Best tool for crow control

The pigeon man

So I have a bit of a problem on one of my permissions with grey crows and magpies etc. I currently have a shotgun and 22lr but I find it's impossible to get within 150m of them without them flying off.

I'm now wondering should I go for something more powerful like a .223 to hit them from a distance?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Zxthinger

Magpies aren't stupid.
Camouflage and an early start before first light and plenty of early mornings for repeated success by shooting from heavy cover and hiding the dead birds. This trim their numbers back slowly.
Or daytime forays with absolutely no camo as magpies know what a killer looks like. Try to look like a farmer. I'm telling magpies know what a camo jacket means.

A few staged killing zones can help two. But note that they are cautious at new setups so see if ye can leave feeders running for a few days.


Perhaps a barrel with grub inside forces magpies to land in the edge before dropping in, then you get ready and aim and as they are jumping up to the rim on the barrel edge you plug them.. Bang. A bit of debris or a few tyres around base of barrel can help by hiding the body's meaning that you don't have to break cover.
Any form of hiding the shot birds helps even if that means that you have to run out and stash the dead ones. Yes some critters might see you but not all will. Best results are from remaing hid.

Another is a few planks put together to form a letterbox tomb or feed trough style into which shot birds fall thus not frightening off all. Ye really need the full run of the farm to be at this. Calfs will be going out soon and magpies can't resist the bit if feed that farmers put out for them.

Get ready and be there for feeding time.

cookimonster

Corvids are very intelligent and cautious. Deep cover and good camo is essential, get way back into hedgerows with over head cover.
I don't entirely agree with hiding dead birds as I use them with great success as decoys. I'll prop them up the same as pigeons using bicycle spokes, arrange them in groups instead of open patterns.
If you can be bothered you can apply for a licence to use crow/ corvid decoys, Section 35, if my mind serves me right.

Gorgeousgeorge

Larson trap for magpies with a foreign magpie in the middle. Use to catch one down around emo direction and bring home home and use as the decoy.

Also for crows i read before about the hating owls.

Zxthinger

A trapped magpie from another area will be gold. But I never seen magpies drawn to other dead magpies hooded crowd. Regular crows yes

Benny mcc

17hmr for 150-200 yard crow's absolutely deadly

The pigeon man

Benny mcc wrote: »

17hmr for 150-200 yard crow's absolutely deadly

Thanks for such helpful ideas and suggestions.

Do you think there would be any point getting a 17 hmr already having a 22lr? Or would I be better off going up to a .223?

Benny mcc

For crow 223 would be madness unless you shoot fox never mind expensive. €1 a shot for crow's!!. 223 wouldn't knock crow's any better than a 17 would unless you're dreaming of longer distances than 200 and then your crow gets very small.

minktrapper

Have a few greys myself near me. They are using a dead tree as a look out tree. So I set up hide at dinner time. They have stopped using the tree now but hope they will resume using it as they get used to the hide. I even put the hide under an over hanging white thorn bush. I thought they wouldn't take any notice of it. But I was wrong.

minktrapper

Benny mcc wrote: »

17hmr for 150-200 yard crow's absolutely deadly

What kind of drop has the hmr at 150 and 200 yds. With a 100 yd zero.

J.R.

cookimonster wrote: »

I don't entirely agree with hiding dead birds as I use them with great success as decoys. I'll prop them up the same as pigeons using bicycle spokes, arrange them in groups instead of open patterns.

I agree - I've found that on the ground - spreading the dead greycrow's wings out, as if flying, really draws them in cawing angrily - but be quick as they are in and out to investigate in seconds.

As well as good camo, as mentioned I also use face mask & gloves - no skin whatsoever visible...and the most important...... little or no movement

minktrapper

If you put the dead greys "flying" like you would pigeons on a bouncer what would be the outcome.

Eddie B

minktrapper wrote: »

If you put the dead greys "flying" like you would pigeons on a bouncer what would be the outcome.

One of the greatest discoveries we made some seven or eight years ago, was putting a grey crow on a pigeon flapper. That drew them in like a magnet.

minktrapper

Eddie B wrote: »

One of the greatest discoveries we made some seven or eight years ago, was putting a grey crow on a pigeon flapper. That drew them in like a magnet.

A flapper or a bouncer. Please elaborate.

Eddie B

minktrapper wrote: »

A flapper or a bouncer. Please elaborate.

Flapper is a battery operated mechanism that makes a dead decoy flap like a flying bird. Bouncer is a decoy on a pole with wings spread out like a gliding bird coming in to land. Here is a combination of both lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dWebv0WLu4

Benny mcc

minktrapper wrote: »

What kind of drop has the hmr at 150 and 200 yds. With a 100 yd zero.

Not sure exactly but at full zoom I hold 2 dots over at 200 yards and spot on

minktrapper

Eddie B wrote: »

Flapper is a battery operated mechanism that makes a dead decoy flap like a flying bird. Bouncer is a decoy on a pole with wings spread out like a gliding bird coming in to land. Here is a combination of both lol


Thanks Eddie. Would they come in to land beside it or to harass it. They might think it's a wounded bird.

minktrapper

Eddie B wrote: »

One of the greatest discoveries we made some seven or eight years ago, was putting a grey crow on a pigeon flapper. That drew them in like a magnet.

When you daqy like a magnet how do you mean.

Eddie B

minktrapper wrote: »

When you daqy like a magnet how do you mean.

