A decent dome hide may be the lap of luxury, but carrying several extra kilos makes it vital to plan your shooting. Starting as a family business from a farm in Oxfordshire we’ve grown to be the trusted brand behind quality shooting and decoy products in the UK and abroad. The best way to achieve that is to get out and observe what is going on. Decoying is a lot easier, and far more effective, when you understand your quarry’s behaviour patterns. Additional info: Crows are sharp-eyed and very wary of man. Getting within range usually takes a high level of fieldcraft and concealment.

All members of the corvid family are notoriously sly, which can make it very difficult to get within striking distance of them. However, despite supplementing their diet with the contents of other birds’ nests, crows and their cousins become extremely protective of their own territories during the spring and summer nesting season. This is a trait that can be used against them. A dedicated hide is a great choice, and many wildlife pros will swear by them. Many use a tent design that provide windows to shoot through. They're usually very portable and easy to set up, meaning you can make your shooting location pretty much anywhere. As an added bonus, many will also offer rain protection.. It is possible to stir up this kind of reaction by placing an owl decoy in a prominent spot in their territory. That’s the approach I’m planning to use to bring these destructive birds to book during this outing. Mat doesn’t hang around, as he wants to get the decoys in place without being spotted by his quarry. With the imitation birds in position, he slips into his hide ready to make his final preparations before any crows start to arrive. Once the trap is set, it is simply a matter of waiting to see how the birds react to the decoys. Sometimes the response can be immediate, but there are days when the action unfolds much more slowly.

Building a pigeon hide in winter

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The height of a hide is important. You need to be able to move your gun comfortably and freely. Setting the front of the hide four inches below the top of your shoulder should allow for comfortable movement. Crows are among the wariest quarry that airgun hunters can encounter. Even though Mat is planning to use decoys to stir them up, they are unlikely to fall for the ruse if they spot him. To keep himself hidden from the sharp-eyed corvids, Mat is building a hide. Rather than constructing it when he arrives to shoot, he has chosen to set it up a few days prior. However, the weight and bulk of a full-on portable hide can be apain when you’re on the go. That’s where camouflage clothing comes into its own. Go for a hoodie and trousers that’ll slip straight over whatever else you’re wearing and hey presto: instant cover. Then there's also camouflage gear for your equipment itself; blend your camera and lens into the environment, and you need never again worry about being given away by a big, obvious telephoto lens.Mat uses his caller to replicate the calls of the first crow when the owl decoy initially caught its attention. A reply comes after a few minutes and Mat keeps calling until the bird is within sight, and then stops immediately. The incoming crow is now close enough to see the decoys, so Mat leaves it to them to coax it in closer. Gunslips are sent via a Parcelforce Express48 service however we find they often can take much longer than 48 hours, unfortunately we are not responsible for any delays in postage timescales. Mat places his decoy owl on a patch of short grass in a clearing about 25 metres from his hide. It is a relatively open area of woodland that should make it easy for passing corvids to spot the intruder. Mat almost always uses a beanbag seat for hide shooting. Filled with polystyrene balls, the bag doesn’t just improve comfort, but also makes for a stable sitting position, which really helps when you need to settle the crosshairs on aim.

With three birds accounted for, Mat is off to a good start, but after a long quiet spell he decides to reach for his caller. He hopes that a few croaky blasts will mimic the real crow calls that prompted the first mobbing and persuade the birds to return.I use between five and eight poles and multiple nets to provide a good-sized, natural and strong hide. I don’t go over the top space but I like to be able to move comfortably and, most importantly, be able to move my feet. Natural hide Many shooters cause themselves problems when shooting from a
hide purely because the hide set-up
is wrong. If this happens, it can actually end up being a hindrance as opposed to an advantage.

The Double Bush is so light you can easily carry it to and from your hunting ground. The hide is comprised of a comfortable folding 2 man armchair with a sprung steel and fabric canopy. The hide can be fully deployed in literally seconds and the arm chair is so comfortable you can happily sit for hours. Shooting insandy or snowy conditions rather than a wood? Hunt out a hide that can be specced in a choice of covers. If you are going to shoot from a seated position, your choice of seat is important. I see so many shooters with the wrong seat – and, especially, the wrong height of seat, which is absolutely crucial. It is key that your seat is set at a height that ensures that your knees are below your hips when you are seated. This will allow you to stand comfortably, slowly and correctly to shoot. For decoys to work properly, you need to place them in an area where the pests you are targeting are already active. It is all about knowing your ground and the habits of the birds that live and feed there. Although clearly agitated by the owl decoy, these crows are obviously not entirely trusting, as they have chosen to land a few metres away and rasp at it from what they believe to be a safe distance. Although one of the birds is shielded by a screen of twigs, the other isn’t as safe as it thinks it is.Adding real birds proves effective and, combined with more calling, produces another chance for Mat. The corvids eventually wise-up, but it has been a productive session and Mat has accounted for five crows when he decides to call time. Please note that recipients outside the EU will be responsible for any import duties, clearance fees or brokerage fees including any other additional charges. We operate on a DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) basis. Sometimes goods may be subject to delays, due to customs or weather. The customer is responsible for providing any information required by customs to ensure the goods are cleared. The TP now comes in superior camouflage and a more spacious design. A quality product at economy prices. Most imitation owls will wind up corvids during the spring and summer months, but ones with really piercing eyes seem to aggravate them the most. What is important is to set up the decoy in a prominent spot where passing birds won’t fail to miss it.