duck hunting by canoe

[sherlockbonez]

I use my squaretail coleman. Propelled by paddle, electric or 3.5hp Merc...Dragging works too for the shallow.

I've been dunked a few times in a river fishing for salmon in waders (no canoe), I found that the neoprene floats a little bit and I've floated down entire pools just "sitting" in the water with my waders.

I also have a plan similar to the ones on those website from an old Field and Stream. I can probably scan and email it to someone if they want to build one.

 

[buffdog]

Chest Waders and Canoes

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It is possible to drown yourself in chest waders. If you go in, and the air fills out the inside of the chest waders, they tend to float while your body hangs downward. Your legs are upward due to the trapped air.

One solution to this is to use a belt around your waist outside the chest waders. This can keep the air from entering. You might even practice a bit in the summer using a swimming pool, trapping some air inside your waders, and see what happens. DO NOT DO THIS BY YOURSELF..HAVE SOMEONE TO ASSIST YOU IF YOU GET INTO TROUBLE. If it does happen while hunting, the air can be released if you cut or puncture the waders. It is very, very difficult to remove waders while you are floating in deep water.

If more than one of you hunt from a canoe, use only ONE shotgun if you are drifting the rivers. One guy to paddle, and the shooter in front. Even then, the paddler should be as close to the shooter's back as possible, to prevent accidents. If hunting from an anchored boat with two shooters, make absolutely sure of your field of fire. In excitement, muzzles of shotguns tend to wander into unsafe zones, like next to your ear, or 6 inches in front of your nose. Even in a duck blind, I have seen a shotgun barrel that was shot by the guys partner when both aimed at an overhead duck. Canoes are even more unstable than boats.

If you drift rivers, put an old piece of canvas on the front of the canoe. You can prop it up a bit to hide behind. If you put some light branches on it for camouflage, it is surprising how close you can come to ducks on a river or stream.

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[bluedcanoed]

Jump shooting from canoe

For you guys that do this seriously, alone in a canoe, I reccomend building a box as illustrated to hold the gun upright and pointed over the bow, so that when you drop your paddle, you don't have to look for it in the bottom of the canoe.Also good to hold shells and thermos. (Picture shows forks custom made for my BPS - don' fit M12 too well)

Bob