Kayak blind

[Runningfool]

I've recently picked up a 12' fishing kayak that I am planning to use to hunt waterfowl from this fall. I've seen that a few companies make blinds that fit kayaks but none appear to be in stock (which seems strange to me but is what it is). Anyone have any tips or tricks to share on camouflaging their kayak? Anyone know of a source for blind kits for kayaks?

 

[hoytcanon]

I sprayed mine flat olive drab... paddle into a weed bed and sit still... that is usually good enough. I sometimes beach the kayak and pull it up into the trees and then hunt from shore, only using the kayak to retrieve, when I don't have the dog with me.

 

[Jim870]

A couple pieces of camo netting (burlap will work too but absorbs more water) about 6'x3' with some local vegetation ziptied to it will help it blend in or look more like a muskrat house and a couple bungees to keep it on the bow and stern. I like grey, black and brown for hull colors but olive green will certainly work. There are a pile of DIY guides if you google, I like the oldtown canoes plan and that is pretty much what I described, although I added the bungees rather than securing it with zipties for easy on and off.

 

[.22LRGUY]

I fish from a NuCanoe Frontier 12 kayak and on the NuCanoe site (under accessories/hunting) there are some camo kits. I'm not sure if they'd be universal or not, but the NuCanoes are big boats for their length...so I can't imagine the issue would be "too small". You might have to modify, but it's a place to start maybe.

Allot of guys use their NuCanoes FOR hunting, so Google "NuCanoe Frontier Hunting" and you will likely see how guys have modified them.

 

[Runningfool]

Well I got a start on this project today. Got some great camo fabric from a fellow cgner and I think it’s going to turn out decent. Kayak was found on kijiji - I know there isn’t much love for pelican yaks here but this works well for me...price was right, only 69lbs, and with a 400lb capacity it will easily hold me and my gear without any fear of overloading.

 

[dilly]

Looks great to me. Why no love for pelican? Seem kinda close to the nucanoe.

 

[TheTooner]

Pelican has always made boats so cheaply they can't be very good, but in recent years they've added better boats to their line.

 

[hoytcanon]

Looks great to me. Why no love for pelican? Seem kinda close to the nucanoe.

Until you compare them side by side... the biggest problem is the soft material and lack of structural support, which quickly renders them warped and sloppy... they also paddle like pigs in comparison as their soft poly material has a lot of adhesion and the "pouchy" hull cavitates.

Having said that, if you are looking for a cheap knock-about to get on the water, they do offer that.

 

[hoytcanon]

Well I got a start on this project today. Got some great camo fabric from a fellow cgner and I think it’s going to turn out decent. Kayak was found on kijiji - I know there isn’t much love for pelican yaks here but this works well for me...price was right, only 69lbs, and with a 400lb capacity it will easily hold me and my gear without any fear of overloading.

Have you thought of sewing in a pocket seam and then running a shock cord through it so that it will just slip over and snug down?

 

[Papaclaude]

Just out of curiosity - would you be shooting from the kayak? Side note: I had always wanted to kayak, but I have a weird autoimmune illness that causes me to get severe cramps in almost all my muscle groups when I exert myself. Well, I got about 200 feet from shore in a friend's boat when the cramps set in. Apparently, my antics would have made America's Funniest Videos, and that was the end of my kayaking career.

 

[Runningfool]

Have you thought of sewing in a pocket seam and then running a shock cord through it so that it will just slip over and snug down?

That is exactly my plan. The material already has a seam running the full length on one side so I will only have to subject the project to my rudimentary sewing skills 50% of its length

 

[hoytcanon]

That is exactly my plan. The material already has a seam running the full length on one side so I will only have to subject the project to my rudimentary sewing skills 50% of its length

Good plan... now what are you going to do about the big blob in the middle?

 

[smokin'stoegie]

Which model of Pelican is that ?
That seat sells it for me.

I looked last year at them and I have read about some paddling issues and tracking but I personally wouldn't be looking at going into "big water" so those issues seem to be less relevant if your fishing close to shorelines and smaller bodies of water.

Looks good!!

 

[Runningfool]

Good plan... now what are you going to do about the big blob in the middle?

That big blob will be me all camoed out!

Which model of Pelican is that ?
That seat sells it for me.

I looked last year at them and I have read about some paddling issues and tracking but I personally wouldn't be looking at going into "big water" so those issues seem to be less relevant if your fishing close to shorelines and smaller bodies of water.

Looks good!!

Thanks! It's the Pelican Catch 120. The seat has 2 positions, low as shown in the picture which is better for paddling (and shooting) and higher for a more elevated fishing position. I won't be taking it out on big water or going so far that tracking will be much of an issue.... Mostly just local rivers that I can drift down, throw out some decoys, tuck myself in somewhere, and shoot from the boat. Then paddle back up to where I launched from. Sounds good in theory, will have to see how it all actually works in practice.

 

[Runningfool]

The seat is very comfortable, easily the most comfortable of any kayak I've ever sat in.

This is from Pelican's "premium line" which may not mean much but apparently uses their higher end material that is structurally tougher but also light. I have a tandem pelican I bought off Kijiji years ago that is also made of their RamX material and it has served me and the kids very well paddling down the Grand River so I know it stands up well and doesn't deform or buckle.

 

[dilly]

Until you compare them side by side... the biggest problem is the soft material and lack of structural support, which quickly renders them warped and sloppy... they also paddle like pigs in comparison as their soft poly material has a lot of adhesion and the "pouchy" hull cavitates.

Having said that, if you are looking for a cheap knock-about to get on the water, they do offer that.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[hoytcanon]

Sounds good in theory, will have to see how it all actually works in practice.

Oh, it works... I've been hunting out of kayaks for a few years and out canoes for 40 years before that. I have a flooded timber woodie run that I do on opener every year, one of my favourite hunts of the year.

 

[Papaclaude]

Oh, it works... I've been hunting out of kayaks for a few years and out canoes for 40 years before that. I have a flooded timber woodie run that I do on opener every year, one of my favourite hunts of the year.

I've hunted plenty out of canoes, but never seen it done in a kayak. How stable are they under recoil? Wouldn't the act of raising the gun also raise the center of gravity to make it tippy? (Just asking - as I said, never done it or seen it done.)

 

[Runningfool]

I've hunted plenty out of canoes, but never seen it done in a kayak. How stable are they under recoil? Wouldn't the act of raising the gun also raise the center of gravity to make it tippy? (Just asking - as I said, never done it or seen it done.)

That's why most people use fishing kayaks for hunting - they are very stable and are designed so that you able to stand up in them. I don't plan on standing while hunting but if it can handle that, I'm not the least worried about recoil.

 

[riversrest]

I've hunted plenty out of canoes, but never seen it done in a kayak. How stable are they under recoil? Wouldn't the act of raising the gun also raise the center of gravity to make it tippy? (Just asking - as I said, never done it or seen it done.)

They are stable under recoil. In general the center of gravity is lower than in a canoe. How much lower depends on the kind of kayak design you are using. There are "sit-on" kayaks like the OP's and there are "sit-in" kayaks. Sit-ins are IMO more stable as you sit right on (+/-) the water's surface. They are/can be equipped with a splash skirt which makes em more suitable to hunt on rivers with some white water.

To the OP, a very practical inexpensive accessory to get is a paddle clip installed on the sides of your boat. Before shooting you will have to rest your paddle in order to pick-up your gun. Have it securely and stream-lined attached will save you troubles chasing after it...

RR