boats and bowhunting

[E. Texas HillBilly]

I've hunted from kayaks, canoes and flat bottoms. I have spent the most time in a canoe not just hunting but on canoe treks as well. I've paddled a canoe thousands of miles and in my opinion they are the best of both worlds. They can carry alot of crap, for extended outings, they are fairly stable, once you are used to them, and not to big a deal to portage. Kayaks are of course more agile and easier to portage, but carry less crap and are less forgiving for mistakes. I love them for trekking but for hunting, not so much. Flat bottoms are wonderful platforms for bowfishing, hunting, camping etc. But if you have to portage one o'them babies, you are in for a long day. They are heavy. It absolutely depends on where you are hunting, lake, slow moving river, fast river, as to what will work best for you. I like them all but I fish from a flat bottom or canoe and hunt from a canoe, its sneakier. Just my opinion hope it helps.
                         Hillbilly

[Bill Watts II]

Yononindo,

"What do you exactly mean by that???"

Sometimes I shoot off my knees as opposed to sitting, which although it makes the angle of the shot a little higher, sometimes means rolling the kayak.

You've got some pretty unusual carp there.  Here's a freak I shot this last spring on the Saginaw river that had about 1/2 it's scales.



Yes, we should get together to do some bowfishing.  Where abouts are you?

Watts

[ChuckC]

Bill, we have several types of carp here.  I believe that the "freak" you got was called a "mirror carp" and they have some with scaling like yours and others with no scales at all.
ChuckC

[Ghost Dancer]

I have to agree about a canoe in inclement weather.

A few years ago I was paddling alone in an aluminum canoe in the winter.  The bow was lifted out of the water due to my weight with me sitting in the stern.

It was calm paddling in the cove, but when I rounded a point and turned into the wind, a strong gust flipped the canoe over so fast I didn't know what happened until I was in the water.  

No worse for the wear, but a good learning experience.

The moral - Be careful in inclement weather in a canoe.

[ryped]

Theres nothin better than hunting out of a canoe.  Used to have a square stern with a 2hp evinrude.  Felt like I was going take off in that thing.  Now I hunt out of a 17' wenonah tandem with a removable sling seat in the middle.  There are some great books about float hunting and canoeing out there, some great vids too.  check out Bill Mason.  Have fun.

[MercilessMing]

Nice pictures and videos.  Now I am more inspired to try the B and B. :-)

[glass76]

Think I might try my kayak or canoe to access some hunting area next season. Gotta find a way to carry the bow on the kayak.

[DannyBows]

They make stabilizers for canoes. Do any of you guys that use yours for hauling lots of gear, and maybe deer have any experience with them. Seems they would add greatly to the safety factor. I used to have a SOT kayak and I made a pair out of crab-pot bouys and pvc and they were nice. They were adjustable and easily removed by using Scotty Rod Holders. I could stand-up with them on.

[Mike VanBuren]

Remembering this old thread got me wanting a canoe/kayak. There is so much that needs to be explored. I can't wait to pick up my Nucanoe in a few weeks.

[PUDDLE JUMPER]

I have a 15 ft Grumman Sport Boat which is a fairly beamy square stern canoe. I run a 6hp Merc or a 2 hp Honda depending on situation. Its a versatile setup hunt/fish/camp and general knocking around. 110 lbs , have it on a trailer.

I also have an Old Town Pack that is about 11 ft and 33 lbs. Unless I am camping this usually gets the nod when bowhunting. I like to use it for access as it is light and quiet. Very handy but also small when it comes to carrying out a load.

Overall I think a 15-16 ft tandem that can solo is the sweet spot for a bowhunter (and overall). Forget price and buy the right boat. Canoes are one of the best deals going for what they offer the practical sportsman.

My hunting canoe and general messing around in rivers and ponds is a Kevlar Mad River, It had a small skid spot that needed fixing.  The boat retailed for $2500 at the time, I got it for $500 and a small strip of Kevlar and epoxy for $10.  It works well enough for Canadian canoe trips as well, with loads that get close to 700 pounds. I have found that flat bottom canoes are slower when soloing and more reactive to waves than shallow Vs or shallow arc canoes.  The flat bottom canoes do not rock as much when you move around in them, but have limited secondary stability when challenged.

