Kayaks.....Who hunts from them?!

Alea Jacta Est · Jan 11, 2020

And if you’ve ever used the chest strap on your waders, THIS would definitely be the time to do it.

A “lil flotation” for you and your kayak would be some solid extra insurance.

willtill · Jan 11, 2020

I was fishing a long time ago downstream from a spillway, while wearing waders. I stepped into a hole and here comes all of the water filling up me waders. There was a slight current where I was at and it was very difficult to make way to higher ground in them waders.

Learned a little lesson that day. Tread carefully while wearing waders.

Mack C-85 · Jan 11, 2020

Nnztg8r said:
And if you’ve ever used the chest strap on your waders, THIS would definitely be the time to do it.

A “lil flotation” for you and your kayak would be some solid extra insurance.

Yes, a cinched chest strap will trap a lot of air in those waders!!! Basically makes them a floatation device instead of an anchor!!!

It's amazing how much trapped air in clothing will float you......being around so much water, we used to practice floating in turnouts....
came in handy once!!!!!

Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk

pbharvey · Jan 11, 2020

willtill said:
I was fishing a long time ago downstream from a spillway, while wearing waders. I stepped into a hole and here comes all of the water filling up me waders. There was a slight current where I was at and it was very difficult to make way to higher ground in them waders.

Learned a little lesson that day. Tread carefully while wearing waders.

I always carry a serrated knife on the bib of my waders.
Always.

SummitCnty · Jan 11, 2020

pbharvey said:
I always carry a serrated knife on the bib of my waders.
Always.

Smart!

John from MD · Jan 11, 2020

I haven't heard anyone mention wearing a PFD. I strongly suggest wearing a PFD anytime you are in any vessel especially when hunting in a yak or canoe. It is easy to roll either one due to the amount of clothes you are wearing. You may not make a misstep when wearing cut offs, but when layered up and wearing waders, it is common place.

Think safety and don't become a statistic.

RedneckGeek · Jan 12, 2020

I used a friend's Ascend 128T twice this year so far. And I am hooked. Definitely make sure you have a PFD and keep those waders cinched. I am currently shopping for a new more comfortable PFD that will work with my jacket and waders. The one I used when I went hunting didn't feel right when I brought the shotgun up.

Alea Jacta Est · Jan 12, 2020

Look at a Poke Boat. The maxi. Major league beam. In Kevlar @22#s.

They got my attention when the ad was them dragging a guy around in a poke boat in a gravel parking lot...

IIRC, capacity of maxi is 400#s

CharlieFoxtrot · Jan 12, 2020

I have a fishing kayak. Never tried duck hunting from it. Stability wise I don’t see where it would be a problem. Saw this for hunting: Yak gear https://yakgear.com/product/yakgear-ambush-kayak-cover-hunting-blind/

tundramuscle03 · Jan 13, 2020

pbharvey said:
You’re most at risk turtling that thing while reaching over the side to retrieve a downed bird or decoy. OP keep your head up and you’ll never roll it, it’s all about the center of gravity. Once you start bending down and reaching over to grab something in the water, that’s when things can go south real quick. I love hunting and fishing out of my kayak. I’m not sure if you’re thinking about hunting this season but if it were me I’d get a season of fishing under my belt before hunting especially since we’re getting into the cold weather. To me a kayak is awkward at first. Once you add in waders and a heavy coat plus a gun, it’s twice as awkward.

I've actually thought about that and I thought about adding a small net or hook to my gear list for when I would have to get a bird out of the water....definitely not for hunting right now, more for the next season later this year and definitely plan of getting some fishing under my belt first also...

tundramuscle03 · Jan 13, 2020

John from MD said:
I haven't heard anyone mention wearing a PFD. I strongly suggest wearing a PFD anytime you are in any vessel especially when hunting in a yak or canoe. It is easy to roll either one due to the amount of clothes you are wearing. You may not make a misstep when wearing cut offs, but when layered up and wearing waders, it is common place.

Think safety and don't become a statistic.

Oh yea, for me a PFD is a given, it's actually at the top of my list...been spending alot of time looking at the different types and styles...I've got a little girl to watch grow up!!!

tundramuscle03 · Jan 13, 2020

CharlieFoxtrot said:
I have a fishing kayak. Never tried duck hunting from it. Stability wise I don’t see where it would be a problem. Saw this for hunting: Yak gear https://yakgear.com/product/yakgear-ambush-kayak-cover-hunting-blind/

Yup, been looking at that setup also...

