Black Rascal? What happened to Crow: the other game bird. Crow: It's what's for dinner. Seriously, who ever heard of eating crow (no pun intended)? Merganzers sure, even my arch-nemesis the ruddy duck, but crows.....?
All kidding aside, crows can actually be a really fun hunt. I do it once or twice a year. More if duck/goose hunting is particularily slow. Doesn't take a whole lot of work, but it can make for some entertaining shooting. I'm sorry I can't give you specific areas on the Nestucca for where to go, but I'll give some technique. Hopefully you don't know it all and I'm not just blowing hot air. If so, maybe someone will be able to use some of this. Here goes.
Okay, so for really successful crow hunting, first you have to find crows (duh). In the mornings and evenings, look for where they roost. There will be huge groups of them in the trees and they're particularly nosiy. Should be pretty conspicuous. Next thing to do is see where they go to feed. Lots of them end up in farm fields. Best place for a blind is either where they're feeding or on the route between the roost and their feeding spot.
I did mention that decoying them in is the best way to hunt crows right? Well anyways, you dont' want to set up near the roost because: 1. They'll probably see you and won't come in. Crows are really really smart birds. Don't underestimate their intelligence 2. You'll might get a bunch of shooting in right away, but that'll be it. If you set up away from the main roost, you can get smaller groups to come in all day long. Fewer eyes, more shooting.....what were you thinking?!?
So to decoy in crows you need two (maybe three) things: 1. owl decoy; 2. crow decoy; 3. call. You need the owl decoy because, crows natural enemy is the owl and they LOVE to mob them. Get a big group of crows worked up into a frenzy dive-bombing your owl decoy and you'll be amazed. Pick up one of those great horned owl decoys at a garden store. You know the ones used to scare away squirrels and small birds.
Next you need crow decoys. Now you don't have to actually buy crow decoys, you could, but that is expensive and I for one am cheap about this kind of stuff. I mean, they're just crows! So you want to use black cloth. Nothing huge, just something about the size of a crow. Garbage bags will work as a last resort, but they are usually a little too reflective. Unnatural and the crows tend to shy away. After you kill a couple you can leave the dead out there as decoys too. Now to make a crow decoy with the cloth, you also need like a foot long stake. Tie the cloth off to the top of the stake, so it kinda resembles a crow head. Put the stake in the groud and wa-la! Crow decoy!! This should be pretty self-explanatory, but if you need I can find a diagram.
Next setup of your spread. You need to make the owl really visible and the best way to do that is set it out in a field on a pole. 10'+ is about right. Place the crows all around it and make it so they're facing the owl. Not too hard.
You set up in a blind 20-30 yrds away. Full camo is a must. These guys have really good eyes and are usually pretty skitish. If they haven't been shot up much, which those in Oregon usually haven't, they shouldn't be too call shy. Give it a few days though....he he he.
For calls, there are lots of good crow calls on the market. Can't really recommend one in particular. They all sound about the same to me. There are books on how to do it and what sequences mean what. I'd look at those. Basic idea is to make a bunch of racket and draw them in. Once they see the owl, they usually go berzerk. Johnny Stewart also makes a really really effective crow tape for an electronic call, but I'm pretty sure it's illegal in Oregon to hunt with that so you didn't hear it from me.
That's the just of it. E-mail me for any more specific. Pretty fun stuff if you can figure it out. Best of luck.
Black Rascal
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