Exclusive interview with March issue’s guest editor, Andy Crow

Andy Crow is one of the best-known pigeon and crow shooters in the country. A farm manager by trade, he has spent decades refining his craft across Kent and the South East, earning respect for both his shooting ability and his willingness to share hard-earned knowledge. Through magazines, films and countless days in the field, Andy has helped shape modern pest control shooting – all while staying true to the principles he learned from his grandfather.

Who is Andy Crow?

I’m a farm manager, first and foremost. Shooting has always been part of my life, but farming is my job. People think all I do is go shooting, but that’s not the case at all – I just work long hours so that I can go shooting when the opportunity’s there.

If I had to pick favourites, pigeon shooting and crow shooting are right at the top. That’s what I really love. I enjoy all shooting, but decoying pigeons and outwitting clever old crows is hard to beat.

How did you get into shooting?

My grandad – my mum’s dad – got me into it. He was heavily into shooting pigeons, rabbits, foxes…anything really. My uncle was exactly the same. They lived for it. They’d do just enough work to earn a living and then spend the rest of the time controlling pests.

I started young. When I was five or six I was out with them all the time, just watching. I had my first few shots with a .410 when I was about that age and just went on from there. They trusted me with a gun more and more, and I learned what I consider to be the right way – from the best teachers I could’ve had.

We used to shoot around Marden in Kent and out across the Romney Marsh. There was a lot more pigeon shooting back then, and pigeons were worth more than they are now too.

What’s your earliest shooting memory?

The first thing I ever shot was a rabbit. I can still take you to within about ten yards of where it happened.

I had a single-barrel .410. My grandad and uncle told me that if I found a rabbit sitting out, I could shoot it – but I had to come and tell them first. I found one, so my uncle brought a cartridge over, and I shot it. He told me to aim for the head, which was never going to happen, but it got shot and that was that. From then on, I was hooked.

When did you start decoying?

Again I was probably six when I first joined my grandad. I’d be allowed a few shots and helped out with the hides and picking up shot birds, until eventually I was put under a tree on my own when he was out, allowed to set my own patterns and so on. Having passed that, not long after that I was riding around on my pushbike with a little trailer on the back full of decoys and cartridges, heading off to shoot pigeons on my own. You wouldn’t get away with that now.

How has shooting changed over the years?

Massively, in all sorts of ways. Firstly, you wouldn’t be able to be allowed out on your own so young as I was back then. The equipment, guns and ammo have changed too. Hides used to be mostly natural, while good camouflage nets now make hides so much easier and faster to put up. Birds are warier, though. They’ve seen it all.

What do you see as your biggest shooting success?

Where I am now, being able to help other people, pass knowledge on and encourage shooters to improve.

A lot of people have kept their tips to themselves, and actually complained about the videos and articles I was writing, like it was sharing secrets. I never saw the point in that. If I can help someone learn, I will. I get huge satisfaction in that, and through the YouTube videos, magazines and social media, I wouldn’t have had as much chance to work with some of the brands I do today, see what I have seen and enjoyed what I have done.

How did the magazine work come about?

A mate of mine was writing articles and I was basically telling him what to put in. Eventually James Marchington asked me to write something myself. I said I’d do one article. Then I did another. I ended up writing in every issue for about 12 years in Sporting Shooter. I really enjoyed it and we had some cracking days along the way. That also led into the video series with Fieldsports Channel and on my own platforms.

How often do you shoot now?

As much as possible. In the summer I might shoot five or six days a week if I’ve got nothing else on. Pigeons are my priority and my favourite, but I shoot plenty of crows too.

Most of the shooting I do is pest control or crop protection, but I do enjoy game shooting when I get the chance. I probably shoot half a dozen driven days a season, maybe a bit more if I’m lucky, but my heart is always with pigeons and crows. That said, I actually enjoy simulated game days just as much nowadays, if not more, than driven days. They’re usually for charity, there’s good shooting on offer and they tend to fall at times of year when there’s not much else about.

The farm always comes first, though. There have been times I could’ve gone out and shot big bags day after day, but work had to be done. That’s just how it is. I often work into the night so I can get ahead and make time to fit in a morning or afternoon on the decoys.

Do you do much rifle shooting and stalking?

I used to shoot a lot of rabbits and deer to pay for cartridges and even holidays. There were far more rabbits about back then. These days I still stalk deer and shoot foxes, often with my grandson Regan. He loves it. I am out in a high seat most evenings and some early mornings; we have a lot of fallow deer that need to be shot.

