What can be more exciting than duck hunting?
Well, the simple answer is to hunt them from your canoe stealthily!
Therefore, we will go over the pros and cons of using a canoe for duck hunting. Plus, we will lay out a few tips and tricks to take your duck hunting skills to the next level!
The ideal duck hunting canoe features lightweight materials like royalex or fiberglass. These materials will make your canoe a silent ghost upon the water!
Besides being lightweight, you also want your canoe to sport camo paint and netting. After all, stealth is paramount when you are out duck hunting.
If camo paint is not available, you can combine sticks, leaves, and netting to cover your canoe and secure your approach.
As for the canoe length, you can go with a smaller size when hunting solo. However, if you are bringing another hunter or a team, you would want a longer canoe.
Table of Contents
The Pros & Cons of Duck Hunting With Your Canoe
Ability to Scout
If you have been hunting ducks for a while, you already have an idea about how precious scouting data can be. When push comes to shove, every hunter will guard it fiercely.
So, it’s highly likely that you will have to conduct your scouting to find those ideal duck hunting spots in the water.
Fortunately for you, your hunting canoe can scout far more efficiently than the horde of hunters who are stuck on the bank.
After all, with lightweight material and a straight rocker canoe, you will be able to scout out even shallow waters and well-hidden spots.
VERDICT
A canoe has the advantage when it comes to scouting.
Ease of Camouflaging
Once you have a general idea of what you want, it becomes relatively easy to camouflage your canoe.
All you need is some quality camo paint and netting for the basic yet effective camouflage. Or, you can even make do with manually placing sticks and leaves on the camo mesh.
You are going to be paddling the canoe, so remember not to overdo it when camouflaging. Besides, ducks are surprisingly smart, and they will be wary of a floating mountain.
Furthermore, if you have some prior knowledge of the hunting area, you can use the local vegetation for a more natural, unassuming disguise.
VERDICT
If you have a bit of skill, camouflaging your canoe will become nearly effortless.
Safety & Comfort
Just because you are the hunter, you are not invincible in the water. Accidents may cripple even the experienced canoeist and waterfowler.
Besides the basic hunting gear safety, you should also take measures to keep yourself safe in the water.
For instance, to prevent the risk of drowning or injury, make sure you put on a life vest. It just might save your life in case of an emergency!
If you are concerned about the color scaring off the ducks, you may want to pick up a camouflage life jacket or use some spray paint to make yourself a hunting life jacket.
Moreover, dehydration and exhaustion can show up while you are keeping a constant vigil for duck sightings. So, make sure to rest up and bring plenty of drinking water.
In addition, hunting from a canoe requires a certain level of comfort. For instance, if you are on an aluminum canoe in cold water, you may suffer cold cramps and miss shots.
Line your canoe with some padding to in order to make your sighting position more comfortable.
VERDICT
You will need extra safety and comfort measures when hunting from a canoe.
Carrying Capacity
Choose a canoe that can support the weight of you, your fellow hunters (and dog), and some hunting gear.
However, the weight is not the only factor to consider. Its best to also make sure there is enough space for the hunters and all your supplies in the canoe.
After all, if you don’t have enough space to maneuver and aim, you will most likely lose that elusive duck.
When you have the watercraft that has the carrying capacity, you need to figure out how to store the cargo and balance the canoe.
It could very well be a good idea to place your heaviest cargo in the middle portion of the canoe. Afterward, the hunters can take position near the bow and the stern.
VERDICT
A canoe is excellent for carrying the essentials.
Stealth in the Water
Be it in water or on land, when you are out hunting, stealth is king!
A duck has an outstanding vision. But, its field of vision is limited to 340 degrees. That small blindspot is the ideal location to approach it.
When you approach a duck, you want to do it on a lightweight and silent canoe. As such, a fiberglass or royalex canoe is the ideal candidate for the job.
Furthermore, you will need a lightweight paddle capable of efficient paddle strokes. The carbon or fiberglass paddle may save you a lot of trouble while you hunt the duck.
The duck can control which side of its brain stays vigilant. So, even with all these preparations, you may still find it hard to sneak up on a duck.
Therefore, the best way to hunt a duck is to balance water stealth with a quick reflex.
However, if you are planning to bring an Aluminum canoe, you won’t have much in the way of stealth. It’s simply too noisy for an effective stealth strategy!
VERDICT
Expensive lightweight canoes are stealthy, but budget alloy canoes are noisy.
Portability
Transporting a canoe is tough. So, you will have to deal with a lower portability issue when you are duck hunting from a canoe.
You can somewhat mitigate this problem by using a foldable or canvas canoe. But, doing so will leave you susceptible to capsizing and hitting the water often.
An aluminum canoe is very durable, but it’s also cumbersome. As such, it’s hard to carry. Moreover, aluminum tends to get stuck on rocks.
However, even if you have to carry a canoe, you can make it easier with the help of a canoe cart or trolley wheels.
VERDICT
Unless you are okay with sacrificing durability, you will have to deal with low portability.
A few Tips & Tricks
To hunt effectively, you need to use some tricks and follow some tips. For instance,
- Take deep breathes. The extra oxygen will help your heart beat faster, and you will end up with more strength and better focus.
- Know the wind. It isn’t better to always paddle with the wind on your back. A duck has a strong vision, and it’s hard to shoot them when they scatter on the wind.
- Take advantage of your narrow canoe. Scout out the hard-to-reach areas that will have fewer hunters and more ducks.
- You can use stretch camo cord and natural vegetation on the bow and stern of the canoe for quick camouflage.
- Hunt late into the morning. It’s when the duck stops to rest.
- You can easily make use of a cup of coffee to clean your call while you paddle.
- Set your decoy under covers or surround it with a few sticks, vegetation. You can then use your call to bring the duck over.
- If possible, use outriggers. With an outrigger, you will have the extra stability to combat the recoil and take more precise shots.
- Camouflage your shotgun. When you are on a canoe, your shotgun can quickly reflect the sun’s rays and spook the duck.
- Rather than shooting early, be patient, and you can get more opportunities when the ducks are returning in small groups.
With these, you will have an easier time hunting ducks from your canoe. But, don’t let your skills become stagnant. After all, there’s always more to learn!
Summing it all Up
Right after you get the hang of it, you will be able to scout more, camouflage better, and be more stealthy in the water with your canoe.
However, you will also need to pay more attention to safety and figure out how to increase portability.
In a nutshell, a canoe is very suitable for duck hunting in the hands of an experienced canoeist and waterfowler.
Read here about How to Not Sink Your Canoe.
Sources:
- How to Hunt Ducks from a Canoe, Kayak, or Johnboat
- DUCK HUNTING CANOES & MAINE WATERFOWL HUNTING
- 6 Styles of Duck Boats (And How to Pick the Right One For You)
- 10 Delightful Duck Facts
- Hunting Woodies from a Canoe
- Drifting For Ducks
- Build the Perfect Duck Boat
- Float Hunting For River Ducks
- My Ultimate Duck Blind
- 15 Tips for Duck Hunters
- DUCK HUNTING CANOE: TOP TIPS AND TRICKS
- Tips for safe canoe hunts
- Float-Hunting for Ducks