Air Rifle Hunting Hooded Crow Control With The FX Crown And Zan Slugs

In This video i am trying to help control the number of hooded crows before the lambing season as the crows had a bad reputation for harming any sickly lambs or sheep they they come across, If the animal isn't fit enough to get up or defend itself the crows will peck at the soft areas like the eyes tong or anis.
This is all done on farm land that i have permission to do so on with legally held air rifles and is done in a legal and humane manner as not to prolong or glorify the death of the birds.
This can legally be done through the Department Of Agriculture, Environment And Rural Affairs Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (As Amended) Licence.
This Licence hereby authorises for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease and preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber and fisheries ANY AUTHORISED PERSON to kill or take any of the following birds:-
Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Pigeon (Wood), Pigeon (Feral), Rook
Here in Northern Ireland rabbits are on our general licence as they are considered an agricultural pest and can be controlled all year round, this was done here with the use of a legally held air rifle on land that i have permission to do so on in a legal and humane manner as not to prolong or glorify the death of the animal.
Rifle FX Crown .22cal 30+ft/lb
Scope Bushnell Elite Tactical 2-16x42
Zan 20gr .217 slugs
Range Finder Bushnell Scout 1000
Equifix Dutch Bay
Tactacam 5.0 and FTS unit
The Bush pop up hide

[@ianscott2919]

Hi David. Nothing wrong with your Crown. Just push your reg up to 150/160 bar. Hammer setting on 7. Try Patriot Javelin slugs. Get them up to 930 Fps. The crows will stay down. Or just upgrade to Maverick or Impact.

[@HuntersVermin]

I think it might be better to upgrade then i'l have room to work with instead of pushing the crown to its limit.

[@leftymadrid]

Gosh, it's been a while since I visited your channel. Many changes have come my way. Had to move to Europe to take care of my folks, they are at that age you know... They've done so much for me that now it's my turn to be able to help them out. A big huge change!! Life is like that, oh well. But I really enjoyed watching you, and hearing you on your pest control hunt. I've watched you for many many years now, and basically liked every single video that you put out! Even grabbed me the disc you put out back then too! It's great to see that all is well With you my friend! Always a pleasure watching your material. I actually got into airguns and pesting, and hunting because of you! I thank you for that, what an enjoyable hobby at that!!! Take care👌

[@HuntersVermin]

Thank you very much for that and watching for all those years, all the best to you and your folks.

[@calibreman]

Another excellent video David, well done and Happy Easter. Geoff.

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks, you too!

[@stephenbrown5844]

Was looking at these slugs at the rifle range yesterday and what a cracking bit of ammo😍👌❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah air gun ammo has come a long way.

[@joshua.snyder]

Love your self deprecating humor.

[@HuntersVermin]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jamesbowskill362]

Hi, your last comment is the one that WILL produce a better result on these tough birds. I like you had a .22 but tried & then changed to a .25 FAC FX Maverick tuned to 65ft lb coupled with Zan 33grn slugs at 1050 fps HAS proved the ultimate bit of kit for all my vermin work out to 80/90yds attached to an excellent Hawke Vantage scope. Your vid's are always most informative & interesting, keep up the good honest work, Good luck to you.

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah seen a second hand impact sniper in .25 in the local gun shop recently and i was tempted.

[@brindle2009]

Cracking video again David always enjoy your content

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it.

[@tadpoles10]

'Scrappy shooting' .. mm at least you had a result David. So many options to set things up it's a difficult one for sure, thanks as always for sharing. Have good weekend. atvb t ..

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks tadpole, slugs seems to be a bit of a rabbit hole with no bottom at times.

[@regsparkes6507]

One, three or a dozen, as long as they are on a video made by you David. Thanks for this one too.

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks very much for watching.

[@ericwood3886]

Thanks for the video. I have been shooting Zan 23's @ 1004 and 25.5 @ 985 in 22 cal for a few years in a RTI Prophet. They opened up quickly at that speed and almost fully. Zan is know for it's distinctive popping sound when they hit solid. I stopped using slugs for birds for this year because the birds weren't holding together with slugs. But the instant kill seemed to be up where the wings attached. But that's why they make so many different brands of slug. Well I know you work it out. Also Zan (26. 28 & 30) has worked well in my SK19 in 25 cal @ similar speeds but prefer 33.4 pellets for now.

