"Be Prepared - Part 1"
by Sr. Field Advisor Bob Aronsohn

Hi Gang! Well, here we are at the end of another crow season. The young guys just getting started within the last couple of years already know that crows are no dumb bells! We are going to talk about how you can improve your shotgunning skills. If you hunt crows, it behooves you to be adept with a shotgun. So how do we get more proficient? If you have access to a Skeet Range in your area try to go when they are the least busy. Station # 1, if you just shoot the low house bird coming at you, is a good simulation of a crow boring in on you. Station # 2 s low house is also a good one to learn. Station # 4, both high and low house, are good simulations of the side shots you will encounter in the field. The Station # 6 high house is also a good one to practice on, as you get a lot of those types of shots on crows.

Next we are going to discuss how you hold your firearm when getting set for a shot on a crow or crows. Keep the muzzle pointed skyward! Keep the receiver of the shotgun close to your body and as the crows come into range, LET EM IN! I like to stand up every time I get a shot. Your shooting style doesn't get cramped that way and you aren't restricted. Remember, when you get up to take the shot, you don't have to come up like a Jack in the Box. Just come up nice and easy, no sudden movement! In this way the crows won't spot you until it's to late!

Another point worth mentioning is to always take two shotguns with you when you are hunting crows. If one has a malfunction, you will have a backup gun to rely on. If you are an old hand at this game you already know that a fine day afield can be ruined by gun trouble. If I go out of state on a crow hunt, I take two 20 gauges, and two 12 gauges! I also keep three Johnny Stewarts on hand just in case! The point that I'm trying to make here is to be prepared in case you have a problem.

If you want to open a can of worms, ask a crow hunter what shot size he likes the best! The Crow Buster's that have seen The Art Of Crow Hunting video can see first hand what 7 1/2's , 8's and 8 1/2's will do on crows. The photo in this article has a 10 1/4 pound Canada Goose in the picture. The goose (prior to steel shot restrictions) came within 30 yards of my blind and I wanted a goose dinner, so what could I do? I grabbed the 12 Gauge that had 1 1/8 ounces of hard 7 1/2 shot and knocked him dead as a door nail in mid air! If 7 1/2's will kill a Canada Goose at 30 yards it will darn sure kill a crow at 50 yards! The 7 1/2's have less mass and penetrate better than the larger shot sizes.

In closing I want to leave all of you with a famous quotation by Jim Lundquist of Minnesota. Here goes, A crow has a brain smaller than a f----n Ping Pong Ball , and is smarter than 99% of the guys that hunt them , including me!

Be Prepared - Part 2