Hi all, I'm new to duck hunting and am not in a position to have a dog, yet. I know that's not ideal, but it is what it is. I've got a new boat with a fold-up blind but I am somewhat perplexed about retrieving ducks without a dog. Of course I can move the boat everytime I get a bird, but that's a bit of a pain. Do you use smaller boats, tubes, pontoons, etc? Love some specific suggestions. Thanks.
boat hunting without a dog
- Thread starter DPWeston
- Start date
Charlie S and Titan
Well-known member
In the past I've moved the boat, or brought along a kayak.
In some areas we hunt, the bottom is nice & hard and it's only 6" to 2' deep, so I just jump out and walk to get the birds.
Other areas are bottomless muck that is too soft to walk on or the water is too deep to walk. In those situations, we use the boat.
I keep a long handled crab net in my boat so I can reach over the blind & get the birds without falling out of the boat. Works great.
Other areas are bottomless muck that is too soft to walk on or the water is too deep to walk. In those situations, we use the boat.
I keep a long handled crab net in my boat so I can reach over the blind & get the birds without falling out of the boat. Works great.
Mike Mitchell
Active member
I don't have a dog either so I have to fire up the outboard just about everytime a I shoot a bird. Occasionally I will drop one on the marsh near the boat so then I just get out and get the bird but most of the time I have to go get the bird with the boat.
Lee Harker
Well-known member
Cripples are the fun time. If you have to get after a bird with the boat, make sure none of your camo or anchor lines or bow lines are dragging in the water. A big wad of camo around your prop is at the least a real bitch and at the most can be life threatening.
Bob B
Well-known member
DP
the thing you give up without a dog is the ability to keep hunting when birds are down. I have done this since the beginning and when without a dog you have to get right on the downed bird. Lee is right about clearing the blind\camo for a safe trip and don't wait.
Things like tide, wind and birds that come back will bite you if you don't get there fast. A box of 5 shot will be worth it for cripples, esp divers. Plus the rule is plain, a hunter must make every attempt to retrieve his game.. many wardens feel very strongly about it and so off you go with the boat.
Good luck.
the thing you give up without a dog is the ability to keep hunting when birds are down. I have done this since the beginning and when without a dog you have to get right on the downed bird. Lee is right about clearing the blind\camo for a safe trip and don't wait.
Things like tide, wind and birds that come back will bite you if you don't get there fast. A box of 5 shot will be worth it for cripples, esp divers. Plus the rule is plain, a hunter must make every attempt to retrieve his game.. many wardens feel very strongly about it and so off you go with the boat.
Good luck.
DP
This will sound crazy and it's not idea but you asked. When I'm in deep water I carry a fishing pole with a large top water plug with plenty of treble hooks. I've retrieved a lot of ducks with a fishing pole. I did hook a BB that dived on me one time. There ain't a bass on earth that'll out do the fight of a Blue Bill!
I use floats on the hook end of my anchor. That way I can detach from the anchor in a hurry if I need the boat to retrieve then return to my spot. Helps keep stuff out of the prop and retain my setup location.
Ed L.
This will sound crazy and it's not idea but you asked. When I'm in deep water I carry a fishing pole with a large top water plug with plenty of treble hooks. I've retrieved a lot of ducks with a fishing pole. I did hook a BB that dived on me one time. There ain't a bass on earth that'll out do the fight of a Blue Bill!
I use floats on the hook end of my anchor. That way I can detach from the anchor in a hurry if I need the boat to retrieve then return to my spot. Helps keep stuff out of the prop and retain my setup location.
Ed L.
DB:
That's how I got in trouble last November. No dog and chasing a cripple in my boat everything that could go wrong did. Leaving tomorrow to get the King wet on the Mississippi with a cell phone and another hunter the same hunter that dropped his duck boat on my foot. The cast is off but still swollen but I'll just sit in the blind and shoot ducks and let my friend and his dog do the work. It can't get any better than that?? Rick Kyte I promise no more adventures.
wis boz
That's how I got in trouble last November. No dog and chasing a cripple in my boat everything that could go wrong did. Leaving tomorrow to get the King wet on the Mississippi with a cell phone and another hunter the same hunter that dropped his duck boat on my foot. The cast is off but still swollen but I'll just sit in the blind and shoot ducks and let my friend and his dog do the work. It can't get any better than that?? Rick Kyte I promise no more adventures.
wis boz
MLBob Furia
Well-known member
DP, I'd imagine there are lots of folks who don't have a dog, feel up to training one, etc., etc. Let's face it, a dog takes some work, time, & interest that not everyone has. That being said, without one, whenever & wherever you set up you'll have to always assess how you're going to get to crippled birds ASAP. You may have to avoid some places that would otherwise be better suited to hunting if you had a dog along. May not be ideal, but you'll still have some great days. It is nice to be able to position your boat-blind in inconvenient places, knowing that you won't have to mess with scrambling to get untied and underway in a hurry if the need arises. Hunting with a dog is one of the things that makes waterfowling more satisfying, but you also don't want a "knothead" that just gets in the way if you don't have the time to work with him/her.
Thanks to you all for great advice. I know it's not ideal to hunt without a dog and I acknowledge the responsibility of retrieving all ducks I shoot, especially wounded birds. The only situation I can think of that would be worse than losing a wounded bird is not going duck hunting at all because of that risk.
Wispete
Well-known member
I hunted with a dog and with out. Your limited to where you hunt with out a dog. Open water, shore blinds, not to thick of a marsh. When in a boat blind thats anchored and not easy to move I've used some of the tricks. A fishing pole with a surface plug. I also have a small boat eight foot long that I put behind the boat blind for retrieving ducks and putting out decoys or picking them up. When hunting from a shore blind without a dog it is easier to hide a small boat closer to the blind for retrieving ducks.
Hey Ed,
Never caught a blue bill on a bass rod. But had one hell of a fight on the fly rod from a ruddy duck. Was out fishing and got bored catching two and three pound trout. Casting flies over sleeping ruddies seemed more fun at the time until I hooked one in the leg.
Tight Lines ... Fred
Never caught a blue bill on a bass rod. But had one hell of a fight on the fly rod from a ruddy duck. Was out fishing and got bored catching two and three pound trout. Casting flies over sleeping ruddies seemed more fun at the time until I hooked one in the leg.
Tight Lines ... Fred