Bloody rooks.

[Smellydog]

How many times I've heard folk say don't shoot the rooks they only eat bugs!
This field of barley has all but been ruined by rooks, I set up yesterday in desperation after work and every bird that came in was....a rook!
So next time you're asked to not shoot the rooks just smile and shoot away!

 

[Liveonce]

seen far more rooks then woodpigeons lately, can be an enjoyable days shooting them for crop protection.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Shot an awful lot of rooks years ago on drilled wheat. Just out of curiosity I opened up a fair few crops on the slain. Probably 60/40 split with wheat predominant the others wireworms,grubs etc.
Ever since them I've trimmed them up but not as enthusiastic as when dealing with crows, magpies and jays.

 

[BryanDC]

Just waiting for the 1st of May when we can start our annual regulering of the young rooks. We shoot 2 hours 4 times a week and average about 1350 a year but it hardly dents their numbers.
I have a colony just across the road from my office with maybe 300 nests, but unfortunately the owner won't apply for permission to control them even though the people living next door to the small wood complain about the noise.

 

[Smellydog]

Shot an awful lot of rooks years ago on drilled wheat. Just out of curiosity I opened up a fair few crops on the slain. Probably 60/40 split with wheat predominant the others wireworms,grubs etc.
Ever since them I've trimmed them up but not as enthusiastic as when dealing with crows, magpies and jays.

Carrion crows are far more rewarding to shoot in my opinion.

 

[Mike1979]

Carrion crows are far more rewarding to shoot in my opinion.

Totally agree, conservation of both crops and ground nesting birds etc . Being in Wales I have to be a bit more picky as to what I shoot since Rooks are not on the GL (nor are Magpies) head over the border and all is good, rooks and magpies get shot as well

 

[JTO]

Slices of white bread work as well as anything for attracting rooks.
Now that drilled maize seems to be covered with gel, I don't suppose rooks are such a big problem for that crop. I had to string fishing nylon every 15 yards years ago, otherwise they would pull up the freshly emerging shoots to get at the seed.

 

[Smellydog]

Slices of white bread work as well as anything for attracting rooks.
Now that drilled maize seems to be covered with gel, I don't suppose rooks are such a big problem for that crop. I had to string fishing nylon every 15 yards years ago, otherwise they would pull up the freshly emerging shoots to get at the seed.

Bread and novacaine, the good old days...