Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

crows is in me pecans-best load?

snuffysgat
(sigh)It's bad enough the deer have stripped all my figs and my scuppernongs but I will not abide these thieving black loudmouths gorging on my nuts!
(can you tell who they woke up way too early this morning?)

Of course last year I was too busy battling the wild hogs in my pecans to do much about the crows in my pecans;or even the deer for that matter! Final tally was 7 hogs and 2, maybe 3 crows as I recall.

Nonetheless, the hogs have long since disappeared(nobody has seen any since April-we did have a herd. I counted 22 once and there were still more back in the brush) so, I have hereby decided to declare war on said crows...

The preferred battle implement is an old Beretta AL-2, 2&3/4 inch, 12 gauge, 26" bbl, fixed IC choke. Yeah, I know-it's practically a blunderbuss but it was The Quintessential Quail gun back in the day...an all-day toter and nearly recoil-less, it performed it's intended job admirably(I can't recall a single malfunction whatsoever in 32 years!) As much as an ugrade to something more substantial is desired, the financial prevents that option anytime soon.

The trees still have all their leaves on so penetration is an issue-plus, they are huge! I do not care to wound them so range will be limited to 25-30 yards max.(geez-what would I do for a full choke barrel right about now...)

Enough babble already(for I hear a nearby caw)-what load do you experts recommend or should I just stick with my 10/22 tack-driver 'til the leaves fall?


TIA,
Snuffy
disgruntled nut farmer
totally organic pecans for sale:mid-Nov., maybe
totally organic sausage available but supply is dwindling
tour-guided hunting trips available at reasonable cost-whilst never leaving the back porch

Si vis Pacem,Para Bellum-if you want peace, prepare for war--Thucydides

KAPHAR HUNNU BHANDA MORNU RAMRO CHHAA
IT IS BETTER TO DIE THAN LIVE A COWARD-the Ghurka motto
0

Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • Throckmorton
    That 'blunderbuss' is mighty wide-choked for big crows,as you pointed out.If overshooting is not a problem the 10-=22 (or a borrowed shotgun) would be better for the task,IMHO.
    sounds like ya got yer hands full protectin' the home front.Wish I was a whole lot closer,we'd have some fun! :)

    Throckmortons' the alias,cas is the game.
    0
  • D@D
    As long as there are not any houses nearby the 22 is a crow killer. But you can't hit them when they take off. I go with number 6's high brass. Or put some fake snakes in your peacan trees but where's the fun in that.

    I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected.
    0
  • bambihunter
    I have brought down crows with everything from #8 shot 2 3/4" shells to #4 shot 3.5" mags. Personally, I like shot sizes around #4 up to maybe #6 regardless of gauge of shotgun used, choke used, or shell cartridge length.

    I have also taken 'em with my .220 swift which does a REAL nice job on them when they're on the ground (there's no way I'd shoot at one in the trees with that round).

    I've not had very good luck with the .22lr when the crow is facing me. It seems like thier thick feathers can actually repel the projectile. When they are walking away from me I have no problem dropping them with the .22lr.

    You might want to be proactive and call them in. It's a lot of fun and it's a good time to work on your camoflauge technique. If the crows can't see you then you should be set for turkey season.

    One last thing, many states actually have a season on them. You might want to check on that before going after them. Even if it is out of season, you might be able to get a tag (I can't recall what they call 'em) which allows you to eliminate problem animals such as coyotes that are killing your chickens, etc...

    Good luck and good shooting!
    0
  • BOBBYWINS
    It may also help to get a few crow decoys to help lure them back once the shootin' starts.I use them when deer hunting to give the deer a false sense of security and it also brings in any crows that are around.[;)]

    Good luck,
    BW

    IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.
    0
  • snuffysgat
    Gentlemen: good news from the crow battlefront

    preliminary reports show I am presently at 1 bird for 2 rounds
    (I always wuz able to meld as one with this sweetie scattergun-now wish I had some quail to hunt!)

    ammo flavor of the day: Peters Special Dove Load(blue-hulled wonders) 3 dram eq., 1&1/8 oz of #8 shot(yep, suprised me too)

    performs more than adequately and at what was a rather staggering range, I must say(though judging distance was never my strong suit) and through leaves, unburst pecans, and all
    (nailed 'im from the front porch-'stead of the back, hehehe)

    Throck:c'mon down-I'll grill 'em, iffen you'll eat 'em!

    D@D: you ain't seen these trees-they was planted back in the 20's as far as anyone left alive can remember

    Bambi: I got one of them new-fangled pop-up blinds last year-it worked wonders on them treerats( a true-er nut thief wuz never born!)
    It should work perfect next to the bigger scup'nun vine(they've been here longer than the pecan trees, according to family legend)

    Bobby: Grandpa used to hang the first one or two participants from a lower limb, in plain view of the rest-claimed it discouraged nut thievin'(didn't seem to affect it much last year)

    All: I've been using CCI's SGB(small game bullet) .22LRs for
    years since I found out this Ruger can strike a matches with that round, (and only that round for some reason, so good I topped it with a Burris Compact 3X9) But I have not been able to find any in some time(I last bought 8 bricks and stock is now dwindling. Nobody here local stocks it (or even heard of it) and special order at the few that do make them as pricey as target ammo.
    Any ideas?

