A morning in franconia...

Zeddicus · Molted Crow

A morning in franconia...

Zeddicus · Molted Crow

Call yesterday morning: "Am sick, can't make it, you're on your own!" So, hit the accelarator, Blind up, got annoyed with Sentinel poles (bending ), Decoys up, car moved, run back, sentinel put up properly, into blind, mask, gloves, hearing protectors, lanyard on, gun loaded....and with all this mallarky never saw the first one approaching, flyby missed, never to return. S..T 20 Min later, a small bunch of 5 flew over the blind coming from behind, circled once, one lands. The first one falls - good! The next two missed - not that good!! 45 Min later single bird from the left. Wants to fly past the decoys.... Convinced it to stay though after a short but loud discussion. Hour later a bird crossing from behind again. After a full circle wants to fly away - shoulda done a half circle!!! Nothing for an hour except calls from far up the hill... Then - calls closer to the left!!! A couple of calls with Mr. Haydel, a minute wait, and another group from behind. Full circle, three shots, two birds down - still waiting for a triple this year... So, 5 it was. Not bad for this place. If my friend could have been there we would have been prepared earlier and had not missed the first one. We could have hit the two groups harder. All in all it was a good morning - beats working every time... The switch from 1/4 to 1/2 choke is decided for the rest of the season.... Pics to follow. All the best, Zeddicus

corvid · Molted Crow

enjoyed reading your report Zeddicus, i just hate it when the crows come in from behind, and allways will try to set up with the wind on my back if possible, will look forward to the pics, to see what your set up was, do you just have carrion crows to go for, or is there other corvids you can shoot, would love to have a go at the hooded crows, but just live to far south and only get the very rare report of a hoody in the area. My gun is fixed at 1/4 and 3/4 choke but am amazed how far the 1/4 can knock a crow down, i know theres a lot of disscusions about shot size but i allways use no6 32 grams, and even no5 some times when crows are being a bit shy and keeping well out from the hide.

Zeddicus · Molted Crow

Crows were to be expected from behind the little wood to the right and from the front. The crows roost on that hill. Some fly straight down (flypath from the front) some fly along the ridge of the hill and then down (flypath from behind).

Now here's a bonus picture for you guys. This is a view that I have when driving to my hunting area... coincidentally I also got married there exactly six years ago.
The castle is called Burg Colmberg and if anybody ever comes to bavaria and is on the lookout for a hotel in a proper castle for a reasonable price - that's the place to go. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is 15 mins away - and that place is beautiful and full of history. A MUST for every visitor to Bavaria!

Splash One · Elusive Crow

Fun read!