Unread postby VilasCo » Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:48 pm
I have been researching canoe vs. kayak for the last few years. 2017 was the first year I finally got to try a kayak for hunting purposes. I used a 10' Emotion (a gift I got for my wife) for duck hunting and scouting. I found that there is no good way to stay dry due to the water running down the paddle while paddling. A kayak is very maneuverable and easy to put in the back of the truck. Storage is lacking and it would be might dicey putting a deer on that thing. The cons outweighed the pros so I never used the kayak for deer hunting. This summer I got a great deal on a 17' Old Town canoe. Obviously it is on the big side for what I want it for, but it paddles great and hauls a lot of bear bait and gear. I timed a one mile, solo paddle across a calm lake three different times. I paddled at a moderate pace all three trips. The canoe with a single paddle was the fastest. My theory is you can get a better stroke with a standard canoe paddle than with a kayak paddle (and I didn't get wet). The big canoe is tough to maneuver, but I anticipate using it often this fall. I have my eyes on an Old Town 119. On paper and with my new found experience the 119 would be the best vessel for solo hunting trips, in my opinion.