Archeryrob · Jan 13, 2020

People wishing to kayak hunt or fishing in spring should consider protective gear. Cold water will kill and a PFD is great, but if you can't self rescue you better be near shore. I wrote a article about this year back to highlight how much trouble you can get into.
COLD WATER KAYAKING SAFETY AND THE INVOLUNTARY GASP

Learn what cold water feels like. Go down to the boat ramp when the water is open, but freezing cold. Wear thin pants, or shorts, and put on your breathable waders and wader boots. Now, walk down the ramp until the water is up to your belt or belly button, don’t flood your chest waders. I don’t want you actually needing to be rescued. I bet most cannot stay in long enough for there to be a problem. Remember, this is only your legs loosing heat and not your torso also! After trying this experiment remember what happened and how fast you felt the effects of that water. Don’t be stupid and test your manliness, standing in cold water is not manly, its stupid. Just learn how cold water affects you and let it sink in for when you are around cold water. Make sure you are prepared for it and and decide even when with the right gear, sometimes you still should not go out.

Worse case breathable waders with a chest/waist best and a PFD over it will keep most water off you. I have been in the water in this condition and brutally shocking!! This is how and why people die from cold water. You have to be prepared and thinking about it doesn't prepare you. You can't understand it until to experience it and wading at the boat ramp in breathable waders in uninsulated clothes will teach you a valuable lesson quickly. You'll learn how quickly you lose motor function and turn into a meat popsicle just waiting for someone else to safe you.

I wear Waist wader and a semi dry top, as I am hunting a river. I can be to shore in 30 seconds, even from the middle. Guys I hunt with this it is extreme, but have not experienced the cold water as I have. If you think tree stand safety lines are important then you don't understand cold water. You are safer in a tree stand without a harness than you are on the bay with just waders!

Go advanced and get a dry suit with a relief zipper. Read up on the serious kayakers and they all have them. They all know someone who died in the cold water. Don't make it you. You can do this safely, just costs some money for safety gear.

Archeryrob · Jan 13, 2020

When kayaking where your shoulders go you go. Weight balance is all you need and you learn a feel for it. My buddy turtled in the bay. He took a really stable kayak and leaned over, it started to go and he reached over and tried to push the side handle to right himself. Doing so he just pushed the kayak over and didn't right himself. I haven't got him back in the kayak since.

Kayaks are great, fun and promote easy cheap access. There is a learning curve to learn to be part of the boat. It is no way near like taking a 15' or 21' boat on the bay.

pbharvey · Jan 13, 2020

I practice self rescue every year in my pool. Put the kayak in, flip it over, and practice getting back in it. I do it several times until I’m doing it when I’m a little gassed. I think everyone needs to know what they can and cannot actually do as far as their ability to get themselves back in their boat and squared away. I’ve wanted to practice in full hunting layers, coat and waders but I haven’t. Ironically the buoyancy of the PFD makes maneuvering yourself more difficult than you may think.
My son knows an Anne Arundel county police officer who is a rescue swimmer and he said the shock and involuntary muscle movement (or lack there of) due to cold water immersion is very, very difficult to overcome. Your mind is telling your body what to do but your body doesn’t respond.

Alea Jacta Est · Jan 13, 2020

Cold water is a no shit killer. It’s hypothetmia on overdrive. Even seasoned mariners are at its whim. Seconds to minutes are the threshold.

Lack of PFD is a no shit recipe for death. Most “floaters” the CG recovers are “drunk” and or lacking PFD.

Lastly, kayaks are NOT for the uninitiated. You’d be safer riding a motorcycle on ice than venturing out uninitiated in the winter WX and waters in a kayak with lots of “gear.”

Inherent instability and unpredictable winter WX are a recipe for shit going sideways. Approach with caution.

OTOH, it’s a great “accidental” and believable way to see your firearms off to a watery demise.

Archeryrob · Jan 24, 2020

I agree with all that. On my blog post above they talk about 30 minutes or an hour of time you have. They never cover how in 2 minutes you are already losing coordination and in 10 minutes your jerky like you have palsy and realistically loosing control to do anything. Without the PFD you probably drown at 5 minutes.

If you don't have proper protective gear on, even with a PFD on you become a meat bobber in 10 minutes just hoping to be saved, by someone else. Very few people make this clear enough.

I was full submerged with tight chest waders and a PFD and came right back up like a bobber. Trying to rescue a decoy the current caught and completely forgot that decoy when the water hit me. Wet from the nipples up only was an extremely sobering experience by itself!

tundramuscle03 · Apr 27, 2020

Here she is...

pbharvey · Apr 27, 2020

Vibe?
I’m looking for a used Sea Ghost.

BlueHeeler · Apr 27, 2020

If I have learned anything from this forum, guns and boats do not mix. So many tragic accidents and so many guns on the bottom of the bay.

Kayaks.....Who hunts from them?!

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