[@eddiecahall3824]

Mine FX makes loud pops with 44gr pellets in .30 at 880fps🤣🤣🤣

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks for that and i diffidently wasn't getting a popping sound on impact so i would say i need to push the zans faster.

[@eddiecahall3824]

@@HuntersVermin FX Crown is hard to beat! Def have the right rifle for the job. Just have to find the right projectile vs speed and fpe for the rifle. H&N gen2 are very good Terminador Airgunz and Outdoors slugz are superior and the Zan's. You should slip over to Terminador Airgunz and Outdoors UTube channel to see these famous slugz and try some of those. They're made pure 💯 soft lead with deep cavities in all weights and sizes. The guys name is Dana and can def help. He holds the world record on bird kills with an air rifle pesting. Professionally. I'm not sponsored or here to sell anything ,just passing good info to the next airgunnarz. His slugz and equipment are catching fire 🔥🔥🔥 no BS 💯

[@suefenwick2081]

excellent video as always

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks for the visit.

[@MisterBaker5]

.25 H&N Barracude Hunter vs Hades.. shooting through a tin can into a pine back stop. The Hades have mushroomed flat, then H&N have maintained most of their shape. I don't know if all H&N are hard lead but I prefer the resultsd with the Hades. Loks like the Zan's were quite hard too.

[@HuntersVermin]

The H&N slugs that i've used were very accurate in the crown and great on rabbits but the one or two slugs that i've retrieved from rabbits weren't as mushroomed as i would have liked so maybe they are too hard a lead to expand at 900fps anyway.

[@simontanner]

Excellent video and great shooting David 👍🏻

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks very much.

[@Pete-in-Essex]

Great stuff as usual..

[@HuntersVermin]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Radax1956]

Those slugs just aren't expanding. Great shots.

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah i just don't think i'm pushing them fast enough though i have tried the Hades with the same result they just pencilled through (too fast) unless i turn the power down.

[@Coowallsky]

Excellent!

[@HuntersVermin]

Many thanks!

[@Johnnywoo7]

Hi David. I have been using H&N Barracuda Match 21 grain through my Maverick 22 700 barrel and they shoot brilliant 946 FPS out too 100 yards 👍

[@HuntersVermin]

Thats a fast Barracuda, i used to use them in my MFR Theoben at about 860fps but the crown didn't seem to like them.

[@kims2r]

Don’t beat yourself up, crows and jackdaws are ridiculously tough birds. 900fps isn’t super fast but definitely fast enough:) greetings from Belgium

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks for that.

[@Jonnykrav71]

It looked to me that you were aiming just a fraction low and got a gut shot. I generally aim for the head or neck. If aiming at the neck the pellet will if it hits there kill the bird or if the pellet drops half an inch produce a heart & lung shot. BTW I always enjoy the detail and honesty of your channel.

[@HuntersVermin]

I used to take only head shots with less powerful air rifles than the crown but viewers complained about the amount of opportunities i missed waiting for the bird to hold its head still enough for the shot.

[@Icebuntrucker]

Hi David we all know the pain of trying new ammo etc . Still got 3 in the bag mate ,

[@HuntersVermin]

Thats true thanks.

[@tracker1955]

Did notice that Giles has them in the UK at 23 gr, might be a bit heavy though for the Crown.

[@lizchatfield692]

Used to get that with Duck shooting they would sometimes fly off and them drop straight down good work for my four legged friend .

[@007tallguy]

Great video Dave! The shot placement looked good to me, but maybe like you said the slugs weren't expanding. I've basically just gotten into the high powered air rifles, haven't shot any vermin yet, but for now my pellet of choice is the H & N Terminators. At 800fps, I'm not so sure I have the speed to use slugs. Anyway, thanks for the video and have a great Easter!! 🐣 😁 Pete

[@stephenbrown5844]

The guys at the range are using them in sub 12 in 177 and getting great results 😁👍

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks for that i didn't think i was too far off the mark but from what i'm reading in some of the comments i need to be pushing the zan slugs to around 950fps to get them to expand.

[@bobbythompson3544]

Hades, my friend will nail them to the floor, I personally now use a 17hmr fed by Hornady ballistic tips! Still enjoy your vids, I have learned an awful lot from them!

[@bobbythompson3544]

Added ten greybacks yesterday morning, HMR again!

