Hunting via a boat?

[kenn1320]

Ok, so most of you have seen Spy uses an inflatable boat sometimes. Who else uses a boat? Who has spots they wish they had a boat? Lets here some of your uses for a boat and what kind of boat. I really like the idea, but dang Im having a hard time finding a place to use one.

[headgear]

I have about a half dozen places I access via canoe, plenty of lakes and rivers in MN so I try and make the most of them. Some of the better boat access spots I have are land locked public land and water is your only access, hop across a river or paddle across a lake and you generally have the place to yourself. Other hunters are in the area that have access from the surrounding private land but they are generally rifle hunters so the pressure is far less than you would see on your standard public land. A few other spots I have to paddle down or up stream a half mile or mile. Plenty of other locations I have yet to scout that hold a lot of potential.

It is a little pain in the but to haul a canoe on a hunt, even more of a pain paddling upstream in the dark a half mile but one of these days it's going to pay off. In a given year I probably use the canoe on 6 to 8 hunts. I have had two encounters with nice bucks using water access so that keeps me motivated each year, can't wait to post a pic with my buck loaded up in the canoe.

[Zap]

I would like to take one of those small yacht trips up a river in Alaska and shoot me a Grizzzz.

[dan]

I used to use a row boat with a small engine and oars to navigate swamps by me. Sold it last year. Going to start using a kayak this year.

[Uncle Lou]

I got a canoe I use a bit to cross the lake, their is a 623 acre county park we can now archery hunt, your welcome to come try it if you want Ken. I'm about 40 min from Howell. Used that canoe about 5 miles down the road from Howell about 10 years ago to cross a little river turkey hunting with my wife.

Some more local spots I bet you could use a boat, Brighton Rec areas, Proud Lake State Rec Area, outside Wixom, Highland Rec Area I go across Alderman Lake, Seven Lakes State Park in Holly, Holly Rec Area. To name just a few. I am not saying I have a spot at each area where you can cross water and have much better hunting, just pointing out there are a lot of areas to take a look at if you want to use a boat locally.


Wore the rattle can paint job off it last year


Last summers paint job


this little clump of trees had ~5 or 6 deer on a early Nov day. Could not have gotten to it without the boat

[jlh42581]

I was going to buy an inflatable but decided to give myself another year. I love to bass fish too! Selling my bike next spring and using the money to buy an aluminum bass boat that will double duty as a deer boat.

I built a 14' from the boat up a few years ago. Its only downfall was no console steering. My next one will definitely have that.

Ill be on the lookout for one of these or very similar next spring.

Tracker pro 165

[RUTIN]

I used to use a kayak but if I were to do it again I would def get a wider based kayak for balance or a small lightweight john boat.

[dan]

I used to use a kayak but if I were to do it again I would def get a wider based kayak for balance or a small lightweight john boat.

I like my small one cause I have to port a lot and go down some tight canals.

[kenn1320]

I used to use a kayak but if I were to do it again I would def get a wider based kayak for balance or a small lightweight john boat.

I like my small one cause I have to port a lot and go down some tight canals.

Dan any pics of you loaded up with your gear in that thing? I saw a short clip of you in one I think in the begining of marsh bucks, but it doesnt show your stand/bow/etc that I recall.

[dan]

I used to use a kayak but if I were to do it again I would def get a wider based kayak for balance or a small lightweight john boat.

I like my small one cause I have to port a lot and go down some tight canals.

Dan any pics of you loaded up with your gear in that thing? I saw a short clip of you in one I think in the begining of marsh bucks, but it doesnt show your stand/bow/etc that I recall.

I just bought my 1st one ( that I actually own ) I am going to have the Fab shop at work build me a rack for my bow and stand, I will post pic's when done. If you don't have a fabrication shop handy, you could build something out of plywood...
By the way, not sure if the sale is still on, but I was at fleet farm two days ago and they were selling kayaks like mine for $179.

[kenn1320]

Not sure they build a kayak big enough for me. lol

Also with a kayak, dont you have to plan on getting a little wet getting in/out of the thing?

[Stanley]

I used a boat for many years. The biggest drawback was the scent you collect on yourself from a boat. The inside of the boat is a cesspool of scent and has no where to go. I found ground scent was at its maximums worst using a boat. If you walk a half mile to your stand your boots have a chance to scuff off some scent. If you hop out of a boat it's all spew and heavy right out of the boat. I always tried to get out of the boat and go in 20 yards and hunt. But I'll tell you emphatically, the bucks that did get behind me got on that ground scent and were gone.

[Spysar]

I've said it before. There's nothing better than a zodiak!!! It's portable, rowable, can take a motor too, mine can hold 1000lbs!, can haul ALL your gear, can haul your deer out, is VERY stable, material is quiet, what more can I say???

I've been in all kinds of other boats....Kayaks are OK, but what can they hold? And they're not very stable. Canoes too. Tin boats are noisy. If you get a bigger boat, they're no longer portable. I think zodiaks are perfect. A couple of my friends have them now cause they saw what I was up to.







That's it, I'm not posting these pics again!!

[Spysar]

I used a boat for many years. The biggest drawback was the scent you collect on yourself from a boat. The inside of the boat is a cesspool of scent and has no where to go. I found ground scent was at its maximums worst using a boat. If you walk a half mile to your stand your boots have a chance to scuff off some scent. If you hop out of a boat it's all spew and heavy right out of the boat. I always tried to get out of the boat and go in 20 yards and hunt. But I'll tell you emphatically, the bucks that did get behind me got on that ground scent and were gone.

Stan, I carry a complete clothes change in my zodiak. I wear hip boots and basically street clothes, and my life jacket(I have a real good one), in the boat. When I get to my spot, I do a change,(clothes and boots) and leave my "smelly" clothes with the boat.

[Uncle Lou]

Spy, that is cool as heck. Just 2 questions. Do you haul across country and then inflate it when you get there? And if so what do you inflate it with (gas station, or travel with a pump, or...)?