By Joe Genzel
Todd Gifford is n’t besides concern in dove openers. Sept. 1 is the like sidereal day his Minnesota corvus season begins.
A new world blackbird exterminator/duck scout, Gifford has partnered with Federal Ammunition, FA Brand and Stevens Shotguns to put their gear to the test, and on this cool dawn we would see hundreds of crows coming off the roost in search of a meal in standing corn. Gifford was amped, ready for the crow slaughter. It happened just like he said, a big adult boo made the first base call, circling high above the field, then the juvies bombed us, some maple-leafing in like bamboozle fathead over cluster decoys .
“ When they commit like that it ‘s over, ” Gifford said with a smile, after we wrecked a little group. You might be disbelieving on chasing crows rather of doves in September. And barely like most of you, I ‘d quite shoot those tasty birds than a cheating crow — well, possibly not after that shoot. But once you ‘ve killed your plowshare of doves, turn to “ The Craw ” as Gifford calls them. It can merely benefit you come duck temper. Get ready for Fowl Gifford uses flocked decoys and a call to kill crows over corn, just like you would greenheads in December. The blackbirds respond to the call exchangeable to mallards. They do n’t bow up and suck in like a duck, but once you have them locked onto the decoy, there ‘s no miss, because they ca n’t change direction like a dabbling duck .
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It ‘s a great way to replicate field duck hunts. It besides gets you comfortable with shooting birds at the right outdistance and calling the dart. Dog Work
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Since your retriever has n’t fetched up a live shuttlecock a in a few months, this is an opportune meter to get him ready for the duck opener. In Minnesota ( and many places in North America ) the brag is considered a pest and can be shot without limit restrictions. therefore if you ‘re on a good feed and killing birds, there are plenty of chances for your lab to tag and recover birds. Early Birds A set of crow hunters drive around scouting for flocks on a fertilize or at a watering fix, hit the e-caller and pick them off as they come looking for a fight. But if you want to hunt crows like ducks, scout silage fields or an alfalfa field, if you can find one. 
Crows tend to fly well in the mornings, sol hunt them over decoys in the ante meridiem and fill your afternoons by chasing smaller groups with the e-caller. The Hide
Yes, crows are leery and as the blackbird season clips along, they get educated, good like waterfowl. So you have to camo up and get concealed. 
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We had a perfect apparatus, hiding in some tall grass on the edge of the cornfield with decoys on the flat coat and on top of the stalks. only the adult birds were chic enough to stay away. They send in the young ones foremost to make certain it ‘s safe. As the weeks spend, consider wearing ghillie suits and head nets, because these birds get chic agile and have a bang-up center. Coming to the Call Gifford is starting to make his own line of hired hand calls, and says it ‘s the best direction to entice crows. Newbie ‘s can stick to simple caws, but as you go along, and start to read birds, get more aggressive or subtle with calling, merely like you would with mallards or honkers. And do n’t precisely flip on the e-caller to “ crow fight. ” It will bring them all at once. Save that for the end when the legal action slows to get a few more birds in. Gifford recommends Johnny Stewart ‘s “ Fighting Crow, ” which he still runs on a cassette magnetic tape player. Chasing The Craw ad
once the field shoot is over, you ‘re going to be running and gun, driving about and walking down scandal roads and into fields to get to the crows. 
Final Approach Hunting Pack When running and gun, a backpack/blind bag is ideal for the mobile hunter. It has batch of storage with a large main and secondary compartment. Features include a slog waist knock, waterproof bottom and tree hook for those walk-in marsh or flooded timber hunts come fall. ad
Stevens S1200 available in black synthetic, Mossy Oak camouflage and walnut, the inertia-driven auto-loader is a serviceable price-point gun. There were some issues with cycling 3 ” loads on early runs of the S1200, but the problem has been addressed, so they ‘re good to go for precipitate. You do n’t have to bury your head on the neckcloth to get on birds with this artillery. Just touch your cheek to it and pull the trigger. It feels a little odd at first if you ‘re used to a low-ribbed gunman, but we smashed crows no problem after a few rounds of trap. 
Black Cloud Close Range We ‘ll let you in on a little mystery : Black Cloud Close Range kills birds long range. We pounded crows with it at over 50 yards multiple times, and it has become one of our favorite loads for ducks whether they ‘re working the bait or skirting the edge. Loaded with Flighstopper steel, check itout the 3 ” No. 4s. ad
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