What other shooting do you enjoy with your grandson?

Quite a bit! Regan started coming out with me at the same age I did with my grandad. He’s 11 now and a good little shot. He loves football as well, and I won’t ever take him away from that. Shooting should add to life, not take over it. We have been lucky to enjoy some fantastic trips together, such as to Germany and shoot boar too.

Who are your sponsors?

I’ve been with Jack Pyke for 16 years now, having first linked up with them back in 2010 when they were primarily known for camouflage clothing and a small range of shooting accessories. Over the years, I’ve watched the brand grow into a full country clothing company, and it’s been a privilege to be part of that journey. What started with the basics – gun slips, camo clothing and cartridge bags – has developed to the point where, in 2026, I’m wearing Jack Pyke pretty much head to toe whether on the farm, out shooting and even when I’m away with my wife Michelle. It’s become a bit of a uniform for me because I genuinely believe in it.

What’s always mattered most to me is that the relationship has never just been about business. It’s a friendship. I’ve had the chance to help with product development and see first-hand how committed they are to producing high quality kit at sensible price points. I wouldn’t use anything I didn’t trust completely. On top of that, working together on media projects has been great fun – from early photoshoots through to the regular ‘Crow Pros’ videos, where I share my day-to-day pigeon shooting. It’s a genuine partnership that’s grown stronger over time and one I’m proud to be part of.

After that came Gamebore for cartridges. I’m on the box for the Clear Pigeon cartridge, as that is the load I have developed with them and shoot for pretty much everything. Then I’ve been with Teague for my chokes for a long time, and Blaser for my shotguns and rifles. I’ve also got Swatcom for hearing protection, and Pilla Sunglasses through Starkey Outdoors. I get various kit through UK Shoot Warehouse as well, and I use Final Approach decoys. My high poles and flappers come from Flight Line Decoys. I’m also lucky to have Nocpix support me with thermal optics and Hornady for my rifle ammunition.

What’s always in your kit bag?

Various types of camo nets, custom made poles, cradles, plastic decoys, a rotary or flapper, seat, clicker, gun and always, always too many cartridges – my grandad always used to run out!

What one bit of kit would you never be without?

Apart from the gun and cartridges, it would have to be a rotary. If you can attract birds properly, you’re halfway there already.

I’ve used rotaries for years and I’ve still got the very first ultralight rotary prototype that UK Shoot Warehouse ever made. It’s been rewired twice and it’s still going strong.

In fact, one test day very nearly ended in disaster! I had it set up in a straw field and it was working well. I saw the rotary wobble, and thought, that’s not right. Next thing I knew, it fell over and the straw field was on fire. You can imagine my reaction! I’ve never moved so fast in my life. It was quickly dealt with, but it’s not something you forget in a hurry. Essentially what had happened is it had twisted on the spindle, the wires touched and it shorted out. They’ve come a long way since then.

If I wasn’t taking a rotary, then it would be a flapper. Either one of those would be the bit of kit I’d never leave behind.

What’s your best advice to shooters?

Reconnaissance. You can never do too much of it. Learn where the birds are feeding, when they’re arriving and how that changes through the year. Read the birds properly. Don’t rush in too early and don’t let them run out of food of it will be too late.

What would your dream charity simulated shoot team look like?

If I was picking a team, I’d have Mark Winser in there for sure. Rachel and Dave Carrie would be in the team as well. I’d also have my cousin Gary Jolliffe and Allan Carr. That would be a strong six and good company too, which matters just as much.

Who – dead or alive – would you most like to share a hide with?

My grandad and my uncle. Without hesitation. I’d love them to see where I am now and what shooting has given me. They were both great shots and even better teachers.

Do you eat a lot of game?

All the time. Venison is a big part of our diet. Pigeon too – but don’t overcook it. If it’s cooked through, you could play squash with it.

A fallow rump steak done properly is hard to beat, and my wife Michelle does a fantastic job of that.

If you could shoot only one quarry again, what would it be?

Pigeons. All day long. I just love pigeon shooting. You get absolutely every shot in the book, no day is ever the same and it can be incredibly exhilarating.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Probably that I listen to a lot of country music. Luke Combs, that sort of thing. It suits tractor work.

Other than that, there’s not much. I work and I shoot. That’s me.