Shotshell Reloads Paid Off

[DODGEM250]

Here's a snap shot of a Crow I got with my 12 gauge reloads. I'm using some 12 gauge high brass hull pickups from the local shooting range. 26 grains of Hodgdon "Clays" powder. The #7/8 Reclaim lead shot from RotoMetals. The primers are #97 shotshell primers from Remington. My wife lets me use her Mossberg 500.

I reloaded a box of 25 shotshells for Crow hunting since the local stores don't sell anything worth owning here in Southern Maryland. I like to reach out and touch these Crows, but, I can't get it done with the light loads the local stores sell. I would like to fine some #6 shot.

[michael30.06]

Well done that man!!
Wish my wife had a Rem 500.
or maybe not.

[RugerFan]

Nice! Using a MEC reloader?

[DODGEM250]

Here's another one I got this morning. Today is the last day of the season here in Maryland so this might be the last one until August 15, 2012 when the season comes back in.

I'm taking my nephew out this afternoon for the end of season hoorah.

[DODGEM250]

Nice! Using a MEC reloader?

Using a Lee Load-All II

I've priced them all and Lee was the best choice. I have both the 12 and 20 gauge presses.

[smoked turkey]

Our crow season here ended almost two weeks ago. I only went once but I sure enjoyed it. I am going to get some decoys and get ready for next season. It was really fun even though I only got one. When they come into the call they really come in. It could be additive I'm afraid.

[MT Chambers]

Congrats, where I am you can shoot crows anytime, no season, yet Ravens are protected, same bird only bigger.

[DODGEM250]

Our crow season here ended almost two weeks ago. I only went once but I sure enjoyed it. I am going to get some decoys and get ready for next season. It was really fun even though I only got one. When they come into the call they really come in. It could be additive I'm afraid.

Get yourself a crow caller setup and at least 6 decoys and you'll be set. Use full camo or a ground blind and don't move when they come in, let them get right over you and then let them have it.

My crow caller is an old car cassette deck mounted in a wooden box I made ot carry the calls, cassettes, CD's, shotshells, etc, running off of a 12V car battery with a 8x4 PA horn speaker. The system is plenty loud and the battery will last all day.

If you leave the field with only one crow, the trip paid for itself. Our Crow populations are way down here in Maryland due to a disease a few years ago. Numbers are climbing again however.

If you hunt over an open field, use a four sided ground blind and plant yourself right in the middle of the field about 20-30 yards from your decoy setup. Spread 3-4 decoys far about and use 3-4 in a small group tight to some fake roadkill like they are feeding on something and use the Crow Frenzy tape and get ready.

[rockrat]

When I used to shoot them, I ended up loading mag 2's. Too many times I just rattled #4's off their feathers. Could really reach out and "touch em" with the mag 2's

[DODGEM250]

Congrats, where I am you can shoot crows anytime, no season, yet Ravens are protected, same bird only bigger.

I wish Maryland would omit the 1918 federal law here (Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918). We were good until 1972 when the law was amended to include Crows.

However, Crows are a Federally protected migratory species and are only allowed to be hunted in any state no more than 124 days in any calender year. No state in the U.S. has a 365 day season on Crows. If you assume this in your state, you better dig into your states laws because no state is year-round on Crows. See #2 and #3, otherwise you are breaking the law.

Additional information:



The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was enacted, principally, between Great Britain (for Canada) and the United States and was intended to give Federal protection to most birds in the United States but did not include crows or other birds in the Corvidae family. Various treaties were made with different countries and in 1936 the Migratory Bird and Game Mammal Treaty with Mexico was adopted. This protected certain migratory birds in the U.S. and Mexico and amended the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. The Treaty was further amended on March 10, 1972. This amendment finally added 32 additional families of birds including eagles, hawks, owls and the Corvidae family…which includes the crow species.






Therefore, crow hunting regulations are handled differently and are subject to different restrictions than hunting regulations for other birds. Crows are not considered a game bird and Corvidae is not included in the list of families under the definition of game bird. However, there are two provisions specifically for taking crows under Federal regulations (50 CFR Parts 20 and 21).


