Raven & Crows

[Drillbit]

Anybody else hammering down?

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y414/Drillbit/IMG_20140404_134500_zps1eb78d33.jpg (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/Drillbit/media/IMG_20140404_134500_zps1eb78d33.jpg.html)

[Drillbit]

Nobody??

This turned out to be a dozen bird day....

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y414/Drillbit/noname_zps26ad7225.jpg (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/Drillbit/media/noname_zps26ad7225.jpg.html)

[Drillbit]

Another, with the best retriever I've ever shot over, ready to roll, lol

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y414/Drillbit/IMG_20140324_154908_zpsfbb150fb.jpg (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/Drillbit/media/IMG_20140324_154908_zpsfbb150fb.jpg.html)

If any dog guys know what kind of dog this is, he's pretty smart when it comes to crow/raven hunting. Great spotter and retriever, runs all day and never get bucked off the back. Getting deaf & stiff though @ 14 YO. Would like to try and find another one when he stops doing his job.

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y414/Drillbit/IMG_20140324_154454_zps596bf83f.jpg (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/Drillbit/media/IMG_20140324_154454_zps596bf83f.jpg.html)

[Drillbit]

Fishin's slow tonight......:)

If anyone wants meat, let me know (I'm sure it tastes like chicken)! I'll put it on the Bus for ya!! Gluten free AND organic!!!! They've been eating Veal and grain since they showed up so they must be good.

[huntcoop]

That's awesome, what do you use for calls and how do the birds react? What do you do with the birds?

[Bear Chaser]

Nice. Looks like a good day.

[huntcoop]

Eating veal?

[Drillbit]

Eating veal?

Killing calves.

Pretty much the best bait there is (the afterbirth more than the calves). And the grain pile is right beside the calving pens lol

Have been using a foxpro and it works pretty good too. If you can see them, they come.

We don't call too much, mostly tag-team hunt them. ie send a guy to the other side of the farm on ATV, then one guy do a loop on ATV and chase them to the other guy. When there's a lull then we call a bit. Have tried owl, crow decoys with little success and use mouth calls once in awhile, but so far the foxpro works the best. If things are really slow, jump in the tractor or skidder to plow trails and use that as a distraction.

They're smart..... but also curious and greedy, and they pay for it.

[Bear Chaser]

If it were legal the best hunting method I can think of would be for the shooter to sit up top on the back of a combine harvesting late canola swathes. Usually all the ravens in the country show up to go after the mice that squirt out of the swathes.

[Drillbit]

If it were legal the best hunting method I can think of would be for the shooter to sit up top on the back of a combine harvesting late canola swathes. Usually all the ravens in the country show up to go after the mice that squirt out of the swathes.

Haha, now you're the one doing the fishin'!

[Bear Chaser]

It used to drive me nuts operating combine and watching ravens so fat with mice that they could barely avoid the machine. Fortunately for the ravens I was always too busy to waste time on them. Dusting them in a barnyard at this time of year would be pretty fun.

[B-rad]

I'm still hammering the crows,,,,I have a spot I put a few silhouette decoys out(crow),,,,but it somewhat in their flight path,,they curious birds and always gotta check the decoys out

[Viper]

"If any dog guys know what kind of dog this is, he's pretty smart when it comes to crow/raven hunting. Great spotter and retriever, runs all day and never get bucked off the back. Getting deaf & stiff though @ 14 YO. Would like to try and find another one when he stops doing his job."

Looks like one sturdy strong dog. I think he's a lab/pitty cross. Is his name scare crow.

[Drillbit]

"If any dog guys know what kind of dog this is, he's pretty smart when it comes to crow/raven hunting. Great spotter and retriever, runs all day and never get bucked off the back. Getting deaf & stiff though @ 14 YO. Would like to try and find another one when he stops doing his job."

Looks like one sturdy strong dog. I think he's a lab/pitty cross. Is his name scare crow.

His name's Duke! Ya, lab, something for sure. Sure makes hunting more enjoyable with a good hunting dog.

[Foxton Gundogs]

Good for you for hammering those damn birds. Just a heads up though, it's really not a good idea to let your dog retrieve crows/ravens. If only injured they will go for the eyes of the dog, I have seen a couple of really bad near misses and one dog lose an eye to a wounded crow, and as we know a good dog just wont quit.

