Right here we’re, in late winter. Upland chook looking was carried out a very long time in the past. For many of us, goose season and duck season are additionally distant recollections (until you’re a sea duck hunter—and even then, time is working out rapidly). Guess it’s time to place the shotguns away, and look ahead to subsequent yr, proper? Flawed! For a lot of North America, among the best bird-hunting seasons is in full swing proper now. I’m speaking about crow looking, and I’m telling you that when you aren’t in on this motion, and also you’re a critical hunter—you’re lacking out. Right here’s why it’s best to take into account looking these black bandits:
Crows are Straightforward to Discover
There are loads of causes to hunt crows, however the largest motive is that they’re simple to seek out. The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is certainly one of North America’s most widespread birds, with a presence nearly wherever individuals dwell in Canada and the U.S. Some other chook with a looking season is simply going to be accessible regionally; far-migrating waterfowl want water (clearly), and also you gained’t hunt them in the course of a desert. Different widespread birds akin to pigeons could also be discovered generally by way of most of North America, however there isn’t a looking season for them all over the place. Crows are nearly universally accessible, though there are locations you may’t hunt them (Montana, for one), so do your homework.
Because of this nearly anybody who desires to hunt crows can accomplish that. And in contrast to waterfowl looking, the place good spots are protected rigorously and landowners may be reluctant to share their property with out cash altering palms, nearly everyone seems to be prepared to share a crow looking spot. Farmers, particularly, are very joyful to have somebody are available in and begin blasting their beaks.
This would possibly all sound foolish, however in an age the place all the pieces is getting a price ticket hooked up, the flexibility to hunt one thing domestically with out an costly lease is value contemplating. Additionally, the license required for crow looking has all the time been low-priced, in my expertise, and in some locations a license could not even be required.
Crows are a Sensible Quarry
Crow looking is a difficult sport. Crows are one of many smartest animals on the market, with sharp eyesight and brains to match. They may fall for a trick one week, and you’ll bag a number of birds, however that flock might be cautious and gained’t be fooled once more as simply subsequent time. Researchers consider crows may even acknowledge human faces and warn others of their flock to watch out for sure individuals, which could clarify why the birds in my city all turned on me after one notably energetic winter of crowbusting…
Having stated that, regardless of their canny methods, crows are nonetheless notably weak to the best ways in the best place, particularly when you’re a superb caller. It is a large a part of the enjoyable of crow looking; studying the best way to use the best methods on the proper time.
Crow Looking doesn’t want Costly Gear
You don’t want luggage full of pricey decoys, plus waders, plus costly designer calls, plus a ship, plus a truck to pull that boat, for crow looking. You will get away with a handful of low cost decoys, or none in any respect, and a low-priced shotgun with the most affordable goal hundreds you could find. Crow looking is a really inexpensive recreation.
You will discover crow decoys accessible from the identical locations that promote duck decoys, since many waterfowl hunters use them as confidence decoys. These are typically dearer; I’ve discovered plastic crows that have been initially offered as Halloween decorations are less expensive, and work simply as effectively. I’ve additionally made my very own decoys from massive chunks of styrofoam that have been vaguely bird-shaped; stuff them right into a black sock, and also you’ll carry the birds in shut sufficient to shoot. Loads of hunters will add a crow decoy to stage mock fights; this drives the birds wild.
Keep Inexpensive
However you may get by with out many decoys, or any in any respect. A lot of my early hunts relied on merely scouting birds and throwing out one or two decoys, or simply utilizing a name to draw crows. Talking of which, that is the one piece of substances that I believe you completely want—you may hail crows in with out a name, simply utilizing your voice, very simply. However a name is far simpler in your vocal cords. You will discover a superb one for lower than $20.
An digital caller could be very helpful, when you’re critical about this recreation, particularly when you’re staging a mock battle with an owl. However you don’t must spend large bucks right here; lower-priced items from Icotec or comparable will work.
Firearms
And so far as your shotgun goes, you need to use something. I’ve killed many crows with outdated long-barreled, tight-choked single-shot shotguns that will in any other case be of little use afield. Crow looking is an effective way to get use out of older repeating shotguns just like the Ithaca 37 or Browning Auto 5, because you often aren’t restricted to non-toxic hundreds (examine your native regs, in fact).
Make It Sensible
In reality you may not even be required to make use of a shotgun. In my space, I can use any rifle I need, or perhaps a bow. Clearly this requires completely different ways; you don’t need to be blazing away at airborne birds with a .30-30. However when you’re looking wide-open pastures, a dialed-in rifle can take out birds at excessive ranges and alter the sport. As a substitute of woodchucks or prairie canine, take your long-distance varmint gun out for crows and have some enjoyable. In a extra populated space, an air gun could show a superb crow blaster—once more, make sure that it’s authorized.
Crow Looking will assist your Duck Looking
Need to get good at duck looking? Crow looking provides you with good observe within the arts of camouflage and gunnery. Whereas it’s not an actual comparability, the talents realized are helpful. You would possibly even discover farmers who allow you to shoot crows of their fields are afterwards extra open to letting you hunt geese or geese there as effectively.
You’ll be able to Eat Crows!
Sure, sure, “eat crow,” it’s all an enormous joke, blah blah blah. I’ve cooked crows and eaten them myself, and when you go to YouTube, you’ll discover movies of different individuals doing the identical. I personally discover they style like darkish turkey meat; different individuals describe the flavour different methods, however I’ve by no means heard of somebody who knew what they’re doing who described them as an disagreeable style, if dealt with appropriately.
Your mileage could fluctuate, and provided that crows are scavengers, I perceive anybody who’s hesitant to eat them. However I additionally know the diets of pigs, lobsters and different animals thought of delicacies would flip the stomachs of most customers. Crows’ carrion-eating tendencies don’t hassle me; the one motive I wouldn’t hunt them for meals is as a result of there’s not loads of meat on the chook.
Need to go looking crows? Learn your native rules, get some fundamental gear, and examine for Fb teams for extra ideas. Crowbusters.com has additionally been a supply of helpful data for greater than 25 years on-line, and a membership there’s solely $10 at time of writing.
