hunting from a canoe tips

You really need to learn to paddle first. First watch the four videos, multiple times,
http://www.nfb.ca/film/path_of_the_paddle_solo_basic/
then hit the water for a few seasons. You need time on the water. A canoeing mentor will help a lot. Canoes are not inherently unstable, novice canoeists are. You are heavier than your canoe, so your movements are the dominant factor in what your canoe does.

As pointed out by others, you don't have to worry about legalities regarding forward motion and so on if you are paddling yourself, rather than using the outboard. The outboard should be useful to have once you have to ferry moose quarters around, though.

Practice shooting from a canoe if you think you might want to. Very likely your effective range will be massively reduced, i.e., likely you won't feel confident to shoot past 20 or 30 yards, at least at first.

RG

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as expected there is some sage advice here, thanks guys. The idea was to head upriver and get into area's not accessible by quads and to call / hunt on foot. Drifting quietly downstream with the motor up sounds like an effective plan as well and I will heed the advice about the rifle across the gunwales and leave it in the bottom of the boat with the 3 paddles and dry change of clothes.
 
Bring a shotgun for ducks, and a fishing rod for fish... wear or at least bring a floatation jacket... they also keep you warm at night.
And never shoot a powerfull gun sideways off the side of a tipsy canoe.. it may roll you and all youre belongings over:(
 
I think the title sums this thread up well, it's just a matter of bold. :D

hunting from a canoe tips
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Duffy said:
Here is a quote from Alberta "Guide to hunting regulations " poage 18

have a loaded firearm (live ammunition in breech, chamber or magazine) in or on, or discharge a weapon from
a boat unless the boat is propelled by muscular power or is at anchor and the person is hunting, or
any kind of aircraft or vehicle whether it is moving or stationary.

Doesn't say anything about "motor off and upraised prop out of water".
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I read it once too, the motor must be off and out of the water. I'll dig through the new regs and some old ones to see if they changed it.
 
Ive never owned a canoe previously much less hunted out of one
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I suggest you take a few weekend fishing trips and get some practice getting in and out, and manoeuvring in tight quarters, wind, and rough water.
A canoe is not a boat, as you will quickly discover.
Canoes are stable, compared to other canoes, not boats. Each model has it's own little quirks in how it likes to be loaded etc.
Myself, given the opportunity, I forgo the motor, and paddle silently down the lake shore, or stream.
It's a very effective way to hunt, and you can cover a lot of ground in total silence once you are good at it.
 
Some disposable weight at the front may help keep your nose down if using an outboard by yourself.

Keep your weight centered and low.

Invest in a dry bag for your extra clothes.

Keep essentials (fire starter, light, etc) on your person and not in the bag.

Pack a bail bucket.

If you have the time and water. Practice flipping the canoe and getting back in and collecting gear. It'll help make the real thing seem routine.

Have fun!
 
Coat your gun with a thin layer of good quality waterproof lubricant inside and out.
It may help to have a float tied to your gun if it's your first time in a canoe (this assumes that you are going to be canoeing in calm water only). Canoe in calm water only.
 
Summing up the Alberta regs as well, if it has a motor you pretty much need to be ancored to shoot. If it's human powerd like a canoe you can do what ever you want.
 
What kind of canoe is Sealhunter sporting? and how big is that motor, i am very interested in that type of setup.

thanks
fuzzy
 
This makes great reading, some good advice here for sure! I've got a 15 ft. Grumman aluminum and a 50 ft. lb Minn Kota trolling motor, I'm going to rig her up with two Trojan 6 volt golf cart batteries at the bow of the boat.That ought to run her all day!
From my limited experience, a canoe opens up a lot of great hunting opportunites, both big game and waterfowl wise, let alone the fishing. Great investment! Never regretted it.
 
WEAR YOUR PFD. you won't get it on once you are in the water. when your boots fill up it could be your ending. I have been in cold water with my hunting gear on you can't believe how much of a handicap the cold water is. If I had been alone that day I wouldn't be writing this. WEAR YOUR PFD. if anyone busts your balls about it tell them to go f@ck their hat. oh yeah WEAR YOUR PFD. edit edit edit get a dry bag spend a little extra and buy a good one in a really bright colour for your change of clothes. have fun and good luck
 
squirrelnuttz said:
I've got a 15 ft. Grumman aluminum and a 50 ft. lb Minn Kota trolling motor, I'm going to rig her up with two Trojan 6 volt golf cart batteries at the bow of the boat.That ought to run her all day!
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I wouldn't be too sure about that. I can't say for sure but I'll tell you what I know. We service golf carts at work, and while I don't golf I've been told the average electric will last 18 holes, but not much past that. These units are running either 4 or 6 batteries in tandom, not 2. With that being said, I sometimes run a 30 pound Minn Kota electric on my 12 foot aluminim fishing boat. I use 12 volt marine deep cycle batteries. Using one of these I get 4 to 6 hours before my alarm goes off and I have to head for shore to switch batteries. Just a heads up. :wave:
 
pharaoh2 said:
I wouldn't be too sure about that. I can't say for sure but I'll tell you what I know. We service golf carts at work, and while I don't golf I've been told the average electric will last 18 holes, but not much past that. These units are running either 4 or 6 batteries in tandom, not 2. With that being said, I sometimes run a 30 pound Minn Kota electric on my 12 foot aluminim fishing boat. I use 12 volt marine deep cycle batteries. Using one of these I get 4 to 6 hours before my alarm goes off and I have to head for shore to switch batteries. Just a heads up. :wave:
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Don't what amperage a golf cart needs or what those batteries provide, but I think I worked out once that my 30 lbs thrust trolling motor draws about one amp per 5 lbs thrust. So it could be worked out anyhow.

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AKD said:
Summing up the Alberta regs as well, if it has a motor you pretty much need to be ancored to shoot. If it's human powerd like a canoe you can do what ever you want.
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Not quite. Forward momentum must have ceased but you can shoot from an unanchored motor boat.
 
Im going to be captain obvious here but try shooting along the lenght of the Canoe :p ...and that may be an issue if you have a partner riding in front of you !

I was canoeing this summer and I saw and Cow Moose and her young Calf they detected us (my wife was a the front of the canoe making all the noise of course) before we ever saw them, If I had been hunting I would of never got a shot off in time.....be quiet...you never know what is around the next bend.
 
Since you’ve not owned a scanoe before and are planning to attach a motor, I presume that you will have your Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card. A canoe is legal without one, but attach a motor and you need the card.

In addition you need some mandatory equipment on board. Bailing bucket, throwing rope, PDF for each person, and a signaling device (think whistle). In addition, let someone know where you are planning to go.

Having dumped a canoe a couple of times I’ve learned to tie everything to the boat. And my glasses get tied to my head with a glasses string. Nothing worse than not being able to see because you specks floated off while you were under water.
 
sjemac said:
Not quite. Forward momentum must have ceased but you can shoot from an unanchored motor boat.
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It is unlawful to: "have a loaded firearm in or on, discharge a weapon from
- a boat unless the boat is propelled be muscular power or is at anchor"


From the book. take it as you will. sounds like it needs to be anchored to me.
 
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