I considered a kayak for duck hunting about 15 years ago, was at sportsman show, but there was no room for my faithful retriever so I left with a 15’ canoe. I’ve used this exclusively for hunting and it has served well, I fit all my dekes, gear and retriever. The only issue occurred up in the Kawartha's 9 years ago when I popped two speeding blue wings and hastily switched from a side mount in the canoe to the paddle position and flipped over! Luckily my gun, ammo, everything but lost one camo glove, sunglasses, and my Swiss Army knife. I bailed about 300 liters from the canoe that day and was soaked, good thing it was early October and still warm out, didn’t have the lab with me or I would have been embarrassed!
Duck hunting from kayak
- Thread starter Silveragent
- Start date
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Your limited aquatic experience is on display here. Comparing kayaks and canoes without a description? Might as well say all cars are as ugly as Gremlins and all trucks look just like a Model T Ford.
Certainly sea going kayaks in recent years are really stable but....most Canadians with some experience with both would probably say the reverse is true to them.
I've used one for retrieval, I hate kayaking, but my friends dog is pretty good for nothing. I'm extremely inexperienced, but after a few minutes of farting around I figured it out.
Never shot from one, but I think it can be done.
Never shot from one, but I think it can be done.
Urbansherpa
Regular
- Location
- Hamilton, Ont
I have a LOT of experience with kayaks. Had various boats for over 20 yrs.
I use my 'OLD TOWN DIRIGO 140' to jump shoot ducks. Get a paddle tether (you probably already have one since you are an experienced sea-kayaker). My kayak is marketed as an angler/hunter kayak. I think it is a 27" beam, and is 14' long. It has a fairly open cockpit, so I can rest my 12g between my legs while paddling. I just drop the paddle and grab the gun when I jump a duck. Lots of fun.
Also, I dont think people realize just how stable a kayak is, compared to a canoe. It is not as tippy a craft as many think.
I've often said that in 3-4' seas I'd feel safer in a kayak than any other small craft. Shooting out of a yak is quite safe, unless it is a skinny racing yak. Primary stability is key as the recoil is short. Enjoy.
That's interesting.. that site made me look at the Predator ones you can stand up in. Can you stand up in your Dirigo?
Urbansherpa
Regular
- Location
- Hamilton, Ont
Haha, I've tried. Although it is possible, it looks like a high-wire act......so in a nutshell,..No. I have seen guys (online) attach an outrigger system to there conventional kayaks. Standing would appeal to me if I'm swinging a fly rod!
Urbansherpa
Regular
- Location
- Hamilton, Ont
Haha, true. If I was to shoot my 12g while standing in my kayak then I'd definitely be a 'Flying Wallenda'.
Standing in most kayaks is similar to standing on a log in the water.....but sitting in one, with most of your weight BELOW the waterline, is EXTREMELY STABLE. A kayak is usually faster, and more efficient thru the water than a canoe (solo). Portaging a kayak can suck, though. Most people probably find most kayaks more stable than canoes.
Canoe can hold more, and gets MORE stable when it is loaded with packs, etc.
Good thing about a canoe is that the sternman can paddle up to ducks while the bowman points his shotgun.
hunting from a kayak is a lot of fun.
Me and a hunting buddy just started last year in ladner marsh.
We take out a double, only one gun for the person up front, other persons paddles slowly around the smaller waterways.
We use a Delta 20t
http://www.deltakayaks.com/kayak-models/touring/delta-20t.html
Really stable.
Have gotten ducks each time we have gone out.
Me and a hunting buddy just started last year in ladner marsh.
We take out a double, only one gun for the person up front, other persons paddles slowly around the smaller waterways.
We use a Delta 20t
http://www.deltakayaks.com/kayak-models/touring/delta-20t.html
Really stable.
Have gotten ducks each time we have gone out.
