canoe/kayak for duck hunting...

well i lost a private spot i had for the last few years and back on the public hunting scene. with water levels being so high and lots of boat ramp closures im going to be running the kayak. anybody else out there going to be using their canoe/kayak to get to their hunting spots?

Yep same here

We use kayaks exclusively unless on land. Have to give yourself a couple extra hours from when you think boat guys will leave the dock but I've found some close in spots others have missed. I prefer to hunt from a mud seat but can hunt from the kayak. Mine is bright orange so I have to haul extra blind material to cover it. We use sleds to haul decoys and such. Only complaint is avoiding a horse race with the boaters. More scouting cures that because they fly by some good x spots. We'll tuck ourselves in some flooded timber and leave the lights off unless someone slows down to take a look.

I love my kayaks but have not used them much since getting a canoe. You will be able to hole more gear weight in most canoes vs a kayak, but possible not draft as shallow.

yea i have hunted canoes a lot with great success, then my canoe was stolen. sold the jon boat a couple years ago and now i just got a small kayak to follow the shore lines. missed a great deal here on a canoe so kayak it will be. will be scouting sunday and trying to find a few of those flooded holes tucked back in the trees.

I use my canoe much more than my kayak for hunting. Just far more room to haul decoys and gear. Yes you do have to sometimes race the boat guys. But I usually leave early enough in the mornings that I almost always beat them to the spot! Make sure you pick up some battery powered running lights. I thought a spotlight was sufficient and got a ticket about 8 years ago!

I highly recommend getting a kayak paddle that is designed specifically for a canoe if you are going solo. It is so much easier and faster to paddle a canoe solo this way. A regular kayak paddle is way too short. Some traditional canoe guys may balk at that but I can paddle my canoe faster solo than two guys paddling and faster than my buddies in their kayaks! Mohawk paddles makes an 8 and 9 foot double paddle for 43 bucks that convert to two single bladed paddles. I prefer the 9 foot! You can’t beat the price and they are extremely durable!

Mohawk paddles

I like a kayak with a motor. I pack a kayak paddle, but I hope I never have to use it.

Any pics without the camo?

Ascend H12 with the redhead blind for me this year. A 450Lb weight limit and comfortable seat.

those are some nice rigs y'all got!

i use 1
1 time at PK, when the sun came up I was in the middle of a bunch of Canadian geese. They didn't know what I was. It was a great experience.

I wish some of these wma's would go to no motor days. Say monday, tuesday and Thursday you can paddle or walk in to hunt but no outboard boats allowed on those set days.

I used to have an Old Town sit in kayak, that I hunted out of. Enjoyed it, but it became too hard to move and get in and out of after back surgery a few years ago.

I’m using the Ascend H10 this year with a home made blind. It was very nice when I fished out of it earlier this year.

It's nice to have something deep enough to toss all your gear in without worrying about it sliding off - those Ascend H12s look like a good in-between.

Here's the pirogue I use:

I have had an old town sportsmaster canoe since 2015. It’s about 650 ish from academy. Holds a ton of weight, I had mysefl and the two guys in the picture in it along with a dog and decoys and other gear. It can take a trolling motor or small outboard or mud motor, I have a 6.5 longtail kit on mine. It also paddles easily as well. And it’s light enough to load in the bed of the truck by yourself. It’s killed a lot of ducks and caught a ton of fish. Well worth the money. And it’s extremely stable. I have front and back decks on it now and i regularly fish out of it with 3 people, one poling on the back, one casting off the front deck and the other sitting in the middle seat.

+1 on the kayak paddle, so much easier

I grew up duck hunting in a 15’ Grumman Sport Boat. Basically an aluminum square stern canoe that doesn’t taper at the rear as quickly as most. Crazy high carry capacity and hp rating. A 6hp outboard will get two adults and hunting gear on plane. Very hard to find down South.

I really want to make a cedar-strip version. Lighter, faster, stronger, and less noise from waves slapping. Found plans.

I've used a Native Ultimate 12 in camo for roughly 5 years now with DIY front/rear camo blind/spray skirts and the design of the seat adjusts from upright seating position from 0 to 10 inches off the hull and laying out like a recliner. Its basically a low profile layout blind on or off the water. The low freeboard isn't exactly confidence inspiring in heavy chop so I added additional closed cell foam JIC and use an inflatable outrigger and home made nylon jib (sail) if the wind is optimal to minimize paddling. Wind is a significant problem with SOT yaks with a taller profile but isn't an issue with this boat. Light enough to carry if need be, sponson hull is extremely stable enough to stand up, and it tracks straight without the need for a rudder. On shore and brushed in, it's been mistaken more than once for a layout blind.

If I need to portage the boat to the water, I use these (significantly modified & lightened) wheels. I snap them into recessed fittings installed in the hull.






https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660583_200660583

I've lost count of the number of birds that have swam up to and hung out around my boat. More than one I've had a boatload of hunters roll right up to my spot to set up near my spot. I put and end to that with a MILSPEC strobe mounted on a tall collapsable fiberglasss rod that I typically use for nav lighting.

Yes.

The problem with that blind is paddling with it installed. It creates a significan't amount of drag. I'd remove the excess material hanging off the sides for darn sure.

If one primarily hunts this way, wheels make it so much nicer. I prefer what originally was called a Swedish Boat Cart, but online I have seen it with various other names. It folds up and can be stowed in the boat when I get to the water and I can use it with any of my boats. I prefer the bigger diameter and thinner bicycle type tires over wide flat ones. It cuts through the mud rather than bog down with mud and it stows easier. I also put solid tubes in them so I can portage over cactus and mesquite when needed.