[@HuntersVermin]

Good stuff, i got 7 through the week and another 3 at the weekend with the 17 Hornet but you'll have to go to my other channel Nitro HV to see that once i've managed to edit it all.

[@stillair1]

Thanks for the video, might be worth a change of slug. I remember running lapua hp's in a .22lr that were accurate but not effective, changed to eley, sorted. Have a look at the pro hunter premium slugs before changing tubes. I don't wan't to spend your money, but my rapid .22 is getting lonely since having the impact .25 lol.

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks for that it seems a lot of comments are recommending going to a .25cal.

[@donaldlundy345]

Great video David and nice shooting I'm thinking that you may have to turn the power up a notch or two so that you are in the power band. Cheers brother 👍

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah i diffidently need more speed.

[@redlock4004]

I use Predator Polymag 25cal in my Daystate at 40 ftbl. If you get a rifle in 25cal I am almost certain you won't regret it.

[@HuntersVermin]

Yes i've had .25's in the past and they diffidently hit hard.

[@richardphelan5402]

What have you got your reg pressure set at to reach those velocities with the 20 grain zan?

[@HuntersVermin]

Ah i believe i set it to 160 bar at one point but it seems to have settled back down to 150 bar on the gauge, i did try a new gauge but it read the same 150 bar which it is now currently sitting at.

[@johnhorsfield4361]

I've just bought a 22 cal Maverick and I'm trying out some different slugs but I'm not having much luck with Zan or H&N, I'm going to try some Knockouts soon but I need to raise the velocity first as at the present output they would only be around 850 fps. I'm surprised that your Zans didn't open up more, I guess they are made of harder lead than would be ideal.

[@HuntersVermin]

By the looks of some of the comments i have gotten here from people who have tried slugs you need to push them to at least 950fps to get them to expand so it looks like i might have to upgrade my rifle if i want to shoot them.

[@johnhorsfield4361]

@@HuntersVermin I've just ordered the Crown slug power kit for mine, the critical part is the heavier hammer by the looks of it, I think you have the 500mm barrel if I remember correctly, you could also get a 600 or 700mm.

[@tracker1955]

David, do you have the Patriot Javelin slugs available in Irland yet, they are pure lead with no antimony. I'd try the 21 gr .218's

[@HuntersVermin]

I tried the 23gr in both .217 and .218 but only could get them to shoot around 870fps and they weren.t as accurate as the H&N's.

[@Double-xposure]

Unfortunately this is 6: 30 AM in India when I'm wathing this Good morning

[@samuraidriver4x4]

It shows how tough these birds really are. You always want the most humane kill shot possible and its sadly not always the case. 3 in the bag still isn't bad and a protected bird being a live decoy is always the best decoy you can have.

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks for watching.

[@stedyone1090]

Zans might need a little more speed. Nice shooting. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah i'm thinking the same.

[@steffenschmidt5339]

Great film as always, i think a 17HMR will do the job a little bit better then the air riffle. I have the same problem with the air riffle, the crows run for a bit before dropping. I am using H&N .22 Hornet. In the 17 HMR i am using the 17 grain V-Max. Have you tried out the slug from JSB ???

[@HuntersVermin]

No i haven't tried any of the JSB slugs as i've just been sticking to the light weight 20 and 21 grain slugs to try and get them fast enough to stabilize.

[@404nitro]

I love ZAN slugs! I have been shooting them exclusively for almost a year now in my Impact MK II 30 cal. They actually do expand for a change, even on stuff as small as starlings or as soft as rabbits. I have a few recovered from woodchucks, large fox squirrels etc. I'm shooting the 49 gr slugs at a chrono'd 936 fps, so you should be getting expansion if you are going 914 from your crown. Maybe you could get the 600 mm barrel kit for it, or is that an issue there in your country? I also have an FX Dreamline in .25 and IME, there's a decided difference in the reaction between the 22 and 25 cals. FT LBs means nothing other than a number that favors speed. The heavier and fatter diameter pellets and slugs make a bigger impact on game.

[@HuntersVermin]

I have to agree as i have had .25's in the past and they diffidently transfer their energy into the target better than the .22. A 600-700mm barrel would get me a lot more speed but i've been trying to keep the rifle compact for shooting from a hide so maybe i'll have to look at a bullpup.

[@404nitro]

@@HuntersVermin Yeah, in that case I think that'd be the way to go. My Impact with a 700 mm bbl is a LOT shorter than my Dreamline or AA S510.

