Anyone hear use a sneakbox on the coast of North Carolina?

Kirk Talbert

Kirk Talbert

Member
Looking for a new boat for the upcoming duck season. Most of the spots I would hunt are coastal riverers and marshes. The most common duck boat in my area is the jon boat. I would think that a sneakbox would make a great boat, but I have never seen one in action.
 
It's just the ticket, especially if you're hunting alone.

They hide great, handle rough water..... and have that traditional "ducky" look!
 
I saw one for sale in Swan Quarter a couple of years ago, and I saw one on a truck from New Jersey here this year. EdK on this site used to hunt from one in the Piedmont before he sold it and moved back to MD. Otherwise, they are few and far between to my knowledge. I intend to own one at some point in the future, but it is likely you'll have to go to MD or farther north to find a true sneakbox.
 
not in DARE or CURRITUCK counties....you gotta have "blind permit" issued by the County offices...the catch 22 is that they won't issue them.., similar situations in Pamlico County, possibly Carteret or a few other counties I'm not sure about.

Otherwise, a sneakboat ought to be really great for the sound and adjoining marshes and creeks..

BEST WISHES
 
Can you elaborate on "won't issue one"? For a sneakbox, or in general? Do they have an option not to issue one? Please educate me before I pick my retirement spot! Thanks, Dave
 
Dare and Currituck have blind license requirements. You cannot float hunt without a float blind license. It is not that these permits aren't issued. It is just rare that they become available. They are also highly sought after and issued through a draw process, which makes them hard to get. Truthfully, in both counties a float blind license is often useless because you have to use them more than 500 yards from licensed stationary blinds and all the decent places to hunt are locked up pretty tight with licensed stationary blinds. I have friends who hold float licenses who never use them because of that problem. Not withstanding the law mentioned by Joe, there would be plenty of places in Carteret that a sneakbox could be used, and probably used effectively. Before using one in coastal NC, I would make myself very familiar with the local, state and federal laws in the areas you are hunting. Otherwise, you are taking a big risk.
 
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Ben is correct regarding blind permits in DARE and CURRITUCK counties possibly some other counties in NC, the county offices licenses permament blinds and boat blinds, and will only issue a few new ones each year, aside from all their renewals..this effectively limits the numbers of people who can legally hunt in the waters around the county, protecting the local hunters from outsiders. Some years, they don't issue any new permits at all.

It is impossible, for all practical purposes, to obtain a blind permit in DARE or CURRITUCK. Generally speaking, one must inherit a blind or know somebody who will transfer their blind permit to you.

that's how it works.
 
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Wow, that sucks! Does anyon know if VA works the same? I have the impression that anyone can get a boat blind permit in VA and then you must comply with the spacing laws anyway? The more I hear, I realize how spoiled I was on Lake Champlain in VT/NY! No blind permit required, and no legislated distance requirements other than safe shooting distance!

Dave
 
I know most of MD is the same way. If you don't have water front property, you're S.O.L.

I think the "seaduck zone" is the only exception.
 
Wow...... I didnt know the laws were so strict in some states. That makes an out of state hunter SOL as far as duck hunting goes, and probably most residents as well. I guess we have it pretty good in NY :)
 
You are so right Joe. You can't even hunt in waters immediately adjacent to federal land in Dare and Currituck. You can hunt NC Game Lands from a boat if you are no more than 5 yds from shore. It's very very political as to who gets float rig permits. In other words if you aint from there you aint gonna get a permit. I found out the hard way on Boat Bay Lake that I couldn't hunt out of a boat. The guy was very nice (a Fed) and let us go with a warning.
Hope you are well,
Harry
 
Charlie,
You New Yorkers DON'T know how good you have it. One of my best friends lives in Hampton Bays and I've been heading up to hunt with him a few times a season becuase it's just more fun than dealing with all the laws and yay-hoos in DE. You have about 1/10 of the hunting pressure, and you can also hunt Sundays, which, I would appreciate the freedom of being able to decide on myself. I always joke with him and say that New York is a law-less society. Boat's not registered? No problem. Trailer tag ripped off in the ice? No problem. Only 1 light out of 4 work and it's one of the side markers lights? Fuggedaboudit! "I got a guy, and he knows..."

I thought WE had it bad in Delaware, North Carolina??? - Holy Moly!!! We don't need any type of float blind permit, the thought of that scares me.
 
Does this Blind permit mean you need one to use a layout boat for divers and/or use a sneak box as it was originally used for divers in open waters??
 
That "its my area, so others stay away" mentality is what is helping to drive down recruitment of new hunters, especially those in their late teens early 20's. That is the future of our sport and if they aren't out there enjoying it and building a passion for it, then who else is going to be the political force we need to keep it?

I didn't grow up duck hunting, but learned it while in college (long ago). I'll bet you that college age kids without the "privledged" grounds and blind permits are not able to go out and "work for the ducks" by dragging a boat across what seems like a quarter mile of flat and getting muddier than most of us are willing to do just to get to a spot that the ducks want to be. I was invincible back then and that fired up my duck hunting desires. I see that commando attitude in a lot of young guns around here and don't mind it because I remember when I could do it, when I didn't have to answer to "the one who must be obeyed", or had the freedom to not have to be back home at a certain time. That built a passion for the sport. To see areas restricted to the point of having to inherit a permit to hunt smells a lot like Europe. Those with the permits will find out that they area significant minority one day when they lose their entire privilege because they kept others out.

Off my soap box now.
 
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Does this Blind permit mean you need one to use a layout boat for divers and/or use a sneak box as it was originally used for divers in open waters??
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Yes, in those counties. Plenty of water in NC for float blinds and layout boats in other counties. I hunted in 6 or 7 different counties this year. Some in blinds and some in float blinds. You just have to do your research and plan your trips.


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Neither Currituck nor Dare allows leases, transfers or inheritance of licensed blinds. You can hold the license until death if you take the right steps and pay your yearly fees.
 
Hi Kirk,
Van Graves from New Bern has/had a nice'un for sale. Check out the classifieds on this web.

You are right in that most of what we see is jon boats. Jon's as a rule are cheap sturdy and will carry a good amount of weight relative to their size, Same reasons the Carolina skiff type boats are so popular.

The Sneak boxes are cooler to see.
Harry
 
Kirk,

I know of two that are being used in Craven Co on a regular basis. Hunting by yourself I think that make a great boat but I wouldn't want to cross the pamlico sound in one, then again I wouldn't want to cross the sound in a jon boat either.

I've been looking for something similar to a BBSB but that can hold two and a dog.

Mike Oppegaard
 
I had no idea how spoiled we are here on Long Island. I put up several blinds in a bunch of different spots and don't need a permit or anything. We just have to mark it with a name, address and contact phone number and can leave it up till March. You can put up as many as you want. You just have to make sure you take them down in March or the Dept. of Waterways will do it for you.
 
Darn,
You guys that hunt Long Island have it knocked as to finding a blind site. Wish we were that lucky in NC. We got reamed early by professional guides and now by rich landowners who don't want middle class bums like me anywhere near where they hunt and thank you be glad we allow you to hunt or fish anywhere.
Enjoy what you have while you can,
Harry

PS No way I'd try to cross the Pamlico Sound or Pamlico River for that matter in a sneak box or a jon boat under 18' long as I'm an old fart that wants to get older.
 
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