boats and bowhunting

woodworker · December 16, 2009, 10:21:00 PM

This is just the sort of thinking that prompted me to make an Adirondack Guide Boat for myself, 16' long and extremely stable and it turned out beautiful. It is cedar strip built with fiberglass inside and out with 7'6" oars. Building one is fun (if you have the room) but it is addictive. I would like to build more but the wife put the halt on that. There are loads of resources out the for plans and such. The guide boat is heavy 70-90# but it so stable compared to a canoe and can hall all your gear, just something to think about, winter is here.

Rick P · December 16, 2009, 10:46:00 PM

The wife and I are getting a 22 foot Scott "Hudson bay" canoe in the spring. I have a 25 horse motor for it and In my opinion freighter canoes are the ultimate go anywhere fresh or salt boats! I guided for both sea kayaking and white water and kayaks are great but they can't haul the 2,000 pounds the Scott is rated for, its virtually impossible to mount a motor on a kayak and you can't get up and stretch in a kayak. I can run a 22 foot freighter standing!

PS freighter canoe = square stern designed for a motor in this case.

Day Dreamer · December 16, 2009, 11:04:00 PM

This year I bought a used 12ft Meyers sprotspal canoe. Works great, can't wait to harvest a deer with it. I picked one of my favorite lakes on google earth and located the farthest point from a road or parking lot that would make it a real pain to walk to, never seen another bowhunter either (to much work). Seen 2 seperate flocks of turkeys and a nice rub last time I canoe hunted. I know where I'll be in the spring.

Dave Bowers · December 16, 2009, 11:06:00 PM

Funny this thread popped up. I just bought a 12 foot sit on top kayak from Native. Its seems like its gonna fit the bill for hunting cant wait to get out on it this spring.

David Mitchell · December 17, 2009, 09:42:00 AM

I would like to know how you guys manage to get into and out of a kayak with your hunting duds on without getting wet/tipping over. I bought an Old Town Predator, had it out once and sold it. Water dripping off the double blade paddle into my lap wasn't fun, even with the things on the paddles to deflect the drip. Can't imagine trying to hunt with one. I'll stay with my Old Town Penobscot 16 footer.....Dave

ChuckC · December 17, 2009, 10:03:00 AM

My opinion ( I have a canoe, kayaks and larger boat) Wind is not so much a factor where I tend to use one. This would be smaller lakes and ponds and rivers / streams. A canoe is fine and in fact, I can haul two men and their gear in.. and all that plus a deer out, with the canoe. Most kayaks will not allow that.

For big water that can get rough, well a larger boat with a motor is the answer there. Just safer, especially loaded down. Remember, you are going out there to kill a deer (or larger game). You need to be able to get it back to your vehicle.

Kayaks are cool, and I like to fish and duck hunt out of them, but for deer hunting, my opinion is as above.
ChuckC

Morning Star · December 17, 2009, 10:56:00 AM

Kayaks are pretty cool, but for load and capacity....canoes are the way to go. If you pick a good hull design in a canoe, there won't be much difference in paddling.

December 17, 2009, 11:23:00 AM

I have hunted and gone on heavy and long trips to Canada with my various canoes. My Bell Northwood would be my choice for handling heavy loads and dangerous conditions. As far as handling in wind and waves, I have paddled in two to three foot seas often with my Northwood and my Seliga. The thing about square back wide canoes, they are great when there is a motor and have vehicle access to the water, but slow and difficult without power. If you have to carry your canoe you would be happier with something lighter weight. But in high winds going alone a canoe like a 16' Souris River or a similar symmetrical 16 footer paddled backwards with a kayak paddle will get you around and still carry your game out with capacity to spare and plenty of stability. The Bell Morning Star is an asymmetrical canoe, great boat but it does not like to go backwards, they do solo nice from just back of center from the kneeling thwart. Now I have to go out to the garage and pet my canoes, it is a long time to wait for the soft water season.

Rick P · December 17, 2009, 03:36:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by David MItchell:
I would like to know how you guys manage to get into and out of a kayak with your hunting duds on without getting wet/tipping over. I bought an Old Town Predator, had it out once and sold it. Water dripping off the double blade paddle into my lap wasn't fun, even with the things on the paddles to deflect the drip. Can't imagine trying to hunt with one. I'll stay with my Old Town Penobscot 16 footer.....Dave

Water dripped into your lap because you neglected to get a spray skirt. To stay dry while landing use proper landing technique, it's not a canoe and had you taken a basic class you would have gotten the instruction you needed. I'm not going into how to land your kayak here because there are several ways to do it depending on conditions and you already sold your Kayak.

FlyFixer · December 17, 2009, 04:27:00 PM

I use a 14 foot jon boat with a 10 horse motor. I use it to access public land and get away from the crowds. I have killed some nice deer with it. It makes it easy to drag one 100 yards to the boat verses 1.5 miles uphill to the road. I also have a sit on top kayak that I use for flyfishing. The kayak would be ok for small game but I would not attempt to haul a deer on it. Boats give you access to places that most hunters won't make the effort to get to.

John Kennedy · December 18, 2009, 12:49:00 AM

Amen,flyfixer,back that Lund into the water,pull the rope on the trusty Mariner25, and about 30 minutes of cool boat ride down the mighty Mississippi,ease her up on the sand, and head to the spot,put the ol' man on the tree and climb on up, wait for sunrise...

yononindo · December 19, 2009, 04:25:00 AM

Hi Folks.

This is my favorite method of bowfishing. All the fishing is done from the kajak. This is not as simple as it looks, it is made more difficult by being at water level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g07TLllL8Y

Have fun with your boats.
Daniel

hill boy · December 19, 2009, 09:06:00 AM

Now that looks like fun.cool place too.

Covey · December 19, 2009, 09:44:00 AM

I got mine home the other day, this thing is bigger than I expected. I'm danged excited about this! headed to BPS today to get me a trolling motor, hope to find me a nice used 4.5 johnson to put on the back! bad part is I'm already looking for a bowfishing rig! HA! o'well it's all good! Jason

yononindo · December 21, 2009, 05:52:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by yononindo:
Hi Folks.

This is my favorite method of bowfishing. All the fishing is done from the kajak. This is not as simple as it looks, it is made more difficult by being at water level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g07TLllL8Y

http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Yononindocarp.jpg

Have fun with your boats.

Daniel

Follower · December 21, 2009, 10:23:00 PM

I've tried hunting out of canoes, kayaks, ski boats, just about anything that floats. This one serves my needs the best.

Bill Watts II · December 22, 2009, 01:21:00 AM

Yononindo,

Yeah, it takes some getting used to for sure.

Sometimes a fella's gotta cheat a little.

Although raising ones line of sight in a kayak is an endeavor that is not without mixed blessings.

Still one of the funnest things I've ever done.

yononindo · December 22, 2009, 10:21:00 AM

Hi Bill.

Yononindo,

Yeah, it takes some getting used to for sure.

Sometimes a fella's gotta cheat a little.

What do you exactly mean by that???

We should get together one day and have us a little bowfishing.

Waiting for spring ..
Daniel

RC · December 22, 2009, 11:58:00 AM

A few pics of my boat...

Jesse Minish · December 22, 2009, 01:06:00 PM

Sweet pics guys! Just got a boat and cant wait to use it next year.