[DarkTimber]

I use a boat to access most of my hunting spots.  It makes it easier to get away from the crowds but best of all it makes it easier getting animals out.  

[KenH]

These days I live aboard a 26ft sailboat, and bowfish off out of the cockpit all the time.  

When I lived in Oregon I bowhunted deer and small game along a lot of the small tributary rivers off of the Willamette and Columbia.  I used a 14 ft x 30" wide 'john boat' that I built from a sheet and a half of 1/4" ply.  Sort of like a Cajun Pirogue. Dead-flat bottom with square (not flared) low sides so I could paddle with a seakayak paddle, and a 1x2 keel to help it track straight.

[Whitetail Addict]

I have a 13' fiberglass canoe that I bought back in the mid 80's. It's been a great hunting partner over the years. I used it most when I hunted some land along the Unadilla river. It wasn't a big chunk of land, but it was thick and mostly used as a bedding area. I found a place where I could come in from the river without disturbing the deer, and made a brush blind where three trails intersected. I had some good times hunting that spot until it was sold.

I'm a firm believer in flat bottom canoes, especially in hunting weather. I'm also a firm believer in tying everything that you don't want to lose to your canoe, just in case you go over. Id also say to stay away from the models with an inverted keel. They're made for quiet water, and don't track worth a darn in anything with much current. Have fun, and hunt safe.

Bob

[Bjorn]

Two old farts just hanging out!

[reddogge]

You really don't need a square stern canoe to run a motor. This Old Town Tripper has a bolt on bracket in the rear and a 2 hp Suzuki outboard on the bracket. It runs like a scared rabbit. My grandsons are paddling in to the dock with it shut down. I gave them this rig two years ago since they live within walking distance to the river.

 

[J-dog]

Originally posted by DannyBows:
They make stabilizers for canoes. Do any of you guys that use yours for hauling lots of gear, and maybe deer have any experience with them. Seems they would add greatly to the safety factor. I used to have a SOT kayak and I made a pair out of crab-pot bouys and pvc and they were nice. They were adjustable and easily removed by using Scotty Rod Holders. I could stand-up with them on.

I did the same thing Danny for my 16' canoe with the crab pots. I tell ya though since I lowered my seats I have noticed a difference in "feel", even my daughter is more comfortable.
Just been used to my yak and it is utmost stable, daughter loves the yak -- Took me awhile to get used to the canoe. Daughter even more as she is used to a 20' skiff.

If I am taking wife and daughter and camping, hunting, fishing gear then the canoe. Me with gear hunting camping fishing -- then yak. Wish I'd made a kill this yr with it but no dice.

[Kip]

Bows and canoes I really like to get away more often solo with my Old Town camper 16' but sometimes let my nephews come with me.

[mangonboat]

Like everything else, the "best" boat depends on where, how, when and who is using the canoe or kayak, and its usually a matter of compromises. On moving water, my 16' Old Town Kennebec, a big whitewater boat no longer made, is ideal for hauling large loads, up to 1100 lbs ...unsinkable, indestructible, can be paddled solo or tandem, basically a bathtub with pointy ends. But it is a lot of work to paddle solo on flat water and virtually impossible to track into the wind on  big water. For this reason I have a 2.5hp short shaft outboard and side mount. I also have a "saddle" made out of a giant block of styrofoam so I can paddle solo from a kneeling position with absolute stability and maximum control in moving water, but it is also perfect for shooting a bow . My 18' Old Town Columbia has half the payload capacity but moves easily through big swamps and lakes without a sound.  My sit-on-top kayaks, 11' and 12', are great for fishing and playing in the boulder gardens in the river and paddle easily enough to be enjoyable in the swamps and even in the surf. I can scuba,  jump shoot waterfowl and shoot carp from a SOT, but there's definitely no room or capacity  for hauling out a big buck. you also get wet in a SOT kayak, so you have to dress appropriately..Gore Tex pants or bibs work great.

[Possumjon]

Thanks guys, now I'm looking at a radisson! Had a canoe a few years back and loved it. Went to a motor boat but just wasn't the same and always wanted another canoe. This thread made the itch worse