Well at the time, myself and my shooting buddy were at pest control every weekend. We trapped and shot over 300 mags and over 250 greys in a year. That was almost every weekend,
during holidays, and the odd evening. We used magpies on cradles, and calls (before they were deemed illegal to use), and shotguns. When we started using the flapper, we were amazed at how close the greys came in. Some would be flying way up out of range, then suddenly fold their wings back, and drop to the flapper, circling a few feet over flapper for an easy shot. Others would land on the ground only ten feet away from us. It just had fantastic pulling power.

minktrapper

Well at the time, myself and my shooting buddy were at pest control every weekend. We trapped and shot over 300 mags and over 250 greys in a year.


Of the 250 greys how many would you have shot.

Eddie B

minktrapper wrote: »

Well at the time, myself and my shooting buddy were at pest control every weekend. We trapped and shot over 300 mags and over 250 greys in a year.


Of the 250 greys how many would you have shot.

Id say maybe around 150 to 170. Also got a lot of greys/mags with Alphochlorolose bait too at the time. This has since been banned of course.

Eddie B

minktrapper wrote: »

Eddie B wrote: »

Flapper is a battery operated mechanism that makes a dead decoy flap like a flying bird. Bouncer is a decoy on a pole with wings spread out like a gliding bird coming in to land. Here is a combination of both lol


Thanks Eddie. Would they come in to land beside it or to harass it. They might think it's a wounded bird.[/QUOTE]

Well as we mainly used it with a caller, they often came and harassed the decoy, lots of swooping and frantic calling. Or maybe as you said, might think its a wounded bird. Other times though, they would just drop down and land close to it. With a magpie cradle (made from a wire clothes hanger) you get lots more greys just landing. You can also make them to fit a grey crow in them. Might be better idea for rifle or air rifle shooting.

minktrapper

Is there a manual flapper out there. The battery operated one's are an awful price. It would be worth trying one out before I got an automated one.

J.R.

minktrapper wrote: »

Is there a manual flapper out there. The battery operated one's are an awful price.

I wouldn't waste money buying one - just create a wire cradle that a greycrow can sit in, preferably raised off the ground with a pole. A thin, fibreglass pole works great as it sways in the breeze, giving the illusion of gliding in.

They will definitely come in to check it out...even with no movement.

I throw one of my kid's furry toys nearby which really brings them in.

However, they will come into range but leave as quick - you only have a few seconds to gets the shot off. They don't hang around.

You can also attach two greycrows to the spinner - but the greycrow with wings outstretched on a cradle works just as well.

Eddie B

minktrapper wrote: »

Is there a manual flapper out there. The battery operated one's are an awful price. It would be worth trying one out before I got an automated one.

No but there might be homemade version out there if you search the net. I know there are tutorials on YouTube on a homemade spinner using a windshield wiper motor etc, if you were handy at making stuff.

I'd say a bouncer would be very easy make, and probably work very well. I see flapper on eBay delivered for around €45. That's cheaper than what i paid ten years ago lol

minktrapper

How far off the ground J.R.. Where would I get a fibreglass pole. Probably work as well for crows and Jackdaws. I have attached crows to a spinner but did not see any advantage in it. Good to draw in jackdaws though. They are inclined to hover over the spinner for a few seconds. If I pinned a grey crow to the ground and got the wings flapping I would say that would work.

J.R.

minktrapper wrote: »

How far off the ground J.R.. Where would I get a fibreglass pole. Probably work as well for crows and Jackdaws. I have attached crows to a spinner but did not see any advantage in it. Good to draw in jackdaws though. They are inclined to hover over the spinner for a few seconds. If I pinned a grey crow to the ground and got the wings flapping I would say that would work.

I have no set height - I don't think it matters - just get it up off the ground as if flying.
The fibreglass pole I use is scrap I had in the shed...I think it's a pole off of a tent. I just slide it down one of the hde poles , tape it & affix clothes hanger cradle to support bird...sometimes if heavy I may need to lean a branch against it.

If my decoying is handy, near and access is easy I use spinner, flapper, bouncers & lots of decoys etc. for crows & pigeons.

Most of the time I have some distance to travel so then travel as light as possible. In such circumstances, I use whatever is nearby to aid decoys. ...branches, bales , gates, etc.

I never specifically go out to shoot greycrows.
Greycrows are never just on their own with no other species around. I find if a rook pattern is set out with some greycrows mixed into the pattern it works best & looks most natural. I put some kids furry toys in front of greycrows decoys...works great. Other times I'll use as stuffed fox with kids furry toy.
The greycrows will also come in to investigate dead rooks with wings outstretched.
( I have a section 35 licence to use crow decoys - the field with bales has a crop standing in the adjacent field)

Feisar

I used to have a HMR, yes she has more legs than the .22 but the wind at distance is the killer. Approx, 15 inches at 200 for a 10MPH wind. thats a fair bit given a 2MPH error in ones wind speed estimate equates to being 3 inches off target, before any other error is acccounted for.

The pigeon man

Is it much hassle to get a section 35 license for using crow decoys and callers JR? I definitely think 20 plastic decoys around a feeder would make my life alot easier if I got the licence.

J.R.

Is it much hassle to get a section 35 license for using crow decoys and callers JR?



No bother - you just apply to NPWS ...fill in form and send it off.

You have to be specific on locations where you want to use decoys...don't have to give the address but give townland & county.

https://www.npws.ie/licences/hunting

cookimonster

I have a sec 35 and I used the details laid out in the yearly derogation, so mine runs in conjunction with the dates of the derogation.

As above with J.R, fill it in and send it away. I applied for two locations both in different counties with the same application.