I like the way you roll. Simplicity is typically an element of every hunting photo you post.

Says a lot about mindset.

As far as hauling items on an SOT, we tow a sled behind both yaks. I hardly know it's there. As long as you keep the tether reasonably short it tracks pretty well. It's also great for picking up decoys when done

The sides, front, and back all roll up snug to the metal frame for travel. This will be my first season using this blind set up. I have fished out of the kayak for three years, so the boat is familiar but the blind not so much. I still have not decided a preferred method of bird retrieval. I do not have a dog and do not want to move the boat with the blind deployed every time I shoot something. I might bring a short fishing rod with braid and a large treble hook. I am also on the look out for a 45lb +/- water dog.

I love this thread. I have a 16ft canoe I have used more than a few times.

might as well take advantage of the thread, my Native Ultimate 12 in camo is for sale. It's the latest 2nd gen version, boat is mint n modded to roll legal with running lights. It's a duck slaying yak.

Was $1299 plus $80 to have it shipped from Austin Yak in 2014. first $675 gets it, a steal. Includes hull, paddle, class 3 seat, legal running lights, misc hardware kit.

Not looking for pity, but severe diabetes and recent diagnosis of advanced cancer has me unloading tons of gear so my wife isn't burdened with 2 bedrooms filedl with hunting/fishing crap when that day comes.

just sent you a PM aerangis.

These are giving me some ideas! Definitely can't be taking out my bright lime green kayak....Will have to buy some paint.

I have a lot of fun camoing my rig. Every year I add more, also lose some on the road. I weave/tie it on. This year I added it to the motor.

I really like that little rig, Guy

what rig???

Guy has a little rig

I also got a big one, 17’.

ducknbass is gonna be knocking down your door now

Garrett tells us about your canoe trip...……..

Guess when it's cold it's a little rig.

Of course you did. 3D camo, burlap, raffia, garters, silk hose and panties, It's all the same.

Before you know it, she'll have you in whips and chains.

I thought you told me once Guy has a "spider rig"

I really like your rig.

^^^^ thanks. I use it more for fly fishing the wayyy back parts of the marsh now than I do for duck hunting. But it’s a fun little rig.

How do you transport it? Trailer? Back of pickup?

welp, got a canoe this week from a forum member and going to get her camo'd up tonight. ill drag the kayak behind it to load gear and fetch any far birds up. man am i ready to get out there and hammer some ducks!

Here is my 13’, I hunt in a leafy suit also

We have a harbor freight trailer we modified to fit all our gear and two kayaks. Works great.

What light are you using on your kayak or canoe?

My kayak is as well. I have an ocean kayak prowler and use the yak gear kayak blind to cover it. Has drawstrings to keep it tight to the boat sides and places to strap stubble down

I have about this same set up and love it. I put a tall lay out blind on mine due to a bad back and it works great for me.

Cut the bottom out of the blind and mounted it to the boat so I could remove it quick if I need to. Brushed it in and it works great here. My son Steve has the same setup.

What light are you using on your kayak?

great picture!

If that question is for me it's a Alpena LED from Autozone part number 86623. Works great!

I would really like to something made out of aluminum that is finished out like a gheenoe or towee skiff. Where it is still somewhat light weight for 1-2 men can hand launch, stable, can put a 10-15hp SD,LT or OB on it and get 20+/- mph out of it, the hull is built well enough it can take some punishment, it can be taken out in some rougher water and haul some gear, and have a hunt deck on it. I think that would be the perfect boat for me.

Anyone know if some one makes one?

Willett custom

Tell him Derek sent you

Assuming you're talking about that skiff that catwhacker posted you're wanting everything in a boat. Low profile hidebboat that does 20 smd takes big water. Be like posting in the want ads looking for a unicorn

Mine is not even close to a big water boat and won't do 20 mph. If the wind comes up you had better be headed to the launch. My boat really works great but you better use your head or you could be swimming! I live in Michigan and use it on the rivers and smaller lakes. I have a bigger boat for big water.

Cat I bet you can get those ducks to land on you in that rig though. It's good at what it's good at.

I live on a lake up here and it has a small dam on it. The DNR lowers the lake about a foot and a half the first part of Oct. This boat allows me to get into the cattails where the mallards like to go. Love the thing and it really hides well in the cattails.

JMO, you are really defeating the purpose of a layout blind with that high profile set-up. I actually hate using layout blinds and hate using my layout boat as a layout blind, my preference is to sit upright on a stool in natural cover, so I can drink my coffee. I use cheap dove stools from Academy, and cut the pouch off. May favorite is a dove chair got from academy below, with back rest, folds up, I cut the pouch off, drill holes in the bottom so water drains out..

What I like about my layout boat is I don't have to hide it, I can set right next to it, use it as a coffee table and my dog can sit on it, goes really shallow, impossible to get stuck... I use it as a layout blind only when there is no cover, and I'm going for low profile, sometimes I even pull my motor off to achieve a even lower profile. I has a momarsh layout seat, it is just as comfortable as a layout blind.

Guy, I would love to have my boat set up like yours but 3 back operations and 5 fusions doesn't allow me to do that. I can't sit up if I'm too flat! I'm old and worn out!! And we do use mud seats when we can. I also love my coffee!

ttt

Look's like a pretty filthy set up!