Now, I know a lot of people do not use a dog for retriev-
ing crows. They bite and could peck a dog’s eye. When I first started taking Abby, I had shot a crow that hit the ground next to me and was still alive. When I picked it up she ran right over to it to give it a sniff and the crow latched onto her nose. She never forgot that and ever since then she would come around from behind and grab them from the backside, mak- ing sure she stayed away from the pointy end. This was more than ten years ago and she pretty much has them figured out. Well, as I said, I opened the door to the truck and sent
her for the cripple, which she caught easily. I finished him with another shot and started walking slowly toward the other crows in the trees. In past hunting experiences, crows don’t hang around
much after there is gunfire. This was not the case here. They sat in the trees and let me get within 60 yards or so. I sat down and fired again, shooting low this time. The bird flew up a couple of more branches and landed again. This time I held higher and in the sunlight I could see the pellet connect. He went right down and the rest of the birds left. I worked my way back around the barn, figuring I
would stack them up like cord wood, but alas, four more shots resulted in only one more crow. One even let me get three shots off before leaving. It wasn’t until I reviewed the tape that I could see in slow motion that my shots were going high. In the coming weeks I returned to the farm several times
early in the morning, watching for birds that were close to the house. They seemed less interested in my slinking around the barn and poking out for a shot. There was one particularly good vantage point behind the barn with a cement retaining wall that concealed me until I could ease around the corner. Distance was about 55 yards, which I found to be very doable. I was having so much fun shooting with the air gun that
I forgot that Rick really wanted the numbers diminished. An- other fellow with a shotgun was hunting the same area, and on several occasions I would see his truck parked out back with his decoys. I could hear his electronic call going but even though he was only 150 yards from the barnyard, the crows
would still ignore his calling and be walking around in the edge of the field and in the back yard. As a matter of fact, I shot three one morning with the Marauder while he was out back with the call going. One morning I was getting ready to leave when I spotted a crow in a tree in the front yard. I slipped down next to the house and rested the stock on the side of the house. Holding a little high, as the distance was 65 yards, I took a shot. At the muffled “putt,” I saw the crow drop and zoomed
in on him with the camera and then back out to where I was standing, all the while narrating to the tape. I turned and saw Rick standing behind me. He asked, “That air gun really reached out there. What kind is it? My son has been checking out a Marauder online and thinks he wants to get one.” “Well,” I said, “check it out. This is a Marauder.” We
discussed the gun a little, then Rick asked if he could have the crow I just shot. I said sure and he walked down to retrieve the bird. When he got back, he held the crow out and said, “This is the only good crow, a dead one. I hate these things.” He put the crow up near the silo as a warning to the
other birds. I don’t really think it worked as they still were hanging out there in the weeks that followed. I did give Rick a DVD that I made from the shots on
crows, hunting with the Marauder. Plus, I tossed in a few pigeons for good measure. I shoot with two Marauders. One is a 22 caliber and the
other is a 25. As for the effectiveness, I don’t think there is much difference. On real windy days, I will take the 25 as the pellets are heavier and buck the wind a bit better. Accuracy is the same and the 22 is a bit quieter, which comes in handy with follow-up shots. The 25 does have a serious amount of punch and will easily shoot through a crow at 70 yards. You get somewhat fewer shots with the larger bore before you have to refill the gun. I usually do not bring my scuba tank or hand pump as most of my hunting results in fewer than 30 shots per outing. When the gun is sighted in, it makes for a good morning’s shoot as most shots connect, if I do my part. I have experimented with a number of pellets, chrono-
Actions for all shooting disciplines
graphed each, and tuned both guns to my liking. I have the 25 turned all the way up, which gives me about 841 fps, with a 31-grain Kodiak pellet. I shoot the 21-grain Kodiaks in the 22 caliber for most applications, but the Crosman Premier pellets also shoot exceptionally well. On a calm day, either gun will shoot into an inch at 50 yards, with plenty of punch for crows or pigeons. I have the 25 caliber cranked up as I am hoping one day
to get a coyote on tape. I think if the distance is close enough, the gun has enough power to take a coyote, but thus far the coyotes haven’t cooperated by showing themselves. Time will tell. If you are interested in some varmint hunting fun with
11550 N. Bruss Rd. Rathdrum, ID 83858 Phone: 208-687-0341 Fax: 208-687-1250
www.batmachine.com
a “low noise” impact, give the Marauder a try. The gun is an outstanding value compared to some of the higher priced PCP guns. Crosman has really made an effort to get into the “hunting air gun” market with good products, information and videos on their Web page. Check out:
www.crosman. com/airguns
Good hunting! Page 140 Spring 2012
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