1rst crow of the season!

[Dannyg]

Crow season is here and I was fortunate enough to have a shot a some yesterday.
First off though, I can't say enough good about the Hades .22 pellets. Out of my Wildcat 500mm they are happiest somewhere between 915-935 fps. The 18 and 24 grainers are solid performers but the Hades just takes it up a notch. I get more DRT results with these than anything else!
I first them fly in and then realized there were several big nest raiders in the tree in the back. I cracked opened the door, ranged 47 yards, held my Wildcat against the door jam, found one sitting lowest in the tree and sent it straight down. Loaded another pellet and saw that 1 had stayed behind closer to the top of the tree and behind some leaves and a couple of branches. From the sound I knew I'd hit the branch as I watched it fly away. 1rst crow of the season! Let the games begin!

 

[MrP]

Are the crows causing you a problem or is this just general hunting? I know they are major pests for farmers.

What’s crazy is that they are protected by the songbird protection act and you can’t keep one as a pet, or even (I sh#t you not) collect the feathers, but you can shoot them. How does that make any sense? I’m all for protecting song birds, but I don’t understand the logic of this.

This is probably a stupid question, but I grew up inner city so give me a break: are there some regulations about what you’re supposed to do with the bodies?

 

[Contndr35BB]

Dannyg , nice shot ! Here in PA due to the infinite wisdom of our Game Commision , our new Crow season is now open in August . However the farmers get a break because of crop & silage cover damage . I guess the powers that be aren't concerned about songbird nests & fledglings . I'm keeping an eye on our Bluebird couple as the crows are reeking havoc on the Robins here . I agree that the Hades / FX Atomics are awesome . I've used them w/ great success on 'chucks to 50 yrds in my.22's .

 

[Dannyg]

Are the crows causing you a problem or is this just general hunting? I know they are major pests for farmers.

What’s crazy is that they are protected by the songbird protection act and you can’t keep one as a pet, or even (I sh#t you not) collect the feathers, but you can shoot them. How does that make any sense? I’m all for protecting song birds, but I don’t understand the logic of this.

This is probably a stupid question, but I grew up inner city so give me a break: are there some regulations about what you’re supposed to do with the bodies?

We have a hunting season here and the main concern for us and our neighbor who's land I hunt on, is song bird raiding, his new calfs and his crops. They come in 3 - 7 at a time and are very destructive.

 

[Contndr35BB]

MrP, hello . A bit of my experience w/ crows over my lifetime . I grew up on a farm . Crow hunting got serious after corn planting & just after the seed broke ground . Crows will walk the rows and pull every sprout they come to, to get the seed corn . We tried to shoot a few then hang the carcass on a long pole . The flock would scream & carry on for a day or two , never touching the field close by then stay away. I have used that trick many times for local farms here. My family & I have watched crows attacking & killing adult mocking birds , cat birds ,robins & mourning doves ,along w/ robbing their nests ( using our bird baths for wetting their kills ) and killing bluebird fledglings . Gardens take a beating too, they peck tomatoes green or ripe . As mentioned, silage bags , covers & wrapped round hay bales are another of the crows misdeeds , poking holes that promote spoilage . Giving credit where due ,they are very intelligent .

 

[WorriedMan]

Danny,
Congratulations, I'm jealous as heck. Took two years to "correct" an out-of-control crow population in my neighborhood, now none land closer than 300 yards! My Wildcat MK3 .30 Sniper and I had some "happy" times, now things are very quiet. Songbirds and neighbors are grateful, so that's something. Enjoy your "happy" times, WM

 

[MrP]

I’ve got flocks of starlings raiding my birdfeeder and am scratching my head over that problem, but that’s a topic for another thread. Appreciate the thoughtful answers

 

[Sempaidavid]

I have been playing a crow call track off of YouTube through a BT speaker. Works like a charm. They come in from all over. I got my 5th Crow today

 

[Dannyg]

I’ve got flocks of starlings raiding my birdfeeder and am scratching my head over that problem, but that’s a topic for another thread. Appreciate the thoughtful answers

Starlings are very smart and will respond to being shot at. The juveniles will be easy pickings but soon will catch on and not want to come back.

 

[MrP]

I’m still trying to reconcile myself with shooting at animals especially if there’s a high probability it wouldn’t be more or less an instant death. No way to I want to be firing multiple shots into a dying animal and my neighborhood is also too crowded for shooting anything powerful enough to just instantly destroy it. Maybe airsoft and just annoy the hell out of them. I’m guessing that airsoft isn’t quite low powered enough to be something that wouldn’t end up maiming or blinding them and that’s not an option.

If I was out on 40 acres or something, I would just vaporize them with my doug noble specials or 9mm Rex and feel good about humane kills.

 

[beerthief]

Back in Medieval times crow was game bird = food on the table . don't know if that's still an option OR now they scavenge road kill ?

 

[Ramjet]

Here in Alberta they're not protected and can be taken year round, Raven's also as long as they're taken on private land (can't be hunted on crown land).
Great shooting!

 

[delooper]

Here in Alberta they're not protected and can be taken year round, Raven's also as long as they're taken on private land (can't be hunted on crown land).
Great shooting!
View attachment 370306

Also in Canada (BC). Here I've had no problems with crows. They seem to have a handshake agreement with my chickens to share their excess feed in exchange for helping protect them against predators -- mostly eagles and hawks. I have had some trouble with ravens stealing chicken eggs recently. That's been annoying, as they're pretty smart birds. If I step out of the house, they're already gone.

 

[Ramjet]

Also in Canada (BC). Here I've had no problems with crows. They seem to have a handshake agreement with my chickens to share their excess feed in exchange for helping protect them against predators -- mostly eagles and hawks. I have had some trouble with ravens stealing chicken eggs recently. That's been annoying, as they're pretty smart birds. If I step out of the house, they're already gone.

They're very smart! Hard to get them within airgun range, but not impossible.