Crows are not the easiest of birds to shoot with an air-rifle; in fact I would argue that they are the most challenging of quarries and should only be attempted with a full-power air rifle where the range is sufficiently short that you are confident of hitting a one pence coin. The truth is that the range a shot is taken is not determined by the power of an air rifle, it is determined by how good a shot you are.

Crows can be brought within range by the use of suitable bait.

Why would someone want to shoot crows? There are two main problems that crows can cause that I am aware of; the first is that they take eggs; gamebird eggs and songbird eggs. The gamekeeper will not be happy with the loss of gamebird eggs and the implied bird losses for the following shooting season. I think everyone should be concerned with the loss of songbirds. Given the loss of habitat and environments that are needed to support songbirds, the reduced population is much more susceptable to losses of eggs.

That said I still think they deserve to be treated with respect and not fired at when they are beyond your abilities!

So the two best methods I know of taking crows. The first is to use bait to bring them within reach; I generally use a dead rabbit thrown out just before first light; any earlier and passing foxes or badgers will take them; later and you will be spotted. If you have plenty of natural cover and the patience to sit without moving for a couple of hours then you have a very good chance of bringing crows within fifteen yards or so. A very careful head shot can then be taken.

Crows can be shot with an air rifle as they come into roost.

Crows get up late and go to bed early; if you can find their roosting places then put yourself in place an hour before dark, you have the opportunity to shoot with a reasonable amount of light still available. My most successful time with crows and an air rifle was at Mr Richard’s grounds next to Waunsaeson where the crows roosted in woods where the trees were barely twenty five feet high and I was waiting as it got dark. Never had permission to be there, but there was an element of mutual dependence; we helped him with his harvest, so the one time he caught me he didn’t say much. Don’t think he liked it though.

The gun I used to use at that time was one of the original BSA Airsporters, a .22 with marksman pellets, which was one of the most impressive pieces of engineering I have ever encountered. My Dad could shoot the yellow top from the washing up liquid 9 times out of 10 off hand at thirty yards. I never got that good, but close enough.