[Drillbit]

Good for you for hammering those damn birds. Just a heads up though, it's really not a good idea to let your dog retrieve crows/ravens. If only injured they will go for the eyes of the dog, I have seen a couple of really bad near misses and one dog lose an eye to a wounded crow, and as we know a good dog just wont quit.

Fair enough warning. He's been doing it for 12/13 years now and is either lucky, or good :)

He usually chomps then right away......so as good as he is a crow/raven retrieving, he's probably not the best with something a guy would want to eat as they do get damaged a bit lol

[Foxton Gundogs]

Fair enough warning. He's been doing it for 12/13 years now and is either lucky, or good :)

He usually chomps then right away......so as good as he is a crow/raven retrieving, he's probably not the best with something a guy would want to eat as they do get damaged a bit lol

Good enuff, just wanted to give you a heads up, hey what do you get when you cross a Pit Bull and a Lab, apparently a crow retrieving specialist, he's got a job he loves and is good at what more can a man ask of a dog.

[B-rad]

Over in Britain and Scotland most hunters refuse to use dogs for retrieval of crows,,,,they really are an aggressive birds if only winged to the ground for retrieval,,,,eyes punctured,,rip cartilage of nose,,,,and some times stab the retriever in neck or general area,,

[Drillbit]

Good enuff, just wanted to give you a heads up, hey what do you get when you cross a Pit Bull and a Lab, apparently a crow retrieving specialist, he's got a job he loves and is good at what more can a man ask of a dog.

You bet, thanks!

He's not only a retriever, he spots them too. Never barks, just perks up and looks at them when they're coming in. Actually, I've never heard him bark, ever.

He's the only one that enjoys the hunt as much as me, happy to have him around for another spring for sure.


Today we only got one on the ground, things are slowing down, all the dumb ones are dead.

Only 13 cows left to calve, then it'll be Gopher season!

[markomoose]

Thats a cool dog you got their Drillbit!I got a dog off Mt.Currie Reserve a few years back and he basically chows on anything except snakes and frogs.I think dog instincts are unbelievable.That garter snake may be a rattler or that frog may be poisonous?

[Drillbit]

Thats a cool dog you got their Drillbit!I got a dog off Mt.Currie Reserve a few years back and he basically chows on anything except snakes and frogs.I think dog instincts are unbelievable.That garter snake may be a rattler or that frog may be poisonous?

Thanks!
Ol' Duke's a Rez dog too! lol Straight from Kluskus. Been riding ATV's since day one!


B-rad
What kind of silhouette's do you use, home made or bought? How many do you put out? On the ground or in trees?

Gotta try something different for the next bit, they're on to me, big-time!

[markomoose]

Good for you for hammering those damn birds. Just a heads up though, it's really not a good idea to let your dog retrieve crows/ravens. If only injured they will go for the eyes of the dog, I have seen a couple of really bad near misses and one dog lose an eye to a wounded crow, and as we know a good dog just wont quit.

No worrries there Foxton!Those rez dogs may not have the pedigree but they make that up in their enthusiasm to rip the s***t outta those s***hawks!No offense.You have beautiful dogs by the way!!

[Viper]

What about the West Nile virus? Is it everywhere and would it affect an animal that loves to crunch down and them?

[Foxton Gundogs]

You bet, thanks!

He's not only a retriever, he spots them too. Never barks, just perks up and looks at them when they're coming in. Actually, I've never heard him bark, ever.

He's the only one that enjoys the hunt as much as me, happy to have him around for another spring for sure.


Today we only got one on the ground, things are slowing down, all the dumb ones are dead.

Only 13 cows left to calve, then it'll be Gopher season!
I miss calving time loooong days but when its over and youve managed 100%+ its a pretty good feeling
My favorite time was always branding/turn out . Gophers are the best havent given my gopher gun much of a work out since moving to the Island

[Foxton Gundogs]

Thanks!
Ol' Duke's a Rez dog too! lol Straight from Kluskus. Been riding ATV's since day one!


B-rad
What kind of silhouette's do you use, home made or bought? How many do you put out? On the ground or in trees?

Gotta try something different for the next bit, they're on to me, big-time!
Try loading your puckup with garbage and leaving it some place you havent been hammerg them hide close by and wait it used to work great for a shoot or 2 for us when the black *******s got wise.

[Drillbit]

Try loading your puckup with garbage and leaving it some place you havent been hammerg them hide close by and wait it used to work great for a shoot or 2 for us when the black *******s got wise.

