"Effective Killing Range"
by Sr. Field Advisor Bob Aronsohn

Skill level:

This is the most important factor as the higher the "Skill Level" of the shooter the far more deadly he becomes on live birds. If a good skilled wingshot is using the right shot and choke combination he can kill the hell out of birds (live ones) up to 50 yards with pretty deadly consistency. This is where the Improved Modified and Full chokes come into their own. This is where a good pigeon load of 3 1/4 - 1 1/4 - 7 1/2's will do their part "if you do yours" in making the shot connect with the crow!

How the gun shoots:

It is said that in "most cases" it's not the bow or arrow, it's the Indian! True words of wisdom! However, if the "indian" can shoot, he can have his shotgun modified to the type of shooting he does. My friend Boyd Robeson shot with a pair of shotguns that shot 70/30 which means that 70% of the shot would shoot above where you were holding and 30% would shoot below where you were holding on the bird in flight. Boyd and I had two distinctively different shooting styles. My guns shoot 50/50 or right where ya point em; 50% above and 50% below the target. Here is where Boyd the trap shooter and Bob the skeet shooter learned from each other. On the long shots that would be crossing, the birds would be obviously smaller in size due to the yardage. I would marvel at Boyds consistency in literally knocking these birds out of the air at the 50 yard mark. Boyd would laugh and say "Bob, you have the ability, ya just can't see em hiding behind the receiver of your shotgun is all". Boyd could see "the whole bird at this yardage" because his shotguns shot high! He would hold just below the crow and could see the entire bird whereas I only saw half the bird at best with a gun that shot 50/50! On the greater majority of shots you get on crows 50/50 is just fine. On straightaway shots that are under 30 yards I have no problem with a 50/50 gun. It's the farther straightaway shots is where a gun that shoots high will help the old hand. He can hold just below the crow so as to see the "whole bird" as he is getting the shot off! He can also see if the bird changes his flight path much more quickly if he (the shooter) can see the whole bird and "not just half of it" as when you blot out a straightaway with a 50/50 gun.

How well the shooter can judge distance:

The more experience you gain the better you should become at judging distance. Note, I said "should become better" this is not always the case! Some people can just judge distance better than others. Many times I've had a guest in the crow blind with me and they can't believe the distance I kill some of the crows at. The reason? They think the crows are a lot farther than they actually are is all. A good 40 to 45 yard crossing shot on a crow looks like a 65 to 70 yard shot to the average guy. The reason? Field experience is all. Jim Lundquist whom I've shot crows with for over 30 years said to me "you aught to be able to judge distance by Christ with all the shooting you do" and that has a great deal to do with it.

Summation:

Whether you're an old hand or just a novice, it will help you to keep the shots on the short side! Get them in there within 30 yards and under and you gonna kill crows brother! Now that's PRIME KILLING RANGE!