Section 20.133 provides States with the opportunity to set sport-hunting seasons without notifying the service. These seasons must comply with certain restrictions:





Crows shall not be hunted from aircraft.



The hunting season or seasons on crows shall not exceed a total of 124 days during a calendar year



Hunting shall not be permitted during the peak crow nesting period within a State and



Crows may only be taken by firearms, bow and arrow and falconry

[DODGEM250]

When I used to shoot them, I ended up loading mag 2's. Too many times I just rattled #4's off their feathers. Could really reach out and "touch em" with the mag 2's

I started using some left over steel #4 from my waterfowl hunting this year about 3 weeks ago. Problem is that steel **** we have to use now for waterfowl is no good for shooting anything.

The #7/8 reclaimed shot I bought from RotoMetals is good, but, it's a tad small for Crows. I would love to have some #6 or #5 to reload, but, I have 20 pounds of this reclaimed stuff yet.

Besides it's now summer, today is the last day for Crow here, and I'll use up the reclaim stuff for clay targets.

The reason I reload my own for Crow is simply that the commercial stuff lacks "BANG" I want to be able to get up there about 50-60 yards and spice them before they hit the ground. The commercial shotshells just don't do it. My reloads with the 26 grains of Clays makes a bang.

[PanaDP]

Why bother to shoot crows?

[DODGEM250]

Well done that man!!
Wish my wife had a Rem 500.
or maybe not.

I have a Remington 870 20 gauge...
she has the Mossberg 500 12 gauge

I have a 17HMR revolver...
she has a .357 Mag revolver

Sad ain't it... LOL

[runfiverun]

#4 1 oz steel shot loads at 17-1800 fps isn't anything to sneeze at.......
45-50 yd shots on a crow should be a slam dunk with it.
even #5 lead pushed along at 14-1500 will put them down that far out.
you need to research shotshell loads a little bit better.

[DODGEM250]

#4 1 oz steel shot loads at 17-1800 fps isn't anything to sneeze at.......
45-50 yd shots on a crow should be a slam dunk with it.
even #5 lead pushed along at 14-1500 will put them down that far out.
you need to research shotshell loads a little bit better.

It's ok, I'm not ignorant of shotshells. Been using them for 30+ years. Again, this is why I reloaded my own, to get what I wanted out of the shotshell. Ask just about any waterfowler and they'll tell you same thing, the new steel shot regulations is a joke. Commercial shotshells are a joke, good for shooting clays and Dove. I am also not new to Crow hunting, been doing it since I was a kid.

[smoked turkey]

Dodgem250: Thanks for the set up info. The old car player is a good idea. I have a couple of mouth calls. They each sound a little different. They seemed to work because when me and my buddy started calling in they came and in a hurry. It was over all too quick. We were stationed under some cedar limbs and in full camo, so they didn't see us. I am sure they did spot us at our first set up because they came in so quick we weren't ready. They have extremely sharp vision apparently. We were using some pheasant loads. The one I shot really wasn't that far off the ground and it came right down and landed about 5 yards from me. I had planned to get about six decoys.

[DODGEM250]

Dodgem250: Thanks for the set up info. The old car player is a good idea. I have a couple of mouth calls. They each sound a little different. They seemed to work because when me and my buddy started calling in they came and in a hurry. It was over all too quick. We were stationed under some cedar limbs and in full camo, so they didn't see us. I am sure they did spot us at our first set up because they came in so quick we weren't ready. They have extremely sharp vision apparently. We were using some pheasant loads. The one I shot really wasn't that far off the ground and it came right down and landed about 5 yards from me. I had planned to get about six decoys.

They do ave very good vision. They are like hawks, they see a field mouse from a mile away. If the come in a group they are more often "stupid" and don't pay much attention to surroundings if there are decoys on the ground. If one comes alone, he is very weary.

Early morning is the best hunting, be set up and ready to shoot before the Twilight starts. Crows come off of roost right at the start of twilight and they fly lower at this time. When the Sunrise starts they start flying higher. By 8:30 - 9 AM the game is over, they have gone to their day hangout and they are tough to pursued off of that tree.

