Does Anyone Else Hunt Out Of A Canoe?

Just picked a used canoe up on craigslist for only $200. Wondering how they are to shoot out of ,or if anyone has any cool blind ideas they would like to share.

Drake, I toss a 2ft step ladder and sink that into the bottom (if the muck isn't too bad). Usually gets me up high enough to flop over the side.

Only fell out of our canoe 2 times. 1st was bowfishing with a fat friend and the second time was when I stepped on the gunnel while trying to turn to watch a duck. Other than that, it is very stable.

I hunt out of a canoe 90% of the time. I have a 15.5 foot Pelican. I get plenty of decoys in it and 2 guys can move it just fine. Ive even put 3 guys in it if needed... Less decoys but usually thats when we are going to smaller areas anyway. Love it! Just pull it into the reeds and its more stable then anything else to shoot out of.

Ive done the kayak thing and loved it. Favorite thing was floating down small rivers jump shooting. For the most part all shots straight and away. Biggest thing with yak and tip factor is getting one a little wider. Mine is wider than my wifes and there is a huge difference. I fly fish and hunted all the time from mine and never felt like I was going to tip.

I hunt out of a 14ft canoe all season. This specific canoe is 42in wide and when I'm hunting out of it....I'm more stable than my buddy's rowboat. I use 2 5ft snow fence poles to secure my canoe. Drive the poles into the muck right against the canoe and use some type of clamp to secure the canoe to them (I use BIG Vice-Grips so I can detach from them easily to retrieve a bird if it swimming away). I've hunted 2 guys and a dog out of the canoe with no issues (Other than it gets a little tight). On no-motor lakes, a canoe will beat out 98% of all other duck boats getting out to your spot. As for decoys....They stack up well in between me the and guy in front. Otherwise I drag them in my ice fishing sled behind me. I will post some pics once I get her back out on the water.

You hunt ducks and no left to right shots.....hard to believe. Get or make a good swamp stool, dash that canoe or skiff near or away from you. We would use the skiff or canoe to keep the dog dry, keep spare cloths and shell boxes in....No way you would get me to sit in one all day or try to shoot out of it.

When I use my kayak for hunting I'll park myself back in the cattails, then its sturdy, thats what I do all the time. From the view times I've had to shoot in the open, it didn't seem too tippy to me, but I have yet to shoot to the left or to the right yet, where as that might get tippy. Other than that I love it!

I've use a canoe all the time just to get to my spots. Don't know if I'd like to sit and hunt out of one. When I'm paddling by myself to retrieve birds I've found the best and most stable way to do it is to kneel in the center of the canoe. For you kayak guys are those things pretty stable or are they tippy like a canoe?

I use a kayak, also pull a sled behind me that I put all my stuff except for gun in it, that stays up by me. I happen to actually like, its nice because you can easily get in and out of cattails easier then a canoe..Although I wish I had a little better camoflauge for it...annnnnd gave it a name "Mornin' Woody"

i got 2 canoes, 1 sits on a big pond and the other for certain areas i hunt.

i got one and we can fit 2 guys, 1/2 doz fb geese and 2 doz floaters and guns,shells,etc in it perfectly fine.and still stack umm

I have a 14' mad river canoe, love the thing. Anyone got a kayak for duck hunting out of? Was thinking about getting something small like 8' or 10' max. Something small and easy to carry. I got some spots that take a little walking to get to but having a kayak would get me away from people and ensure that I will be able to retrieve what ever birds I would kill over water.

just finished up the paint job tonight, gotta finish the trailer and Im all set.

fetch-um-up I do the same thing. Turn it around it works great. Myself I went to Gander Mnt. and got one of those belt in cushion seats. It makes it more bearable when waiting for the birds to fly to be able to lean back and save the back. I have shot sitting and kneeling in it with not real problems. I have never tipped one over in the fall. Yes do have a life vest in the boat at all times (it is the law). Always have at least one extra paddle in case one get lost or breaks. I am looking at getting a kayak paddle for those windy days. I've been told it makes it much easier.

I have hunted out of a 16' alum canoe on and off for many years. Here is what I have learned, sometimes the hard way! If you are going alone, turn it around and sit in the bow and paddle it backwards, (if it is a double-ender). The front seat is positioned closer to the middle and it will be more stable if you sit that way. I usually kneel, this puts my center of gravity lower and allows me to quickly pick up my gun for a shot if I am jumpshooting a creek or small river. As was mentioned, learn the J-stroke. Load gear in both the bow and stern to balance it out. Tie a length of parachute cord to the paddle so you can quickly and noiselessly drop it into the water to shoot and not worry about loosing it. Stuffing an armful of brush into the bow will usually be sufficient cover to jumpshoot. I have added a pair of sponsons to the sides of mine just above waterline to help with stability. I made them from a 12' piece of 6" diameter black foam that I cut in half lengthwise and attached with a few stainless bolts and fender washers. Alumn canoes are very noisy and cold later in the season, so I lay a piece of neopreme in the bottom for the dog to lay on. We made the mistake once of me and a buddy overloading it with decoys and gear and putting our two rambunctious pups in a kennel in the middle to keep them quiet. We had a whole 2" of freeboard below the gunnels! It was quite the white knuckle ride with the 2hp plowing us through the early morning fog. How foolish we were, if the canoe would of rolled, both the dogs would of surly drown inside the kennel!! I have gone for a swim 3 times while hunting out of it, and each time was very memorable! Wear a life jacket! ...........