a bust real fast. Don't even let them see the gun, they will associate it wit danger. Good luck. Can't go wrong with head/ neck- spine shot.
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I shot 4 from inside my house with a detuned HW-100 doing 23fpe with FTT .22, all chest shots. First shot was 18 yards, and rest were increasingly farther until they worked out how far to sit to be out of my shootable range, they are very smart.
As others said, trick is a good blind and either chest or head shots. They die easily with chest shots. The next trick is to NOT try and retrieve the dead birds, otherwise they will recognize you the next time you step out and either mob you or disappear, either option is not good.
They are so good that they can tell apart a stick and a gun pointed at them, and whether to fly or not based on the threat.
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There is a documentary on you-tube called "A Murder of Crows" showing how smart crows are and why they are hard to hunt.
Link: https://youtu.be/vgxNMnh6_3c
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I had no idea they would be this challenging to hunt. I think I may actually try a second story window from in my house first. I'll make sure I am well back into the opening so they cannot see me. Just have to make sure I don't shoot the window out or hit some drywall!
Thanks for the tips. I'll stay concealed, not go out after I hit em', and try to get the lookouts first.
Wish I could use my Mossberg 12 Ga for this. A rapid S/A would at least get me 5 or so before they knew what hit em'.
Neighbors may frown upon it however..
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I know a guy with an RX2 in .22 took out a crow at a flat 70 yards on a body shot. I think a headshot on a crow at 70 yards however is such a condition needy shot it's better off passing on the crow entirely if that's the only chance. Make sure you cover your face. They know when your face and eyes are on them and when they see that, your done.
Pete
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I just watched the documentary that Sam posted a link to.
So, they can live as long as 20 years, they have the social and intellectual capacity and development of primates in many categories, even surpassing then in several, and they live in extended family units with multiple individuals on "watch" at any given time.
Great. Sounds like I need a network of underground tunnels and a Marine sniper squad.
I'll set up a blind and shoot from inside the house too, and see if that will get me any culprits.
If not, I'll stick to squirrels and rabbits. Dang..
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I dropped one quick and easy with my BSA S10 .177 thats set at 11 fpe at the muzzle @ 35 yds but it was a head shot. If you can get a head shot its no problem but like others said you have to hit the softer parts when going for the body.
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You say you live in the suburbs - how suburban are we talking? Are people going to freak out if crows start falling out of the sky or just randomly fall over dead? I am asking because although you are being stealthy, crows in groups tend to get noisy when one of them suddenly up and dies violently. Some people refer to this as a "crow funeral", and they can attract a lot of attention. The last crow I shot was part of a group of about 8 crows that were hanging around in a tall tree in my yard. I shot it in the head, and it keeled right over, landing right at the base of the tree. Nice, inconspicuous shot, easy retrieval, exactly what I was hoping for.
Until all H E L L broke loose, that is.
Once the other crows saw one of their buddies down, they began to caw - loudly, and all at the same time. This was bad enough, but then more showed up and landed in the tree, and they started in. Pretty soon I had a couple dozen of the buggers hanging out, making a racket that could wake the dead. And it went on for 20 minutes. Now, some may think this is a perfect time to drill some more, but with neighbors potentially watching, I wasn't going to risk it. Like you, I live in the 'burbs, and although I pick my shots carefully and know where the pellets are going after they exit, I don't really want to advertise. So now, I generally leave crows alone, unless they are really being destructive. Just too risky where I'm at.
Chris
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You definitely have to shoot them from under cover of some sort, be it out your second story window, a blind, or whatever. Because once you're spotted they'll stay out of range for a looong time. As you saw in the video, they recognize faces & danger. Another thing, crows are protected & here in Florida there is a season on them & even then you can only shoot them on weekends. So you might want to check state regulations before shooting them.
I actually shoot ten that day, but the neighborhood cats got three of them before it was all said & done. I was under a canopy & yes it got real loud from all the crows cawing when they saw one of their buddies drop. They were clearly confused, because they just kept coming in, landing on a telephone wire to see what was wrong. They learn fast, but not fast enough for the ten that day. But that was over 2 yrs ago & not much luck getting a shot at any since then. 30yds out, .22 Marauder @ 32fpe, JSB 18g.
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e40/Habanero69er/377_zps819aa7d6.jpg) (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/Habanero69er/media/377_zps819aa7d6.jpg.html)
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Last one i got was last year with the condor. Had a flock move in one morning and all landed in a tree about 45-50 yd out right at dawn and the racket was god awful. Sounded like they were in my bedroom with me so the wife actually said lets go shoot them all! Grabbed the condor and a 32 gr ej set up for mid 60 fpe i let the wife shoot. Dead center chest shot from the back porch. They all took off the one we hit jumped up with the rest but balled up and dropped out. Didnt see another crow for a couple weeks and havnt seen a flock like that since. They got the point. If you want them to leave shoot 1 from a visible point if you want to thin them out shoot from a very hidden spot. Get there and leave without being seen. Then switch your spot every few kills. They are smart and can catch on to you.
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Crows are definitely a case where penetration is way more important than FPE.... but accuracy is still the king.... Head shots are great if you can get close enough.... but I've got as many crows when out hunting Ground Squirrels than anything else.... When you hit them with anything travelling at least 850 fps at impact they pretty much keel over.... This is definitely where the British ".22 for fur and .177 for feathers" applies when you are talking a limit of 12 FPE.... It's amazing how tough that lightweight suit of armour is....
They WILL recognize your face if they see it.... for years into the future.... They will ignore my wife and head for the hills when they see me.... ;D
Bob
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From cover of course, if i use T12 .22, i go for chest. Mostly stone dead. But nowadays i shoot my HW97k with Hawke Sidewinder , my Ft setup, 11,5fpe and go for head shots. Shot placement is vital.
