Kayak duck hunting?

[mikeman20]

Ive been enthusiastic about trying duck hunting for awhile now, but without a dog I wasnt sure I could do a proper job or retrieving. so yesterday I realized I might be able to camo up one of my kayaks and finally get to try it out, I could paddle to where the duck is.

is this idea crazy? are there places in the lower mainland that this could work? is duck hunting in the lower mainland crowded?

[Jager]

I made the attempt in a small pelican kayak. Can you say tippy! I found it challenging dealing with paddle, gun, and being at the right angle for approaching ducks, etc.
I would suggest setting up a blind and using the kayak to retrieve the ducks or find a way to stabilize the boat with anchors, poles or outriggers. I'm new to duck hunting too and my kayak skills aren't too stellar. I also recommend wearing a life jacket if going solo and seeing if you can still shoulder your shotgun. Good luck.

[blackford]

I wouldn't.

Get a dog. They are great

[sparkes3]

lots of acess in the lower mainland if your a experienced kayaker give it a go,
camo it up or rig a blind
or just use it for access to a blind and retrieve your kills
AGAIN IT DEPENDS ON YOUR EXPERIENCE IN A KAYAK
we have lots of good areas to hunt around here but they can and will eat you in a heartbeat if you are careless or jump in over your neck.

[mikeman20]

Thanks for the tips everyone, I'm well experienced in a kayak, I'll try putting on the life jacket and seeing if I can point the shotgun well. Perhaps I will do the blind setup and just retrieve with it

[The Hermit]

I'm new too and use a canoe to access the area, set up my blind, then venture out in the canoe for retrieves... woould love a dog!

[303Brit]

It's do-able
http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?103275-Meet-Miho

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?113029-Lil-bit-of-Sea-ducking

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?103697-Slow-day

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?103661-The-end-is-near

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?103553-Miho-earning-her-keep

So yes you can

303

[mikeman20]

Hey now THAT'S inspiring, looks like I wasn't crazy. Thanks!

[303Brit]

Thanks, seemed easier to post it that way picture is worth a 1000 words

303

[Angus]

There was an article in Western Sportsman a couple moths ago about this topic.

http://www.westernsportsman.com/2014/08/duck-hunting-from-a-kayak/

[thatrandomquadraguy]

http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag285/tikka250/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4ea1b567.jpg (http://s1371.photobucket.com/user/tikka250/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4ea1b567.jpg.html)
dont listen to all the people who say its not possible! i am in alberta and all my friends and long time duck hunters told me i was bat**** crazy for taking "one of those deathtraps" out duck hunting but i grew up boating on the island and knew it could work. picked up a cheep kayak and went to town with some spray paint and was ready to go.
i have been able to both decoy and pass shoot ducks from mine. the recoil is actualy quite minimal as the fact that you are on the water absorbs a lot of it (i shot 3.5 T shot broadside out of mine to prove a point and very little side to side movement)
just make sure to have a secure place to put your gun while paddling and never rush trying to get the gun up and you will be golden!

[303Brit]

dont listen to all the people who say its not possible! i am in alberta and all my friends and long time duck hunters told me i was bat**** crazy for taking "one of those deathtraps" out duck hunting but i grew up boating on the island and knew it could work. picked up a cheep kayak and went to town with some spray paint and was ready to go.
i have been able to both decoy and pass shoot ducks from mine. the recoil is actualy quite minimal as the fact that you are on the water absorbs a lot of it (i shot 3.5 T shot broadside out of mine to prove a point and very little side to side movement)
just make sure to have a secure place to put your gun while paddling and never rush trying to get the gun up and you will be golden!

To the OP, my rig is 12' long and 40" wide and is super stable (conducted some warm weather tests with a fly rod standing up) comfort and stability for I can sit up the same way you would with a layout blind and swing with birds and its a stable platform for me to shoot from.

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[slayer B]

Cheap outriggers can be built out of pool noodles and electrical conduit. Built some for my canoe for $30 and they worked great. I used 1" for the main crossbar, then a 90 sweep to a bull head tee (3/4x3/4x1) with 3/4 conduit on both sides and 90s or 45s on both ends. Cut a fat pool noodle in half and slip it over each end and glue them together. Cap all remaining ends to keep er waterproof and you're good to go. I've never painted mine so I'm not sure what the best paint would be for the noodles. For added rigidity I also put a piece of metal 1/2 inch conduit wrapped in foam in the centre of the main crossbar. Now two people can stand up and fish from my canoe so I'm sure it would do wonders for a kayak.