Late this afternoon, on "No-Fly" Zone sentry duty, 4 crows flew in low, through the woods, to the same tall pine from original post. I grabbed the Umarex Gauntlet .25, crossing yard to edge of woods. Knowing 4 sets of eyes would easily spot me moving towards my makeshift blind, I had no choice but to shoot from where I stood, leaning against the side of an old oak. Thankfully, a week prior I'd cleared a shooting lane from this spot after forfeiting another shot due to heavy underbrush. With the Bushnell on 7x, and focused at 40 yards, I began to scan. First crow spotted was soon falling after contact with a JSB 33.95 grain Exact King Heavy. The others, calling raucously, circled the tree. Finally, one landed, and soon another JSB struck home. This large crow flew off, flapping wildly, but only making progress slowly towards the ground. The remaining crows decided to make a hasty retreat, never knowing where all this havoc had originated. After a short while I returned to my patio seat only to notice a commotion, off to my left, on the wood pile that acts as a backstop to my 50 yard range. Pulling up the scope I noticed a Cooper's Hawk eating a crow almost as large as himself. Must have nabbed the second one. (We've had a resident family of Coopers since previous neighbors raised chickens.) I snuck in for a pic, doubted anyone would believe, considering the day. Think you can make him out on top of log, crow is hard to see, but clutched tight in talons. WM 
Corvid "No-Fly" Zone, Part 2
- Thread starter WorriedMan
- Start date
iv had a few cooper hawkes swoop into my yard to grab a few blackbirds i had pested really cool to watch them swoop in and grab some food
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Hope Coopers get a taste for crows, they sometimes snag Mourning Doves feeding on lawn. My Corvid "No-Fly" zone helps protect songbird hatchlings but hawks will eat the adults. A silver lining is that the Coopers keep all alert, not a bad thing with so many loose cats around.
Be aware I also have frequent "missed" opportunities while enforcing No-Fly Zone, just don't post about them. For instance, Gauntlet OEM magazine jammed last week, costing a shot, I've ordered a CARM replacement. Trying to learn and adapt, eventual success makes me want to share. Hope folks enjoy the read. WM
Be aware I also have frequent "missed" opportunities while enforcing No-Fly Zone, just don't post about them. For instance, Gauntlet OEM magazine jammed last week, costing a shot, I've ordered a CARM replacement. Trying to learn and adapt, eventual success makes me want to share. Hope folks enjoy the read. WM
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