Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: Houndhunter on January 05, 2010, 02:00:31 PM

Title: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Houndhunter on January 05, 2010, 02:00:31 PM: so i got this area by me that ive called in for a few years, called in some yotes but nothing great about the area. but what has happened the last few times is i start calling and 10-15min into it a few thousnd crows come and start goin nuts right above my head. the first time this happened i thought it was great and when some critter heard and saw all these crows and heard me calling they would come running. well so far when ever those crows come to me and start making a bunch of noise, nothing comes in. so my Q is are these crows giving me away? i really dont know, i cant say its a good thing because nothing has came in but you'd think having that many swarm around you would attract some attention right? it can get a lil eerie when that many are right above your head, im pretty sure that many could kill me if they wanted :chuckle:. anyways figured maybe a few guys on here could help me out, thanks
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: saylean on January 05, 2010, 02:19:07 PM: I do not know for sure if it helps or hurts. But, if I had to guess (as I have had the same situation, with dozens of crows, down to a few of them and have thought about it), I think it helps.

The more natural sounds/movements around a distress call the better I would think. To me it is not much different than doing a rabbit distress and throwing in coyote yelps to make it sound like a dog is ripping into a victim. Crows buzzing around all excited around a distress call I would guess would only confirm the animals belief in that something is hurt. After all, it is hard to simulate a flock of crows flying around (visually).

You're right though,....seeing all those crows above ya, it makes it feels like Alfred Hitchcock is close by.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Houndhunter on January 05, 2010, 03:01:33 PM: i was thinking maybe the crows saying that this isnt food, you know like saying somethins up here. im sure they spot me out fairly fast. but ive had luck mixing yote yipes with a distress, hell ive even used my crow call with a sitress which has worked also. but this is alota crows, i mean alot.

thanks for the comment, always appreciate the bear man's advice ;)
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Axle on January 05, 2010, 03:08:00 PM: The crows definitely help! It represents a natural setting.
When predators are going after my chickens there are always crows flying and squawking overhead. This is how I know to grab the 22 and head out there. When I do, that is when I get a coyote or bobcat. It is lots of fun too.
Advice these days is to take a crow call when you go out to call predators and sound off with the crow call while you are using the distress call.
Predators are quite used to this happening to them. They get followed all the time by these scavengers.
The more natural you can be - the more successful you will be.
Just be sure to let us all know when you connect in a situation like that. :chuckle:
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: high country on January 05, 2010, 03:12:29 PM: out here where we shoot a lot of crows I can tell you that they are nervous as hell. I would say it is a good thing.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 05, 2010, 03:32:57 PM: they have always been good is my :twocents: like said above it is natural and alot of times they will let you know if there is somthing in the area and also like said they are nervous as hell and if they are there i see no harm in it
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: bobcat on January 05, 2010, 03:40:26 PM: If I had that many crows coming in I'd be packing a 12 gauge loaded with 6's. :chuckle: :mgun2:
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: markts on January 05, 2010, 03:45:50 PM: I always feel good when I fool the crows. :twocents: Mark
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: rasbo on January 05, 2010, 03:46:54 PM: I like crows on this side and magpies on the other.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: furbearer365 on January 05, 2010, 03:50:29 PM: I can remember a set up i did a while back that i can truely say with without a doubt that the crows helped. I was calling in a spot off the beaten path but was tryng for bobcat. All i did was starling distress and woodpecker back and forth. This went on for almost 45 minutes. Just as i was about to call it a wrap, i took one last look with my binos just along the timber edge and spotted a coyote sitting in the thick brush just watching my decoy. Since a coyote came in i changed up the sounds to try and entice him out for a clean shot but he would not budge. As a last ditch effort i turned on a crow mobbing a got a few crows to enter the mix. I watch this coyote through my scope as he watched the crows hoover over my decoy. His head litterally went up then down about 10 times before he desided to come out and have a closer look. The body language he gave off was that if the crows were sold on it then it must not be harmful.
Point is, have you ever seen a crow that doesn't take right off when they see a human. If they seen danger, they are usually the first one to take off.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Houndhunter on January 05, 2010, 04:17:53 PM: thanks for all the replys, i guess i should wait a while when the crows show up. they leave after i stop calling for awhile, it would be interesting if i had one of them moving decoys in front of me

i forgot some stuff out there so i will most likely go there here soon, i'll take pics of the crows to if they come in again
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Axle on January 05, 2010, 04:56:39 PM: I would guess an ideal setup would be two callers. One for the distress and the other one blasting out crow calls. Does the fox pro have crow calls in it?
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Kain on January 05, 2010, 05:06:30 PM: Crows will definitely take off if they know you are there. They have great eyesight and are very skittish. So if you are calling in crows you are doing it right. IMO. I have never seen them bring anything in but I am sure that coyotes are used to seeing crows on dead animals and will probably be attracted to the ruckus.

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Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: rasbo on January 05, 2010, 05:43:25 PM: I keep a crow call in my pocket and switch
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 05, 2010, 05:49:52 PM: axle you can have them put on there if you want foxpro has allot crow calls for sure. i have never used them myself but i know of a few people that do.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: grousetracker on January 05, 2010, 06:56:20 PM: im wondering if you may of called in some coyotes without seeing them and now they see the crows and are relunctant to come in again.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Jerry malbeck on January 05, 2010, 07:13:38 PM: I wont say they are doing you any harm , or any good .
I have tried useing crow sounds many many times and have yet to ever have a coyote respond to it .
BUT im on the east side . I have talked to a few of my friends that are excellent callers and they have had the same results.
I have read posts on some diffrent web sites that have claimed the crow sounds are very productive and have sealed the deal for some callers .
It would seem to me it would be a great attractor , but i have yet to experiance that .
I have seen crows dive bombing coyotes out in the sage , so i always keep an eye on them and the magpies when they fly near one of my stands.
If sompthing changes and they do help, be sure to keep us posted . Jerry .
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Houndhunter on January 05, 2010, 09:05:45 PM: Quote from: grousetracker on January 05, 2010, 06:56:20 PM
im wondering if you may of called in some coyotes without seeing them and now they see the crows and are relunctant to come in again.

that could be true
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: saylean on January 06, 2010, 04:57:38 PM: "bear man"?!

How honored I feel!

Good luck with the calling. I have been looking to add a crow call to my stash.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: shaneman153D on January 06, 2010, 10:01:31 PM: My experience (though limited) has been the opposite. Anytime a coyote is feeding on a carcass and I'm waiting for a shot, the crows (or ravens?) inevitably show up and spook the coyote. Though if I'm there the crows don't usually get too close, I swear they can spot your camo'd head from 250yds.

Funny, the crows on the west side were not nearly as skittish.

Bring a shotgun.
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: Aneoakleaf on January 06, 2010, 10:22:39 PM: I think It definately helps, Had a flock come in to a set up for coyotes a few years back and a bobie pounced into my lap and I put an arrow between his eyes at 3 yards!
Title: Re: do crows f'up calling?
Post by: KTMSMOKER on January 07, 2010, 05:37:43 PM: Ever read something too fast and misunderstand it? I read "cow" not "crow." I was concerned to say the least.