Haha ya, McD's brown bags should work!

Got skunked today (only took one shot and got a magpie). Nothing in the sky but eagles and hawks.

Gonna go to the neighbours tomorrow and try there.

[albravo2]

Good thread. Nice shooting.

I had a chuckle when I noticed the 'Upland Birds and Small Game'. Never really thought of crows as either of those.

[Drillbit]

Good thread. Nice shooting.

I had a chuckle when I noticed the 'Upland Birds and Small Game'. Never really thought of crows as either of those.

Thanks!

Haha ya, there's no varmint/pest section, so it seemed the next best spot.

Next up is Gophers, they should pass as small game, right? lol

[Drillbit]

The big branding party is next weekend. Great comraderie with great people. Usually end up at the Horsefly Follies after. Always a great time!


No, can't imagine gopher hunting on the island. Are there any on the island?
Mostly use a 22 for gophers, but the places we can use a 22-250 sure puts smiles on faces.

[Drillbit]

Best ammo for ravens is 3" lead #2's. Haven't tried 3.5 steel yet ( I save them for when I need to use steel), but 3" Blackclouds are pretty weak.

In a pinch the CanTire #2 Heavy 2 3/4's are about as good as it gets.

I ran out of cardboard shells this year and am into old imperials (got them from mrak off this site). If anybody want to get rid of some old "whammy shells" let me know!

I run a Benelli SBE II 26" with a factory full choke. Used to run an 11-87 but broke the extractor too many times and always had cycling problems, o-rings too.
My sidekick runs a Benelli Vinci 26" med choke and Blackclouds

[f350ps]

I've got two dead ones hung up in the big pine tree in my front yard, gonna have to wait till the wind shakes them loose, till then they ain't goin anywhere near that tree! Something I've done many times is when they start to get wise is I fill some big garbage bags with crumpled up newspaper and throw them out in or near their flight path. Throw a few pieces around the bags, they can't resist. A few decoys work best in this situation but I've done it without them also. Good luck, K

[B-rad]

I took 1 of the dead crows and traced it out on cardboard,,,,,then used the 1 from the cardboard and traced out 18 more,,,,,bought 4 cans of cheap black spray paint,,,,,then hot glued cloths pins to bottom,,,,can put a few in the trees as well as a good handful on the ground,,,,I used anywhere of 6-15 decoys,,,,I've even had coyotes coming in to check them out

[Drillbit]

I took 1 of the dead crows and traced it out on cardboard,,,,,then used the 1 from the cardboard and traced out 18 more,,,,,bought 4 cans of cheap black spray paint,,,,,then hot glued cloths pins to bottom,,,,can put a few in the trees as well as a good handful on the ground,,,,I used anywhere of 6-15 decoys,,,,I've even had coyotes coming in to check them out

Thanks!! Hope you don't have the patent on that, cause I'd like to try it.

Went to the neighbours today. Got chased around by the little Stud donkey and ended up hiding behind a bundle of fence posts. Seems like UnderArmour is like lingerie to that little bugger!lol Put on some plaid so he'd leave me alone!

Turned on the foxpro and 5 crows came in fast. Took 3 good shots, but only dropped 2 outta the sky. Must be the ammo, was using #2, 2oz copper buffered 3" federals today:). Got a raven coming in late to investigate. After that it was "crickets" on that ranch too.

I guess it's time to get the Yamaha golf cart out of storage for spring gophers.

[Foxton Gundogs]

The big branding party is next weekend. Great comraderie with great people. Usually end up at the Horsefly Follies after. Always a great time!


No, can't imagine gopher hunting on the island. Are there any on the island?
Mostly use a 22 for gophers, but the places we can use a 22-250 sure puts smiles on faces.

Say Hi to Doug and Wendy B for me, Miss the gopher shooting but not the gophers lol

[itsy bitsy xj]

I guess it's time to get the Yamaha golf cart out of storage for spring gophers.

I have a Yamaha golf cart... can I come play ??

[Drillbit]

I have a Yamaha golf cart... can I come play ??

Depends. I don't like to share my SuperSecretSpots!

And here I thought I was the only guy in BC that bought a golf cart strictly for hunting (and Sporting clays).

I gotta say it, your avatar pic is Awesome!!

Foxton, will do if I run into them:)