T h ! Game Breeder 



VOLUME XV 



MAY, 1919 



CD 

 SURVEY OF THE FIELD. 



NUMBER 2 



A Campaign Against Crows. 



Mr. Peter P. Carney says : A nation- 

 wide campaign is being waged to exter- 

 minate the crow. Taking a leaf from 

 the book of the citizens of Canton, S. D., 

 where a crow shoot is held annually, 

 a National Crow Shoot is being staged 

 this year. 



Grain can be conserved and game pro- 

 tected by removing the "caws." The 

 crow's record is like his coat as black as 

 black can be. The "caw" hasn't a friend. 

 Those promoting the National Crow 

 Shoot are doing the world a great good, 

 for there will be fewer crows in 1920 

 than there have been in many years. 



The crow has the universal reputation 

 of being a wise, wily and wary bird. 

 Yet it is surprising how easily he is 

 fooled by any one who can properly 

 manipulate a crow call. Indeed, the call- 

 ing-in and shooting of crows by an ex- 

 pert is a revelation to many, who, all 

 their lives, have known and hated these 

 black marauders of the fields and woods. 

 The crow call is a small wood instru- 

 ment resembling a whistle and can be 

 purchased at almost any sporting goods 

 or hardware store. There are several 

 good crow calls on the market. Direc- 

 tions for its use come with each call. 



Calling the Crow. 



Preparatory to calling in the crows, 

 the shooter should conceal himself care- 

 fully and remain as quiet as possible, 

 for the crow has wonderful eyesight. 

 Many crow hunters even try to wear 

 clothing that will not contrast sharply 

 with the environment. In using the 

 crow call, it is desirable to try to imi- 

 tate the cry of a young crow in distress 

 and to indicate to the older crows that 

 their young are being attacked by some 



other bird, upon which they will im- 

 meaiareiy start hying toward the point 

 vvnere the caller is conceaied. 



it is important to knl the first crow 

 shot at, as otherwise tne crow will give 

 a warning call tnat wnl alarm all the 

 other crows in the neighbornood and 

 tney will not approach again for some 

 time at least. the birds should be 

 fairly close in, not over 35 to 40 yards, 

 in order to insure a kill with a choke 

 bore gun. 



Among other methods suggested for 

 luring the crows within range, the fol- 

 lowing may be recommended : 



Owl Decoys. 



A stuffed owl with movable wings 

 placed up in a tree and operated by 

 cords brought down through rings to 

 the concealed shooter, used in conjunc- 

 tion with a crow call, has proved effec- 

 tive in many instances. If a wounded 

 crow is captured, it will serve as an 

 excellent decoy for attracting other 

 crows. 



The owl is the bugaboo of birds and 

 the crows are sure to attack it. Excel- 

 lent crow shooting is obtained by using 

 owl decoys, which can be had from Fred 

 Sauter, taxidermist, New York. See 

 his advertisement on another page. 



Meat Baits. 



A farmer informs us that by placing 

 a large piece of meat or the carcass of 

 some animal in a field and then getting 

 under cover at a distance of 40 or 50 

 yards, he has seen from 50 to 75 crows 

 gather around the meat in a snort time, 

 and has been able to kill ten or more 

 with a single shot. 



Crow shooting in the winter wfren 

 snow is on the ground is good sport, ac- 