As for decoys I would suggest 6-8 regular size decoys. There are some "over-sized" decoys out there, but, the Crows know the difference in the size. Also you want to make the decoys have some motion as well.

The best investment I have made is the Air Wings (http://www.edgebyexpedite.com/store/air-crow-replacement-wing-set.html), you have got to buy a couple sets of these and install them on at least 2 of your decoys. Also consider adding 1-2 of the spread wing "flying" decoys and mount these on poles. As for calling tapes, look to a "Crow Frenzy" tape like this Western Rivers 593 Mity Call Crow Distress (http://www.pcsoutdoors.com/westernrivers593mitycallcrowdistresscassettetape.a spx)
Of course you can use a less power draining CD player as well and simply buy Crow Call CDs instead of cassette tapes.

This is the new speaker I just bought to replace my old, smaller, speaker: PHSP5 8'' Indoor / Outdoor 65 Watt PA Horn Speaker (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pyle-PHSP5-8-Indoor-Outdoor-65-Watt-PA-Horn-Speaker-/150778046304?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item231b126760)

Crow calling is an art just like Duck / Goose. Electronic calls are fine BUT, you have to remember to talk "to" them and not "at" them.A mouth call talks to them. Tapes and CD's talk at them. They learn quick what is real and what is really fake.



.

[runfiverun]

It's ok, I'm not ignorant of shotshells. Been using them for 30+ years. Again, this is why I reloaded my own, to get what I wanted out of the shotshell. Ask just about any waterfowler and they'll tell you same thing, the new steel shot regulations is a joke. Commercial shotshells are a joke, good for shooting clays and Dove. I am also not new to Crow hunting, been doing it since I was a kid.

everybody looks at the steel regulations as a problem.
they aren't new b.t.w. they have been testing steel since the 70's.
the steel regulations have actually been a good thing for shotgunning,it has lead to more development in 15 years than anything else has ever done for the sport. [except the plastic hull/wad]
i doubt anybody ever missed a crossing duck by leading it untill the high vel steel loads were used.
the factory cheap fodder is just that cheap,to buy, and to make.
quality loads take time,effort,and testing.
when you can roll a coyote at 70 yds with a shotgun,it is because of the junky "steel" loads.
lead shot isn't the top dog anymore [except in price]

[DODGEM250]

everybody looks at the steel regulations as a problem.
they aren't new b.t.w. they have been testing steel since the 70's.
the steel regulations have actually been a good thing for shotgunning,it has lead to more development in 15 years than anything else has ever done for the sport. [except the plastic hull/wad]
i doubt anybody ever missed a crossing duck by leading it untill the high vel steel loads were used.
the factory cheap fodder is just that cheap,to buy, and to make.
quality loads take time,effort,and testing.
when you can roll a coyote at 70 yds with a shotgun,it is because of the junky "steel" loads.
lead shot isn't the top dog anymore [except in price]

and... back to Crow hunting with reloaded lead shotshells...

[DODGEM250]

Why bother to shoot crows?

Why bother to shoot anything ? Food, population control. Not here to debate why we shoot them. Save that for a PETA thread. annnnnnd... back to Crow hunting with reloaded lead shotshells...

[HodakaGA]

Georgia has a season but it effectively lasts all year. There is a exemption for crop damage that allows them to be shot anytime.

Why shoot them? Have you seen how high priced pecans are now? A crow can eat $5 worth of pecans a day. I hate the nasty thieves, especially since they like to raid songbird nests, steal the young and eggs and eat them at my birdbath.

[runfiverun]

i shoot em to see the foooof of black rain...
the ravens, magpies,starlings and such beat them to all the living edibles.

[LUBEDUDE]

Why bother to shoot crows?



I'll relay a personal story:

While at gunshop that sells wagon loads of crow hunting supplies, I asked a salesman there what the laws were here in East Tx on crow hunting.
He said that it is legal to shoot them IF they are destroying your property.

I asked, "how do you prove that to the game warden ? "

He said that the local game warden told him, " when a crow wakes up in the morning, the only thing on his mind, IS destroying YOUR property! " :-P

That was good enough for me.

