Retrieving ducks

B

Beadwindow

CGN frequent flyer
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Toronto
Hi Fellows,

I was just wondering about some ways to make duck hunting a bit more feasible for those of us without a dog or large boat. I have chest waders, but I gather from most of the beaver ponds in which I've seen ducks or larger bodies of water that there's quite the chance of sinking into deep mud or of losing any bird that goes any distance before falling and lands in deep water.

I purchased a camoflauge float tube last year, but have to admit that between inflating it, floating half submerged in a boggy marsh with no definable shoreline, and the speed at which it travels that there might be a more practical solution. I'm not talking about something to travel to a distant island or blind, but simply to put out decoys and pick up fallen birds. If only more dingy's weren't all bright coloured (though I could cover that up with burlap and leave it on shore til needed) that might be the solution. Something light might also be the solution for beaver ponds that are bit of a distance from a road or railway track......I'm thinking of using something light and easy to carry.

Does anyone have any ideas or solutions that they've tried. For now I'm thinking of something fairly inexpensive and easy to transport that I could use this season. There's no shortage of beaver ponds and small lakes to choose from, but for now I have to settle for watching ducks fly off while trudging along the shoreline and neighbouring woods in search of grouse. An hour or two of watching decoys in the mornings and evenings would greatly add to the hunt.

On the other hand, if people have knowledge of marshes within two hours of Toronto where chest waders will work fine, that too would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Frank
 
I know Ontario isn't exactly the grain belt, but are there not opportunities to hunt them over cultivated areas of some kind?

I've also, occasionally, jump shot ducks from small potholes and dugouts, making the 'stalk' so that they would flush toward dry land...
 
When I was in Fort Mac, I didn't have a dog and retrieved my birds with a float tube. It is more work but it got the job done. It just further limits the ranges at which you can shoot and where you can shoot. With a dog I don't hesitate to knock down a mallard into 4 foot high cattails because the dog will pick it up. When I was dogless I had to time my shots so that the bird would hit the water or the short grass on the shore.
 
I have a dog, but my bud uses a fishing rod with an orange hockey ball attachted to the line that he has attached a pile of fish hooks to. He swears it works, but I haven't seen it in action.
 
I've got a plastic 11ft kayak. It weighs about 45lbs and it was a bright blue until I broke out the cans of krylon paint. You can definitely cover some distance in it and it's easy to drag or carry through the bush but it would be easier with one of those wheel carts (getting one soon) especially if you are bringing along some decoys. It can float and go in about a foot of water but it's quite a slog when there are lots of lilly pads. The paddles get heavy. I have shot out of it but only when facing pretty much to the front. I'll sometimes just wedge myself in the reeds and shoot from a sitting position. This is my first year hunting with it so I'm still experimenting but I am glad I got it since I too have no boat or dog. I must advise that you should get some practice in first and if your waders aren't neoprene then always wear a pfd. I can float and swim indefinetly in my waders if I fall in ( I have tested this in my pool)
 
dangertree said:
I have a dog, but my bud uses a fishing rod with an orange hockey ball attachted to the line that he has attached a pile of fish hooks to. He swears it works, but I haven't seen it in action.
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A friend of mine also uses a fishing rod but he uses one of those large floating rapalas on the end of the line.
 
I have used a fishing rod before, I wasn't planning on it at the time but it was in the truck and worked well. I used a heavy red devil but a floating lure would have been better. It was a lot better than the option of stripping and wading into that muddy old slough. Anyone watching would have had a pretty good chuckle I am sure.
 
Thanks for the suggestions fellows!

I've got a short telescoping rod that can fit easily in my backpack for smaller creeks and around beaver ponds that aren't too marshy. I could easily enough pack hip waders for small creek hunting as well.

For more open water, I'll stick to the float tube for now, though it sure feels awkward packing waders, life jacket, flippers and the tube, blowing up the tube etc. Add the decoys, spare shotgun, backpack and ammo box and it starts to fill up the trunk really fast. Oh and of course there is food, water, a change of clothes and perhaps the trap, clays and case of target ammo.....

