Hunting with a stranger (or what boat should I use)

Bill Savoie

Bill Savoie

Active member
So, I've posted on this site that beginning this year I've set a goal to start my pursuit to hunt in all 49 states that allow waterfowl hunting, and as many of the Canadian provinces as I can fit in along the way. A number of members here have offered to assist me, and I plan to take each of you up on your offers as I travel around. I'm working on the logistics now, mainly because the weather is still knee deep, I can only focus on work so much and there's 8 months left until the season opens.

On wise advise from a former moderator, I am planning to buy a camper or motor home so I have a place to crash at night. I currently own 2 duck boats (actually 3 but one is a cartopper) and am trying to figure out which would be the appropriate vessel to drag along on the journey. If you were to invite a stranger along on a hunt, would you prefer they use a single man boat or hunt in a two man boat. So far only Sarge has hunted with me, and while he will agree I'm strange, he did invite me back.

Option 1 - The TDB 14 - not always the best boat, especially in a low cover marsh, but it's comfy and two men and a dog can hunt out of it. Easy for two guys to launch, not always the easiest when hunting alone. May cause height issues with some of those crazy cover regulations in Wisconsin.

Option 2 - The Carsten Canvasback - this boat is set up like a traditional layout boat, and once I get the dodger done will work really well for 1 man and a dog. Easy to get in and out of the water, but clearly a one man boat. Fit and finish could be better, but it floats, it hides and it's paid for.

Advice, heckling, suggestions for a new boat are all welcome. I've also got to figure out which guns to tote along, but we'll save that for another post.

Thanks

Bill
 
Bill,

This is a no brain'er. Drag the one man along. If you end up hunting alone your good. If you hunt with a local that's already hunting there, he's either using a 1 man or he's got a larger boat. If he only has a one man then the water is good for a one man and you both hunt out of your one mans. If he only has a larger boat you join him in his. If the water / decoys require a bigger boat the local guy must have it since he's already hunting those waters. If a car topper is best? Well let's hope he has two or that you can sneak your canvasback in. Are you a good swimmer? :^)

Scott
 
I agree... If you come to Long Island, NY, let me know. I would be glad to share a few spots on the east end.
 
Bill,

An awesome idea. I have thought about doing this myself. My idea is to donated a said amount to DU for every state I hunt within the year. However, I am waiting for a little thing called school to end before I can afford to do so. I'll give another vote for the single man boat. More versatile and like the previous poster said someone inviting another along will more than likely already have room.

If you need a place in WI to go. Please let me know.

I think a traveling decoy needs to be involved with this as well.
 
So, I've posted on this site that beginning this year I've set a goal to start my pursuit to hunt in all 49 states that allow waterfowl hunting, and as many of the Canadian provinces as I can fit in along the way. A number of members here have offered to assist me, and I plan to take each of you up on your offers as I travel around. I'm working on the logistics now, mainly because the weather is still knee deep, I can only focus on work so much and there's 8 months left until the season opens.

On wise advise from a former moderator, I am planning to buy a camper or motor home so I have a place to crash at night. I currently own 2 duck boats (actually 3 but one is a cartopper) and am trying to figure out which would be the appropriate vessel to drag along on the journey. If you were to invite a stranger along on a hunt, would you prefer they use a single man boat or hunt in a two man boat. So far only Sarge has hunted with me, and while he will agree I'm strange, he did invite me back.

Option 1 - The TDB 14 - not always the best boat, especially in a low cover marsh, but it's comfy and two men and a dog can hunt out of it. Easy for two guys to launch, not always the easiest when hunting alone. May cause height issues with some of those crazy cover regulations in Wisconsin.

Option 2 - The Carsten Canvasback - this boat is set up like a traditional layout boat, and once I get the dodger done will work really well for 1 man and a dog. Easy to get in and out of the water, but clearly a one man boat. Fit and finish could be better, but it floats, it hides and it's paid for.

Advice, heckling, suggestions for a new boat are all welcome. I've also got to figure out which guns to tote along, but we'll save that for another post.

Thanks

Bill
Click to expand...


One man boat sounds like a good way to go.

The advice I have is to be careful who you choose to hunt with. Safety should be a no-brainer with people, but it isn't. There are also a lot of guys that can't produce ducks on any given date. This isn't saying that the trip is all about body count, but you need to be careful to pick people and species of fowl and dates that will work out, there are big parts of the country that when "nothing is flying", nothing is flying.

I've hunted with dozens of guys from this forum from different parts of the country over the years and haven't had a bad experiance, but I've also been careful to pick wisely. Your "former moderator" contact is an expert at these things if anyone is, I would rely heavily on his advice.
 
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]"So far only Sarge has hunted with me, and while he will agree I'm strange, he did invite me back."

Strange? best be careful with such admissions


How long to you plan on taking in the endeavor? I would take the one man for all the previously mentioned reasons..

Matt
[/font]
 
Bill,

You clearly need another boat, oh wait, I'd say that no matter what the circumstances.


Actually I have to echo what has already been said. Your Canvasback is a good choice. The only thing I might suggest/ask is what about the motor?

I had mine set up so that in about 15 minutes or less I could swap motors. Motor "A" 6hp longtail mudmotor. Motor"B" 9.9hp twostroke outboard.

