Crow hunting over decoys – a complete guide
Hunting crows is one of the most engaging and accessible forms of bird hunting there is. With the right gear and a solid understanding of how crows behave, you get a great day in the field – and you contribute to wildlife management by keeping crow numbers in balance.
The gear you need
Decoys
Good decoys are the foundation of crow hunting. Silhouette decoys are an excellent choice – they are easy to carry, take up almost no space and read as convincingly real at distance. A group of 6–12 crow decoys is usually enough to build a believable flock. Mix feeding and alert (head-up) postures to imitate a natural flock.
Hide (blind)
A good hide is absolutely critical. Crows have exceptionally sharp eyesight and pick out anything that looks out of place in the landscape. Use camo netting together with natural material from the surroundings. Make sure the hide covers you from above as well – crows fly high and look straight down.
Crow call
A crow call lets you pull birds in from a distance. Practise the contact call – the soft, short note crows use between themselves. Important: electronic calling devices are prohibited under Swedish hunting law. Rules on electronic calls differ from country to country, so check what applies where you hunt.
Setting out the decoys
Place the decoys 10–30 metres from the hide. Keep the following in mind:
- Wind direction: Crows land and take off into the wind. Position the decoys so that incoming birds pass your hide.
- Variation: Mix feeding and alert decoys. Put a couple on poles or fence posts to increase visibility.
- Landing zone: Leave an open area close to the decoys where the birds can land.
- Beak direction: Turn the beaks into the wind – birds always land into the wind.
The best times for crow hunting
Early morning is generally best in fine weather. In overcast, windy conditions the hunting can stay productive far longer – late afternoon can be excellent too. In Sweden, crow is hunted during the general open season, and the exact dates vary between counties, so always check the current Swedish open seasons for the area you hunt. If you hunt outside Sweden, check the open seasons and species rules in your own country – they differ considerably across Europe.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Poor camouflage – a crow sees everything
- Too few decoys – a single decoy looks suspicious
- Wrong placement relative to the wind – the birds simply pass by
- Moving in the hide – sit still and wait
With the right preparation and good-quality silhouette decoys you have everything you need for a crow hunt worth remembering. See our crow decoys here, or go straight to our crow silhouette decoy pack.
