Lighting Question for my Experienced Duck and Geese Hunters

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vita89

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Hi Guys,

Looking to set up our boat for getting into the marsh early morning. First year water fowling on my own without my dad and just me and a friend so were relatively new to the waterfowl game.

What do you use for lighting? We are working on whether to get some heavy duty insanely bright flashlights to guide the boat in or to get a light attached to the boat.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you all in advance.
 
From about an hour before sunrise, there will be enough natural light to guide your boat in, with a half hour before time to shoot.
 
So most of the people we go with in the area we go to because its highly frequented by other hunters we go in closer to like 430 am to get on the water and set up. Its very dark.
 
vita89 said:
So most of the people we go with in the area we go to because its highly frequented by other hunters we go in closer to like 430 am to get on the water and set up. Its very dark.
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OK, I got it.
I can only imagine such places, as where I have boat hunted for ducks and geese, three boats and the lake would be considered crowded!
 
I used to carry a deep cycle battery and hook my hand held Q-Beam up to it. It lights up a path in front of you quite well and leaves no doubt to others where you are to avoid a collision. It seemed to me about 95% of the craft operators out there seemed to think it was ok to run in the dark without running lights. If it wasn't for my Q-Beam I am sure I'd have had a few collisions in the marsh channels in the dark with guys running without any form of lighting. A fellow I was with in his boat tagged something withbthe lower unit one morning in a channel connecting two main bays on Nipissing in a spot where there should have been nothing to hit. A quick flick of the flashlight revealed we had hit a whitetail deer swimming across the channel. I am sure that deer had one hell of a back ache and story to tell his friends.
 
I carry two headlights with spare batteries. Also have a bright handheld flashlight. Seems the best hunting is between sunset and half hour after. By the time we pack all the decoys its pitch black. It gets dark quick. Good lighting matters unless you like blindly paddling the swamp in the dark after a long day.
 
I always bring a light but rarely use it (unless I see/hear other boats or hunters in the same general area). Natural light is usually enough, and eyesight adjusts better without the stark contrast of artificial light. Occasionally, however, I do need to fire up a big flashlight. Learned the hard way a few years back that it can be a big help to have a GPS unit with a waypoint at your blind, if travelling a significant difference. My buddy & I headed out on a very foggy morning and got completely turned around and ended up on the opposite side of the lake!
 
A gps is a great way to get in and out, headlamps are a must have and when I used to hunt ducks and geese nothing beats a million candle watt handheld spotlight held by the navigator and the driver follow beam. The shiner should sit up front but close enough to communicate with the driver. The shiner should be shining on a low angle 20-40yards ahead of the boat on constant watch for obstacles in the water eg logs, large weedbeds, other hunters and wildlife. Don't overdrive the spotlight and all will be well. Ps: fog is your worst enemy. If foggy go at a snails pace and try to keep the shoreline in sight if possible.....this is when your gps becomes invaluable!
 
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