That way I was setup to "A" run shallow or I could swap the motor "B", to run fast and cover a longer distance.

I'll bet you could fab up a bracket along side the trailer tongue to fasten the mud motor to when not using it and a similar bracket for the outboard on the back of the camper or RV.

If you need a resident guide for Iowa, I can probably host you for a hunt or two.
 
I can only focus on work so much and there's 8 months left until the season opens.
Click to expand...
As of today there are only 6 months left until the season opens around these parts. ...........You are already behind schedule....... For up here the canvas back with a mud motor would be what I would go with.
 
Bill,

Build a rack on the trailer to cary the Carstens above the TDB.
I have hunted out of a TDB and as you say it does not hide easily in areas where cover is limited or at high tide on low lying marsh islands and having owned a Carstens Canvasback, the boats design limits you to skinny water where a more robust boat would have been better.
Bring them both and you will be prepaired for most any situation. Here on Long Island conditions can change very quickly depending on where you go. But regardless of which you you have here there is someplace you can always go. May not be plan A but thats why there is always plan B.
Consider your self having an open invitation to hunt here. Our season starts in Sept and ends in March.
Good luck in your quest
 
I guess I disagree with the majority.. take the TDB... it will be more of an asset on bigger water, and will hide most places.. at least in the upper midwest..

Hunt the River and you don't have the dumb conceilment law.. at least on Pool 9. My TDB14 hides just fine... Let me know if want someone to hunt with you in Iowa....


I think it blends in...
D31_15352.jpg

D31_14732.jpg

 
Last edited:


I agree with Phil.I hunt a TDB 14 classic,hides great in most places,handles big water and does not draft much water.I plan on dragging mine across the upper mid west this next season .
 
I suggest you take the one man unless you can figure out how to take both. Most folks who invite you to hunt will have their own boat that can either take just them or the both of you. There are many good places I know of where a small marsh boat is great but in some situations they are just plain dangerous. That's where the TBD would be nice. Myself, I only go out on calm days. Just ask John Klingenstein. LOL

Have you considered the issue of the dog? While I don't personally care, some folks only want to hunt over their own dog. That too can be a bone of contention. Also, don't forget the dog's vacination records when you cross into Canada. Lots of folks think about guns and forget about dogs.

While Tod makes a good point about timing and who you hunt with, you should also try to get in good with the weatherman. See if you can arrange for at least a bit of north wind and ducky weather. :)
 
Thanks for the many responses. The idea of building a rack sounds good, but I worry a bit since I've found that some folks don't share the same respect for others property that we might. Maybe that bag of 6 cork decoys in the back of my truck walked away while we ate breakfast, too bad the plastics ones next to it didn't go too. At least it was a discerning thief. I know my buddies trailer was attached to his truck when we headed out to hunt. He was incautious, he only locked the trailer to the ball hitch and didn't lock the hitch into the receiver. Leaving the Canvasback in a rack on a boat ramp might be too much temptation for some.
Two motors... that is something I hadn't thought about. I guess I'll need to see what I have for storage when I choose a rig. The same will hold true for decoys, etc. The dog... hmmn, if nothing else she'll be company. I never thought to leave her behind, but I also haven't gotten assurances from SWMBO that I will even get to take her that often. That will be another bridge to cross.
 
Bill,do you have a locking cover for the TDB,if so that could be used for storage.Myself I like the ideal of biulding a rack and taking both boats.Sounds like a fun trip wish I could do the same
 
I agree with Scott. One man boat should make your trip easier. The idea of a spare motor is also a great idea for this trip. With the amount of hunting you will do chances are the spare will come in handy.
 
Bill, this is easy--and I can't believe that on this forum, we've gone over a dozen replies without anyone coming up with the right answer.

You need a new boat!

You need to consider what kind of water you will (mostly) be hunting. Your TDB would be fine for big water, open water, places with lots of cover, and anywhere where seaworthiness is more necessary than shallow draft and/or easy concealment. I don't know the Canbasback, but based on your description, it's going to be a lot easier to hide, shallower draft, but not the boat you want to be in on the Atlantic, Pacific, or a big lake with wind.

So you've got a good pair of boats that between them will cover the various conditions you find here in the Northeast, but you do not yet have the perfect "all around" boat. Going on the Goldilocks theory, on any given day your TDB may be "too big" or your Canvasback may be "too small".

You need to convince your wife and your banker that you need a boat that's "just right". Maybe an Estuary? One of the larger Devlin boats like the Black Brant III?

Now, back to reality. If I was confined to a single boat, I'd make it a canoe or something else I can cartop solo. There is an awful lot of good duck water accessible to a guy willing to make a portage over a couple hundred yards that nobody could get to from a boat ramp. And, as was pointed out above, if your local host is taking you out on bigger water, he already has a boat.
 
Last edited:
Bill, people that have sticky fingers and steal a person outdoor gear, should be made to walk bare foot on asphalt from Vegas to Phoenix in July....carry the item they took.

Jeff's idea of a canoe it interesting, I hunt out of a canoe and while not perfect they do work.. I really like to sneak down a stream or river with one, peaking around corners and looking for ducks to jump.

Matt
 
Bill, this is easy--and I can't believe that on this forum, we've gone over a dozen replies without anyone coming up with the right answer.

You need a new boat!
Click to expand...
Jeff,

That had already been suggested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top