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Some 35 years of trying to "luck up" on a crow and I've only gotten 3 so far...Very smart birds
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You may want to check your states hunting laws. Where I live there is a crow season and there are fines for out of season shooting. Very smart birds. They will sit on a fence watching you carry a shovel or broom but as soon as you pick up a gun they're gone. Recognition of the different "sticks" we carry.
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After observing them for several days, I have come to the conclusion that the only way I will get a crow in my current situation is if I sit in a blind and one mistakenly flies into it with me, whereupon I will club it with the stock-end of my rifle.
Jeez, I think I better get used to crows.. :(
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If u really want to get after them there are a couple of options
Buy or YouTube and build your own caller with the crow fight call sound on it
Then YouTube how to build crow decoys and build 8 or 10 and set them where you want to shoot the crows
Use a good blind and be ready because with that setup you will be covered up with them in no time
It works trust me !! ;D ;D
Gamoshooter
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I do not wish to be a spoil sport, but crows are considered migratory. Therefore, a Fed bird stamp is required to legally harvest them. Here in New Mexico, they're protected, but there are provisions for pest control on personal property.
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Exactly! Consult your state hunting regulations. ???
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Seems that car as a blind works really well, at least in Russia :). Except the guys in a video are total jackasses.
youtube watch?v=xL38ouEvIi8
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My Crosman Vantage NP in .22 is enough to go through a wing bone and still enter the crow and kill it. This was 30 yards, I opened my back door and shot this young one, they usually fly away when they see/hear any door open, sometimes they wait to fly until they see the flashy metal of a gun barrel to fly away.
A blind will help them not see you but a decoy and some food will help draw them in as well.
EDIT: This crow was taken legally in TN during season, also it was in my yard and laughing at me.
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Ben,
Very nice, and an appropriate response to the public ridicule this crow was subjecting you to..
I hope you will be okay and no long term therapy will be needed. :D
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Many species of bird are 'smart' enough to avoid an armed threat/you, after they are shot at. The ones I used to shoot at would fly away if I came out to patrol the trees with the airgun, but stay if I wasn't totin' it. Species that were never shot at, would ignore me.
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Okay, I feel I need to make a clarification because this has come up several times. I started this thread because I wanted to benefit from others who have harvested crows. I wanted to find the best (and in my opinion this always entails the most humane) methods for a quarry I am unfamiliar with. I have gotten some great information and I thank everyone.
Nowhere in this post did I say I was going to poach or do anything that would violate any state or local laws or regulations. Yes, crows are a federally regulated migratory species. In my home state there is no requirement for a HIP# and it is season from August 15-March 18 on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Heck, they even let you use unplugged shotguns which means game on.
I am assuming most folks on this gate are up and up hunters, no? Folks who know that the actions of one reflects poorly on the entire group. In that spirit, I never have taken any species in an unregulated or illegal manner.
Just want to put that to rest. Thx.
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I don't think anyone suggests or implies you or anyone else on the forum are poachers. I think, or at least in my case it was just a FYI so no one gets themselves in a jackpot because they weren't aware of the laws.
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Dave,
I do appreciate the heads up. I posted that just for clarification because I don't know if people would, in fact, encourage that kind of thing here. I'm new to GTA, and it seems like a great place to learn and connect with others about AG's, but I wanted to be clear just in case.
Heck, the more I learn about crows, I think they'll probably be able to poach me if they had access to AG's :o
Take care,
Michael
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I didn't mean to imply anyone would knowingly take game illegally. It's just that a common crow isn't viewed by many to be a game bird and laws be easily over looked in that regard.
As for pest control I certainly would take out that Fisher cat that was growling at me and my son if it showed up again. We've a lot of them in Vermont yet they've a trapping only three week season. Wasn't a need to kill it in front of my 3 year old and just kept him away from the barn it was hunkered in but weeks later it took out our cat so wish I had.
Letting you know I'm certainly not holier than thou. There is sport then there is pest control. The adage SSF (shoot, shovel and forget) comes to mind.
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It begs the question; Is there such a thing a sporting pest control??
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Wow, I never knew besides Heckle and Jeckle crows could be problematic.
They and the migrating sandhill cranes are the only wild type sounds I hear. (umm, fook geese no longer migratory) I like the smart birds.
In that way I'm sorry.
I've called in a coupla crows 1day with my voice mimicking, hiding beneath the lower than very, canopy of pine and oak. Twas cool to do, but not hunting them.
There are crow calls to be had. And they don't get along with owls I hear.
lol, fisticuffs with an owl donned in ghillie suit sounds a good story for the grandkids. ~I've heard of another for observation purpose playing owl sounds having a close encounter; but was night.
~Back to crows; I have seen some video of crows recognizing people as said. What not said was they told the others. wow!
Shoot a crow, show your self and put up cardboard cutouts of ya county wide. Problem solved. (-:
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Man..crows are tough to tag. I call in ALOT of crows but have only killed two. My best results come from calling from the cover of a tree. They circle overhead but rarely land for me. They are the first thing that comes into season here. I have had them show up at the sound of a distressed rabbit or an injured young crow. I got my crow call from walmart and it will bring them in but the landing..eh lol. They respond very well to a "boss" crow sound. I learned to "speak" a little crow just through research. I called today and a bald eagle came...go figure.
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Maybe the eagle was looking for a "crow-sant" to eat. ;)
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There is a documentary on you-tube called "A Murder of Crows" showing how smart crows are and why they are hard to hunt.
Nice documentary. Now I know why they don't fly over my house anymore. ;D