Dedicated turkey hunters know beyond all doubt that a big gobbler is the epitome of bird hunting, And any buck hunter will tell you that a big, old buck is the smartest animal that has ever walked the earth. Waterfowl hunters trumpet their Canada geese as easily the most wary and intelligentgame bird in the country.
I won't argue the merits of any of them, but my personal vote goes to the common American crow. I'll put a crow up against all of them!
Have you ever seen a whitetail follow a corn harvester for an easy meal? Or a Canada goose that could actually count the number of hunters entering a blind and avoid swinging in there because of it? How about a turkey using well over a dozen calls to convey his feelings to pals or the ladies? The crow does all of these things . By any measure the American crow is the Einstein of the feathered world.
A shotgunner who decides he wants to try his hand at crow hunting would be wise to do far more than pick up a shotgun and head out beyond the city limits. Successful crow hunting requires understanding the birds, where they go, when they leave and return, and when and where they feed. I was lucky to be schooled in this difficult game by a neighbor, the late Johnny Weller, of Uniontown and I don't think a more dedicated crow hunter ever hailed from Carroll County.
Crows are the most gregarious of all game birds when it comes to their own kind, and that is the key on how to hunt them. They gather in often enormous flocks at the end of each day, roosting in tall trees safe from ground predators. They'll fly many miles to find tree stands like this. It is important to locate these spots because once you do you're setting yourself up for some great pass shooting as the birds come and go. But, I am NOT saying to hunt right in their roosting trees which will force them to move to another safe place. Pick a flight lane the birds are following one or two miles away from evening gathering spots.
Crows will eat just about anything. They are meat eaters to the core. Setting yourself up a hundred yards or so off public roads at dawn puts you in the position to enjoy some great shooting. Crows learned to attach themselves to man ages ago and especially areas he cultivates crops. Crows abound eating not only spilled row crops of grains or vegetables, but also some bugs and insects that can plague man's crops. They are quick to seize on every opportunity and remember it.
After the big flocks depart from roosting areas, they tend to break up into smaller groups. At this time they are very vulnerable to bring to decoys. Anytime a crow sees another crow on the ground it just has to investigate – they can't help themselves!
A good setup can be as few as eight or 10 decoys placed about 30 yards from your hide. Camo clothing is a must and I always favor a natural cover material.
I have read and been told that crows have a vocabulary of well over 100 different calls. I don't doubt it, but no hunter can expect to learn them all. A hand held call is fairly east to master and is inexpensive, but if I were still able to hunt them, I'd spend the dollars needed for an electronic call, today. With one you have so many options at your fingertips.
If your crow hunting takes place in open country, nothing works better than the standard 12 gauge trap load of No. 7 ½ shot For pass shooting at 30 yards or beyond, you might want to go to 1 1/8 ounce of No. 6 shot.
If you do your homework, I think you can expect to collect 25 or more crows a day.
Good luck and have fun!
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Lonny Weaver is a Times outdoors writer. His column appears every other Sunday. Reach him at 410-857-7896 or sports@carrollcountytimes.com.