[kenyerian]

I shoot crows because they really eat my planted sweet corn if I don't. Besides that calling crows is fun.

[Slowpoke]

I have seen the crows- ravens grab a pecan and fly way up and drop them on the HWY to crack em.

The best crow decoy's I have seen in action are wounded crows, almost like fish in a barrel.

If you like to garden crows are a pain in the rear, that's the main reason I shoot --trap them, I have also seen first hand ravens pick the eyes and navel's of new born lambs when the mother is having twins.

Good hunting

[9.3X62AL]

Hunting shotshells are a different sort of reload than the target shotshells (and their low-end duplicators) sold as "dove and quail" loads every August. Cheap shells are exactly that--cheap, and inefficient in the bargain.

I use 3-3/4 dram-equivalent/1-1/4 oz loads for doves, quail, and pheasant. Doves and quail get #9 shot--pheasants get #5. I use high-grade shot, and high-end wad columns to load with. The payoff is MUCH better patterns and much higher hit rates. Range gets extended a bit, too.

Don't be afraid to change choke tubes, either. On a dove stand, 2 shotguns get employed--my good old Win 1200 with 30" full choke for reach after opening morning--and the Rem 870 with improved cylinder for early morning work. If I walk up doves--quail--or pheasants--the Rem gets chosen, with Improved Modified funnel in place.

[Love Life]

Shooting crows sure is fun. Nothing like setting up in a Georgia pecan orchard to lay waste to the black air rats. We also shot them with center fire rifles as well. We would set up decoys in a field and shoot from an old barn with a board removed. Rule for us was you had to kill the scout!!

Crows are wiley little devils. The are very wary and you have to be careful or they spot you and the game is off. Of course when you out calling coyotes they will land on your head (exaggeration, but not much) and when sweeping the porch they will hang out.

Try to sneak outside with a shotgun though and POOF! they disappear into the sky.

Man I like shooting crows. Good thread and I hope you get many more of them in the future.

[mx5tc]

Snip..
Crows are wiley little devils. The are very wary and you have to be careful or they spot you and the game is off. Of course when you out calling coyotes they will land on your head (exaggeration, but not much) and when sweeping the porch they will hang out.

Try to sneak outside with a shotgun though and POOF! they disappear into the sky.

Man I like shooting crows. Good thread and I hope you get many more of them in the future.

Well said! Every time I've been in the field with a 12 gauge, the crows never get within a 100 yards. I need to get some decoys and set up a blind so I can bag a few of those pests.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Been popping those pesky black fruit destroyers since I was first hunting. They are filthy pests that spread diseases in abundance. East Central ILLinois is where I bushwack-em.
Reload my own with #4 & #6 shot mix of 1 1/4 ounce. Push it at 1250-1300 fps. Use my old Philie Fox or the Fox B. Great early morning fun. I get to my bush blinds before light. Get the decoys set... At least one in a tree overlooking the ground decoys. When you get your first bird(s) down run out there and use the fallen as decoys also. Prop them up so they look natural feeding on the ground. If you pop one the mate will come back ready to fight when it views the downed crow in with the bunch on the ground. If you leave dead crows just laying about no new ones are going to come close.
Full cammo and no movement when crows are less than 100 yards. If hunting with another have them face 180 degrees away. Crows will circle about checking all sides. Have had them land in a tree closeby trying to figure out where the "talker" is. I use a mouth call and have shot hundreds. Just imitate what the crows are calling out. Learn the simple "where are you" and "come here" calls. They are curious bully birds and love to gang up on squatters. Learn the fight call for when they are close in. Generally one hour after sunrise I head home. Might get something else to come by. Late afternoon also is good as they are headed back to the roosting zone. A foggy or low overcast day is fantastic. Clear no wind days expect them to fly high. Wait till you see a 100 bird + frenzy swirl above your decoys !
Mike in Peru

[1kshooter]

I have hunted crows for over 25 years and mostly with a shot gun...I for one like the steel shot and after you learn how to shoot with it's tighter pattern and shorter shot string and of cource it's faster speed ...well it is a very good killilg load!.....I shoot lots of geese with it to about 250-300 each year!!