I finally shot a crow out of a tree this morning in my backyard,,,they are a pretty good challenge. To me the crows are like the Somali pirates,,,they work in groups and steal others' food.
So after I fatally shot one, with my Roald HPA tuned 850, I was waiting for someone else to light on a limb so I could take another shot. My eyes were in the sky, and I was aware of something going on down on the ground where the crow had fallen but I assumed it was the crow still kicking - I didn't take my eyes off the circling / squawking crows. After about 2 minutes they had flown off and I went out to see my catch of the day,,,and,,,,,it was gone!! There was a lot of blood where he fell and I know he didn't hop off somewhere because I watched him for a few seconds as he went limp, plus I searched all around. I was going to take a pic and then put him on my sacrificial alter ( a stump) to feed some other carnivore - which always happens - nothing goes to waste here in my backyard.
I did notice a hawk flying away with something in his talons while I was watching the crows, but I never suspected it would have been taken that fast. I didn't even get a pic to show you guys. The mate of hawk had come around to see if there would be anymore offerings - but not today. The crows pester both the hawks and the owls around my house, both the hawks and owls are nesting my 4 acres.
Anyhow,,,I am amazed with nature.
What I learned about shooting: temperature variance,,,causes huge changes in elevation clicks. I verified my settings at 35 yds - which used to be dead-on,,,and it was way off. Its cold here now,,,in the 40's and my calibrations took place with temps in the 80s. So,,,,I am going to verify more often now.