The kayak option sounds interesting, even if I might not be able to get it in time for this season's duck shooting. I saw one listed at Canadian Tire for $350 that sounds like the one that Rick B was talking about. I presume that it can easily be fit on the top of a car for transport.

There's certainly some field shooting available for waterfowl, especially geese, but without much opportunity to scout and again the need for another two dozen decoys, I'd first want to focus on the birds over the water, which are far more common in the areas that I hunt.

Thanks again for sharing your ideas,

Frank
 
Used a rubber dingy my first year. They will be on sale now for probably $50 or less.Not the greatest. But it works.
Dave.
 
A canoe... and when it is too windy for a canoe, make sure you can access the shore to which the wind is blowing.

I hunted for years with a canoe or simply wading... then I got a dog, what a treat I will never be wothout a dog now.... I still use the canoe though.

Oh yeah, and for the decoys, get weighted keel so you can throw them out and get a 20 ft painter's pole, they collapse to 7 ft or so, stick a hook on the end and voila.
 
Here is my baby 2 weeks ago:
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triton said:
Used a rubber dingy my first year. They will be on sale now for probably $50 or less.Not the greatest. But it works.
Dave.
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I saw a decent looking two man dingy at Canadian Tire for $39.99 plus $15 for oars. It sure takes up alot less space than the float tube, and I might buy it later. I could fairly easily pack it into areas where the float tube would be a real pain, so I'll have to think about it further.

Cheers,

Frank
 
Beadwindow said:
I saw a decent looking two man dingy at Canadian Tire for $39.99 plus $15 for oars. It sure takes up alot less space than the float tube, and I might buy it later. I could fairly easily pack it into areas where the float tube would be a real pain, so I'll have to think about it further.

Cheers,

Frank
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Just remember these inflatable dingys... are toys, not boats. They will be fine for what you want but make sure to wear your PFD. I can guarantee you will bust it eventually. Once you get over the $100 range they start getting better. Also they are hard as hell to control, don't use them on windy days and be ver careful not to punture it.
I would look for a small used canoe, you can get one for around $100 in rough shape (fiberglass is easy to fix, plastic is not) and a small 12-14ft canoe will only weigh about 60lbs or so.

I always wanted to get a paddle boat, a bit heavy to lug around but I would actually like to hunt from it.
 
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How could a 2 man dinghy be smaller than a float tube? Or are you thinking of leaving the float tube inflated all the time?

I have one of those cheapo air compressors that plug into your 12V adaptor. I think it was $15. Inflates a float tube in about 1 min.
 
Silverado said:
How could a 2 man dinghy be smaller than a float tube? Or are you thinking of leaving the float tube inflated all the time?

I have one of those cheapo air compressors that plug into your 12V adaptor. I think it was $15. Inflates a float tube in about 1 min.
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Uninflated, the dinghy takes up very little space in comparison to my float tube and would fit in my backpack, even with a small pump fairly easily. It's just an idea for putting out decoys and retrieving ducks in a beaver pond or small lake, not for getting out to some far away spot on a larger body of water, or someplace full of rocks and logs. I've already got a PFD so it would cost about $60 with paddles, maybe a few more dollars should I choose to spray paint it grey or brown.

I've picked up the 12V adaptor and look forward to giving it a try. I'm rather sold on picking up a kayak eventually, with the float tube remaining as a further option for when it's more practical or when there's two of us hunting.

Cheers,

Frank
 
I see... I didn't thing about backpacking the thing in uninflated. I've never found a float tube at all unmanageable, even when hiking in to fish small remote places.

When fishing however, I'm certainly not hauling as much stuff as a decoy spread and whatnot.

Either way, enjoy.

What about my original question about hunting over cultivated fields? Not feasible where you are?
 
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