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To some of you with experience hunting ducks on the MS River..... what size outboard is needed/recommended? I'll be using a 17' jon V-hull. I'd rather have a tiller, but it's only rated for 50 hp. I can get 80 hp with a console/steering wheel. Is the extra hp really needed?

depends on the size of the boat but I would not get in the Mississippi River with out at least a 50hp

You should be okay with a 50hp as long as you are not hunting 20 miles from the boat ramp.

Back in the day (with some fellow members) we used to run the river with a 25 on a 15ft all welded modified v. That was high falootin' because we were used to hunting big water lakes and certain Brakes (not to be mentioned here) with 5's, 6's, and an occasional borrowed 9.9 slapped on the back of a tin can (I still have mine).

I wouldn't get near that big ditch without at least a 17ft all welded boat with a 50 these days...but I have been accused of being risk averse in my old age.

Tiller is the way to go period. Ask Wildfowler and MC what they think of a a 50 merc tiller with electric tilt.

ok, i'll bite---why the tiller preference? the electric tilt is obviously a plus, but after using a console steer 40 last season i can't imagine going back to tiller--also, i run an old monark riveted jon, what does being all-welded help? thanks in advance

You may be running the river to get where you are going to hunt; but don't forget you will actually be hunting in the shallows where you will need to frequently pick up the motor and clean thrash off the prop.

I have been hunting on that river "around" Memphis since I was little with my father and now on my own. I will be honest, if I had my way I would pull a shallow water boat with a pontoon boat. I am serious, that river will keep you awake. All of the tails that you have been told about goings on with that water is true. But to answer your question, I use a 1650 Xpress with a Yamaha 40hp Console with tilt and trim. It is the smallest that I wanted to put on the big water while not being to big for the shallows. However, I try to only cross the river. I do not joy ride on the thing. The question for you is how much gear are you taking? If you put four people, four bags of decoys, four guns, a dog, ... in the boat that current is going to work anything less than a 50hp. Look in to the pontoon though, sometimes you can find them CHEAP and use your woods boat for the shallows.

P.S. If you can figure the river out in your area, you WILL hammer the birds. Timing is everything. I have been hunting it for 12 years and it still amazes and scares the hell out of me!

From the times that we have hunted on the big river, I have one bit to offer. Make sure that you have another motor with you. Don't go out there without a kicker.

Best boat I have ever seen to hunt the river bar none had a 175 on it. It is a custom 22' semi v w/ radar stand on transom area of boat. Then off the radar stand has two winches to lift up two 14' fiberglass pirouges w/ flat backs and 5.5 hp. go devil's on them. There is a large platform on the front and completely open boat other than a side steering wheel in the back and two seats to the side of it. It is capable of hauling two four wheelers, the two pirogues I mentioned earlier, and four hunters from Venice to the mouth of South pass (about 15 mi) safely in fog and most weather conditions. I woudln't get on the river down here without a big boat like 18' or bigger and a 130 or so outboard that was very reliable, just too much boat traffic and that thing can get scary real quick with fog or a change in weather.

I thought I was going to hunt it in a 15 foot boat and a 20hp motor but I got out on it, looked around and thought sheeeeeeeeet. I scurried back to the boat ramp like an armadillo being popped with .22's.

I run the river in a 1542 with a 40 console. I wouldn't get much smaller than that.

not trying to tell you what to do but if you are having these kinds of question, the first thing you should do is find a person who knows the river and get with them and be shown the in's and out's. then worry about the boat size. good luck the river in the dark won't give you a 2nd chance.

I hunt the Miss. River as much as anyone. I am on the Miss. River at least 4 times a week fishing for strippers or catfish. I use a 1754 War eagle w/ a 50 Yamaha Tiller handle. I have hunted out of boats on the river from a 1448 w/ a 25 Johnson to a 2060 w/ 115 hp Merc. I personally like the 1754 that I hunt out of now. If you know what your doing on the river, you will be fine w/ anything from a 30 hp or above. All depends on how far you will travel hunting on the river. JUST RESPECT THE BIG RIVER AND NEVER OVERLOAD OR GET IN A HURRY!!

If I were hunting on the MS River I would hang as much motor on the boat as would be safe. The big trick is to not overload your boat. I have had the crap scared out of me on the river in a 16 foot boat with a 40 horse, but I don't run the thing every day.

And always WEAR you life vest when out on the Ol' Man.