Question about hunting out of a boat...

[webbmaster]

I have basically no experience hunting out of a boat. I have always hunted in flooded timber or low-water fields in blinds.

With the way the water level was last year and the way it appears to be this comming season, hunting out of a boat in high water will be a common thing at my camp.

I am aware of the different types of boat blinds out there, but i need some basic info.

For one, what is the best way (if at all) to secure your boat from rocking back and forth. I have heard you can "tie up" to a tree or foundation of some sorts.

Is there a particular device or product on the market that can be used for securing your boat?

I realize that most of the time, it really boils down to just remaining calm and not moving quickly in order to rock the boat andput yourself in danger. Generally speaking, most hunts from a boat will be with one other person and a dog.

Thanks in advance!!!! ...18 days and counting!!!

[marionfd708]

webb, go to basspro's site online. they have something i can't remember what it is called ,but it clamps to a tree for stability.we have also used tarp straps at each end of the boat around a tree. it also depends on how big your boat is.if it is 14'x42" or bigger i would'nt worry about flipping over. hope the info helps.good luck this season.

[no angel]

there are several companies that make these contraptions. it is like the back of a climbing stand attached to you boat and ratchet strap it tight and no moving even if you do move around. you can make your own just get a rachet stap and lock it to the inside if boat rail and lock her down

[the doctor]

web maester

best ive ever found was a hand cranked worm gear wench very slow and very steady in fact it is best to reinforce the gunwale of your boat with some small strips of steel while bolting it on we welded a few teeth on the outside of one of the reinforcement bars and they dig in as you wench tight

old trick i learned from some now old timers i grew up hunting around
you can find one for about 25 dollars in something like a harbor freight catalogue or hardware magazine

let me know if none of that makes sense
td

[Anatidae]

Hunt out of a 17' canoe for 25 years......any other boat you get-in from then-on, will seem perty 'stable.

Frankly, I never understood the need for boat 'clamps'. That's just sumpin' else to fumble around with in the dark......(unless you manufacture or sell the darn thingys.)

My theory is......if you're movin' around in the boat enough to make a ripple on the water....you movin' too much, anyway.

Just try 'settin' still......save yo money.......'just another gadget to sell to folks that already have one of everything else in the catalog. (IMHO)

[RedEyed Duck]

I would go with a strap at both ends of the boat to hold it steady. You fellas need to build a few blinds to get yourselves out of that boat.

[RLJames]

We try to wedge our boat between two small trees, makes it rock solid when you can find the right set up. Not always possible. If not we tie both ends about waste high on the tree and try to rock the boat right before the other guy shoots. Saves ducks.

[Haymaker]

I hunt out of a 17' boat most of the year and just tie both ends of the boat to a tree. I generally hunt with one or two other guys plus my dog and don't have any problems.

One thing that I would mentions as a safety issue, when hunting out of a boat, blind or what ever, decide before the action starts with the folks that you are hunting with if all of the shooting will be done from a seated or standing position. A few years ago in IL some guys had been shooting from the seated position all day when one guy stoodup to shoot a cripple, well his best friend stood up to look at were the duck was just as his friend pulled the trigger. Killed him instantly. It was very sad, the two men had been friends all through school and into adulthood. Everyone just needs to be careful, there isn't a duck or goose out there that is worth getting hurt over.

Haymaker

[webbmaster]

Thanks for all your replies!

Sounds like a good old fashioned tie up job to a solid foundation (tree) is the best route.

I have a fiberglass boat, so I don't know how well those clamps would work on my boat.

It does sound like one more thing to fool with, but a duck hunt isn't fun unless there are 400 gadgets to tinker with!!!

[CaptnT]

After years of struggling to get a boat in the area I hunt, last year I found myself adding 12' of line to my decoys! I hunt in a boat in, sometimes walk in area, but it is starting to look like another year of hunting out of the boat. That's fine with me, I can go another season without buying waders!

I take several different people hunting, and they all have different habits. My brother likes to jump up and shoot, and I noticed this was REALLY affecting my shot.

I tried tying the boat off several ways front and back, but found no really good system of doing this. After trial and error, I found that a ratcheting tie-down, the type often used for motorcycles, work best for me. Fairly inexpensive and easy to use. The downside is it will freeze during extreme conditions, but pouring water over it (or your un-used luke-warm coffee) will solve that.

[SoftCall]

I am with RL on this one. I jam my boat between trees and run it on top of fallen logs etc. I'll tie off on one end by loading the weight towards the rear and tying off the front. When one guy gets back in the front of the boat, transfer some weight (battery, etc>) back to the front and the boat is "hanging" in the front instead of floating. This stabilizes the rig.

I'll still like just punching the boat up in some trees..hold the dog because they will fly out. Also - don't gun the big rigs too much. I got stuck between 4 trees one time in an undislosed location and it was a bitch getting out.

If you are wanting to prevent scratches etc on the boat, get the clamps. Scratches don't bother me...my boat has landed in the middle of hwy 7 more than once

[Wildfowler]

Speaking of scratches. If we were to get any freezing weather this year be sure to keep that boat fastened to the trailer winch until you get the boat to the water.

Do you remember seeing my boat sliding down the concrete from the top of the boat ramp Softcall? If the water had not been as low as it was, I probably would have been swimming out after that boat.

[mallardhunter]

We tend to try to wedge the boat among some trees, bushes, brush, weeds, etc., tying either end off only when necessary. One thing to consider, especially if you don't have a dog, is the time (and complexity) required to undo your tiedowns when you knock a duck down - especially when river hunting. If the duck is going to get away from you unless you quickly pick him up, a quick-releasing system works bests. IMHO, if you're hunting out of a boat that is tippy, you probably shouldn't be . . . shooting from it anyway. I can't imagine shooting from a canoe! More power to you, Anatidae!

[SoftCall]

Wildfowler - nah..it would have been ok...remember - I was holding the rope! Flat knocked the skeg off of that 30 horse Johnson though! I am sitting here looking at the picture on my wall of that hunt right now....we blitz'd em . I don't recall ever tying that boat down, but a tidal wave could have hit that thing and you would never spill your coffee. That's the same boat we jumped the dual tow boat wakes in one day...boys will be boys. BRING ON THE PETROL!

[Wildfowler]

Ya you were always terribly danger prone, I should blame the damage on you for holding the rope. What a great blowout to a hunting season that long weekend was. WOW!!!

Moral to the story, if you ever get a call that says something like:

Be at my house at 4 am, cancel any appointments, call in sick, quit your job, what ever you do, DO NOT MISS THIS HUNT.

I think those were my exact words to you Softcall, in that order. I hope to be giving you that same message again this year. Or MC, or maybe even GH22.

Are we there yet???