Using a kayak for hunting?

Missouri CK · July 14, 2019, 11:32:59 PM

I've hunting and killed two deer off public land with a canoe. I love the process and find the paddles in the dark to be a rush. Having said that I literally thought I was going to tip my canoe trying to get a big buck out a few years back. It was seriously scary. No way I would try to pack out a deer in a cheap kayak. A canoe is hard enough. Think out tipping with a trophy buck your gear and a bow you don't want to lose. I think a Jon boat or a steady canoe are the only legit ways to get a buck out. The paddle in and then pack out by land or butcher on site is how I plan on doing it the next time.

Beavers can scare the crap out of you at 5 AM when they slap their tail on the water right next to your canoe. Sounds like a monster jumping out of the water

J-dog · July 15, 2019, 12:09:34 PM

Use what you have. Get it out and use it a bit and learn how your gonna store stuff. I didn't see where your from or how large the deer your after but most whitetails broke down don't take up much room or weigh much. I cant see you dragging anything behind it? thats a pain, even a stringer of fish cause alot of drag.

Bottom line 10' is small but it will work great! I think your main issue is carrying gear? then dealing with an animal? think almost certainly you have to quarter them in the field? but maybe not? depends how big they are and what kinda water you gotta cross.

J

Hoosierarcher88 · July 15, 2019, 12:18:59 PM

Quote from: J-dog on July 15, 2019, 12:09:34 PM
Use what you have. Get it out and use it a bit and learn how your gonna store stuff. I didn't see where your from or how large the deer your after but most whitetails broke down don't take up much room or weigh much. I cant see you dragging anything behind it? thats a pain, even a stringer of fish cause alot of drag.

Bottom line 10' is small but it will work great! I think your main issue is carrying gear? then dealing with an animal? think almost certainly you have to quarter them in the field? but maybe not? depends how big they are and what kinda water you gotta cross.

J

Im from Indiana so deer can be of good size. For the most part my gear consists of my bow and my backpack which is a small single strap cross shoulder pack.

J-dog · July 15, 2019, 08:18:46 PM

Yeah, our deer are small? But still maybe some game bags then in a garbage bag? I dunno. I do a lot of kayaking, use to have a native ultimate that was basically a pirogue but you could haul a lot with it.

I mean you could probably get the deer gutted in the boat and then just straddle and paddle? Or if you have hip boots or chest waders just get thr deer in the boat and walk it out close to the bank staying shallow??

Terry Green · July 17, 2019, 11:43:29 AM

I didn't read any of the threads in the last 3 days..... Agree trying to kayak a deer across a Lake will be a BIT CH....

Carry with you A inflatable boat.... That will make your paddling much easier with the deer in the inflatable boat.

Hoosierarcher88 · July 17, 2019, 12:51:43 PM

Quote from: Terry Green on July 17, 2019, 11:43:29 AM
I didn't read any of the threads in the last 3 days..... Agree trying to kayak a deer across a Lake will be a BIT CH....

Carry with you A inflatable boat.... That will make your paddling much easier with the deer in the inflatable boat.

my wife gave me the idea of packing a mini raft made out of pool noodles and tarp similar to the slings/rafts they use for transporting dolphins via boat. Ill have to see what i can slap together in my redneck science lab and test a few options out

OkKeith · July 17, 2019, 02:07:17 PM

This might work...

[attachment=1]

Terry Green · July 17, 2019, 07:50:33 PM

Quote from: OkKeith on July 17, 2019, 02:07:17 PM
This might work...

[attachment=1,msg2876661]

Nope!

KentuckyWolf · July 17, 2019, 09:12:06 PM

Slap some orange on it for safety.

YosemiteSam · July 19, 2019, 05:28:55 PM

Agree with others -- cheapo inflatable raft of some sort will do just fine to tow it out, depending on the water, of course (river vs lake). Unless you actually kill something, you won't even have to take it out of the box. Just tie a rope around the carcass somewhere that's attached to your kayak so if the raft sinks, you don't lose your deer.

I've towed helpless canoe riders with another canoe in 20 mph headwinds. It's work but not impossible. As long as you have some buoyancy under the carcass (like a raft), then it should tow just fine for a mile or two. Much more than that will just require some longer breaks.

And if you can walk in, you can also walk out. Put the deer in the kayak & walk the shoreline. Or make 2 trips: first with the deer on foot & the a second with the kayak. Getting a deer is always a good excuse to show up late.

Ron LaClair · July 19, 2019, 06:24:16 PM

I like a canoe

[attachment=1,msg2876976]

[attachment=2,msg2876976]

BAK · July 20, 2019, 07:17:29 AM

I personally don't see the current fascination with the cheap plastic kayaks unless the focus is on the word cheap. A nice canoe on the other hand can be a good investment.

OkKeith · July 20, 2019, 09:47:16 PM

End wrenches and socket drives... kayaks and canoes; different tools for different situations.

I have both (TOO many of both!). I love my kayak for how fast I can get it in the truck, get it out of the truck and have it on the water. The canoe is definitely better for hauling loads. Not all plastic kayaks are cheaply made (and many certainly ain't cheap $$!). Just like I have a canoe with a keel and one without, I have kayaks that do different jobs better than others.

Ya gotta run what ya have.

OkKeith

ratherbehuntin · July 22, 2019, 11:09:13 PM

I use a 17 ft canoe alot to get to hunting spots only accessible by bayou. Usually have two full grown 200+ lb men and gear. Never had any issues with it. We squirrel hunt out of it with 3 full grown men just can't shoot at the same time out of the same side lol learned that the hard way.

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pavan · July 24, 2019, 03:27:57 PM

It has been officially tested. A cheap red Bomgaars hardware sit on top kayak paddled by a skinny little girl can tow a cheap blue similar kayak occupied by her fat older brother in a straight line all the way across a two hundred yard sandpit and do it in a straight line at a reasonable speed. If all else fails get a second plastic kayak. For some unknown reason, they only had one kayak paddle and the boy could not get anywhere with the little plastic canoe paddle. Get your wife one so she can paddle with you and then borrow it.

Wudstix · August 23, 2019, 11:20:46 PM

Ten foot might be a bit short, I have a 14 footer that works well getting hogs out from the back parts of the area I hunt, simply drag them to the creek and then kayak out, much easier to get back to truck. Getting the game totally in the yak would be advisable. Two trips might be needed, one with game, number two with hunting equipment. My spot makes getting everything up the bank and fun experience. I lash the yak and then tie a long rope to hog and after a quick pray haul the beast up the bank. This end process makes shot selection key, the bigger the hog the harder the haul.

Terry Green · August 24, 2019, 04:14:33 AM

Yes Keith.....and this application would be best be executed by a canoe no doubt.

Easier in and out of the truck is way secondary in effort than getting a deer out.

Sam McMichael · August 24, 2019, 10:25:15 AM

I have never hauled game out with a canoe, but I used to run rivers and do some canoe racing as a younger guy. You can put a lot of stuff in a canoe, and it will still handle easily. Just keep the weight balanced out in the canoe. My only experience with a kayak is some white water fun on some of the North Georgia rivers, but I just don't think the kayak is the best platform for hunting. Granted, I have not used any of the newer style kayaks. However, I have had my butt dunked in some mighty cold water, so I would vote for increased stability every time.

Using a kayak for hunting?

pavan