[@villaman2261]

Strange how they didn’t drop straight away . These ZAN 21 gr 217 are the ones I use all the time out to 120 yards at 940- 950 fps mk1 crown 500 mm barrel SH liner

[@HuntersVermin]

That's interesting how did you mange to get your crown to shoot to those speeds?

[@villaman2261]

@@HuntersVermin heavy hammer weight , huma transfer port and 150-155 on reg

[@mikeedrich8256]

I have a MK1 Crown in .25 with Viper PST 2 5-25 x 50 scope that I’m getting rid of. Has had very little use - would that help? Mike

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks but at the minute i honestly don't know what to go for.

[@mikeedrich8256]

I’d take £500 for the whole lot, the scope alone would cost double that now. I’ve moved so can’t use it any more. Mike

[@raymomull2258]

I always knew the paramilitaries would find employment after rhe troubles ended😅

[@migsy2728]

Try the bsa hollowpoint pellets david

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks i must keep an eye out for them.

[@one-rc5kn]

Maybe try a longer barrel

[@HuntersVermin]

I know i would get faster speeds with a 600-700mm barrel but i was trying to keep the rifle compact for shooting from a hide so maybe i need to change to a bullpup.

[@user-ip1ni1wr5j]

I live in Northern Ireland I'm finding it hard get some were shoot with air rifle ant suggestions thanks

[@FarmPestManagementAirgun]

Hello mate, great video as always...I use and love the Zans and find that you do need to push them much faster, up in the 960 to 1,030fps plus range, (with barrels longer than 500mm)... I personally won't use slugs unless I'm shooting over 60 meters. I just haven't had any luck with slugs in my 500mm barrel guns, so I now only use pellets in those. Cheers, Mark KZbin Channel: Farm Pest Management - Airgun

[@THEcombatXD]

Yeah . 940 is an bit slow for slugs .

[@FarmPestManagementAirgun]

@@THEcombatXD Yes, Pellets up to 940fps and slugs 940fps on... Cheers, Mark. KZbin Channel: Farm Pest Management - Airgun

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks Mark, As i wasn't sure what sort of speeds i needed to push them to get them to expand as I can push the slugs fast enough to get them to shoot accurately OK and have used them on head shooting rabbits with no problem out to 80 yards but they just seem to pencil right through the crows with little knock down power.

[@FarmPestManagementAirgun]

@@HuntersVermin The Zan slugs and NSA slugs are swaged, so they will be softer than the ones that have Tin added. These slugs will flatten more at high speeds than at lower speeds giving more knockdown power... In my opinion, that's why you have been seeing those pass through shots on the Crows! Cheers, Mark KZbin Channel: Farm Pest Management - Airgun

[@visiter127]

Also go 218 and maybe a bit heavier

[@visiter127]

It's annoying that should be just dropping up speed A bit shoot Zan a msg he's great at getting nlback

[@HuntersVermin]

I've tried the .218 20 grain Zan slugs and both shoot well out of the crown but if i cant push the light slugs fast enough to expand then the rifle will never mange to push the heavier slugs fast enough.

[@visiter127]

@@HuntersVermin the heavier my carry a bit more inertia

[@Radax1956]

Maybe hades

[@HuntersVermin]

I have tried Hades and they are very accurate in the crown even at over 900fps but i've also had runners with them as they seem to just pencil through the birds too cleanly.

[@visiter127]

We word to zan mate and they could help u out and advise u best here

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks that might help but they will probably tell me what i'm already thinking and that i need to push the slugs faster to get them to open up for more knock down power.

[@joeyyuyu4872]

Veryx3 slow in action?!!,

[@kdm6287]

Great video, good shooting

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks.

[@elenajersch5561]

Sehr gutskie

[@HuntersVermin]

Thanks for watching.

[@johnd.kelley6535]

Slugs were too light.

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah i'm going to try some heavier ones if the weather ever drys up here.

[@michaelcorns5063]

Go back to using pellets slugs are crap 😅 stick to what you know best they've been doing the job for years without any problems..cheers..mike 😊

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah thats what i was thinking about an FAC .25 and big heavy pellets.

[@artaban29]

Tu es surement sympa, mais tu n'arrête pas de parler et c'est soulant ! dommage !

[@HuntersVermin]

Yeah i know i talk too much.

[@kimpattiasina1898]

This is so sad for the Hooded crow😢