    Thank you all,
    for all the advice,
    Snuffy
    non-disgruntled nut farmer(for now)
    organic pecan production outlook has risen slightly today and forecast looks promising





    Si vis Pacem,Para Bellum-if you want peace, prepare for war--Thucydides

    KAPHAR HUNNU BHANDA MORNU RAMRO CHHAA
    IT IS BETTER TO DIE THAN LIVE A COWARD-the Ghurka motto
    0
  • yachtdave
    sounds like your getting the job done...let me know when the hogs come back,,,,,,,,, need some bacon !!![:D]

    Dave
    0
  • stuart
    I use a .22 hornet...they won't let me get near enough for my Model 12....I got them in my pecans too (25-30 trees)....worst are the squirrls...same thing they know by now not to let me within shotgun range..... .22 hornet bad news for squirrls
    0
  • The Tinman
    I used a Beeman R1 pellet rifle many years ago. Had the Beeman one-inch, 4X scope on it. Being as quiet as they are, a shot from 50 yards out didn't really bother the rest of the crows. As a matter of fact, many of them came down to the ground to inspect the dead ones, making them easy targets.
    You get 4 or 5 before they realize something is up and they take off, but just wait---invariably, they would come back, en-mass. Take out 5 or 6 more, and they fly off again. Wait ten minutes, and they come back----it's like washing your hair----lather, rinse, repeat.
    0
  • Salvage33
    Too bad it's an 11-12 hour drive to get to your place Snuffy! But here's a tip if'n you want to suck those crows down tight...find an owl decoy...set it up well within range and wait for the crows to find it. Have lots and lots of shotgun shells, and send Mama to the store for some linament for your shoulder. And that heavy dove load will do the trick...though I like the 7 1/2's a bit better than 8's. 8's is a quail load. :)

    All the best....

    John


    The original point and click interface was made by Smith & Wesson
    0
  • mag
    What part of GA are you in ? The crows around here hate my red shouldered hawk calling.

    mag
    Atlanta
    0
  • AdamsQuailHunter
    Hello "snuffysgat":)

    I don't know where in Georgia you are, but it is obvious that you and I need to set on the front porch and consume some of your favorite "adult" beverage. I' bring it --- just tell me what it is.

    I can help solve the "hog" problem. You want black powder shotguns, I got them, you want pump's set up as "Pardox" guns shooting a 22bhn slug that weighs 1-1/2 ounces, I got them.

    You want to shoot "Fancy Tree Rats" with either .22 LRC or .410 gauge shotguns, I got them.

    If decide you want to do a little quail hunting, but don't have dogs, I have both German Wire-Hairs, and German Short-Hairs and several Reminton 11-48's in 28 gauge. So quail won't be a problem.

    Before the "Captain" shuts down this thread, on the ground, or in the tree, my choice is a .22 RLC. Ruger is fine----almost heresy from me as I have no love for Ruger's. Mine is a Mossberg bolt gun that just loves "Stingers". Out to 100 meters you can kiss Mr. Crow goodby.

    I use crow decoys and an an "alarm" crow call --- electronic calls are prohibited in Florida. I am blinded in in a "ground" turkey blind. I have more shotguns that most people have ever seen in one place outside of a museum, but I have a Dumolin 16 gauge SXS that I love for crows. Number 6's work just fine. I have only a few pecan trees, but several old fashioned "alagator" or "pineapple" pear trees and have the same problem with crows and "fancy tree-rats" as you do.

    When I am traveling from Columbia County Florida up to relatives in Young Harris, and Blairsville, and Delogona, I would love to stop by and set on your front pourch for and while with you favorite "adult" beverage, even if we don't go out in the back yard.

    My Best Regards To You And Yours:)
    AdamsQuailHunter
    0
  • A J Christ
    Got absolutely no use for crows either. Use whatever works the best for you, close in a shot gun, further out a .22 and long ways out a .220 Swift is what I use. Even got one last fall with a Ruger SP101 and 125gr hollow points. That was a lucky shot. He didn't see a long gun and though I was unarmed.
    They are fairly intelligent animals, know what firearms are and tend to get out of town fast when they spot a gun. They do get stupid when the see an owl, they try to harass the owl out of town, something you can use to your advantage. Lure them in close and ambush the buggers. A live owl works best but that is illegal, I think. There are calls on the market that work well also. When you do kill some, freeze all but one, leave the corpse out where it can be seen and the live ones will stay away. When that corpse gets eaten by a possum or rots away, drag another one out of the freezer. I've hung them from the clothes line. Wife had somethign to say about that but it kept the crows away. Coupled with some long range sniping, I don't have a crow problem now days but every now and agin their memory fades and they get ambushed. Hate them birds and will go oout of my way to get rid of them. You might want to consider poisoning them also. They love corn, soak some in antifreeze or whatever else you can lay your hands on and leave it out for their dining pleasure. Saw some crows once that ate some corn that had been soaked in corn liquor, they got too drunk to fly. Was like shooting fish in a barrel.
    Good luck with them, no pecans here this year, forgot to fertilize this spring, maybe next year.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity