With the season all but over, my mind as usual turns to planning for the next. In just a few weeks, the pheasants will be setting up their territories, strutting their stuff and doing everything they can to keep their harems together. The corvids will be getting frolicsome too. Rooks…
Corvid shooting
Shooting crows with rifles
Crow shooting isn't just for those who possess a shotgun. Bruce Potts investigates the relative merits of centrefires and rimfires for a safe and humane despatch
The intelligence of rooks
Few birds divide opinion like the rook. On the one hand we have farmers, who often endure massive damage to crops at certain times of the year, and on the other, the people who love to hear the most quintessentially English bird going about its business. The background cawing of…
When is the best time to shoot corvids?
I know this has nothing to do with pigeon shooting but I wondered if you could tell me the best way to decoy crows from a hide?
How bad are rooks for game birds?
Do rooks do as much harm to nesting game birds as carrion crows and magpies. If so, what's the best method of control?
Crow shooting with a Shotkam
Back in March I caught up with my good friend, Jack Depledge who is also a contributor of Sporting Gun, who writes about college life for young keepers. Jack and I have been pals for a number of years and I always like a catch up where possible – and what…
How to use crow decoys for corvid control
The problem with decoys at the end of the season around these parts is finding somewhere to go. The crows haven’t been pressured into feeding anywhere in particular due to the mild wet winter. Optimising chances Picking a location to shoot was a difficult decision as the estate has a lot…
Ruger M77/17 Hornet
After the .17 Hornet round was introduced by Hornady it was not long before a rifle was made by Ruger for this mini marvel of the cartridge world. Ruger had a perfect platform for the .17 Hornet round in its excellent M77/22 model — which was capable of shooting the .22LR, .22WMR and .22 Hornet — and…
Pest control on covercrops drillings
After a very early alarm call I was up and on the drillings setting the decoys up, in anticipation about what the morning pest control would bring. Shooting over the drilled crops gives me a rare chance to get stuck into our limited supply of pigeons. However, enticing both pigeons…
Crow Shooting
Putting it to the test Once again I have been out crow shooting, mopping up those troublesome pests that have started to cost the farmer money with their relentless attacks on the sheep feeders. With the Mark1 hide straight off the production line, I took it down and set it…
Crow shooting in the north of England
Here in the north of England, winter and spring can be a difficult time crow shooting to build a decent bags of corvids over decoys, as most of the crow population is dispersed during daylight feeding hours and don’t concentrate their efforts in the same area. A common sight is…
Crow shooting with raptor decoys
Raptor decoys are the most common predator decoys on the UK market, they come in a variety of different sizes and species, the most common being eagle owls, peregrines and little owls. These all produce the same effect when used in the right situation. The eagle owl decoy in this…
Corvid control – Gamekeeper
Corvid control - Gamekeeper: Corvid control with Larsen traps is a good example of sustainable activity.
Does an owl decoy really help when crow shooting?
Crow shooting: I read a book that said if you put an owl decoy alongside the pigeon pattern it would be mobbed by carrion crows, which you can then shoot. Is this true?
Crow shooting & vermin control
Crow shooting: A rude awakening spurs Richard Brigham into action on the corvids.
Pest control – hooded crows
Hooded crows are a threat to spring lambs and a difficult pest to control, but Bruce Potts thinks they offer some of the most challenging shooting there is
GWCT knocks NT crow ban
The GWCT has criticised the National Trust over its decision to ban the shooting of carrion crow
National Trust says corvids are “rare”
National Trust bans a syndicate from shooting corvids despite significant increase in UK numbers
Charity backs £100k crow control study
Songbird charity commissions the GWCT to carry out a pioneering study into the impact of predation on songbirds