What is the best Personnal Floatation Device for boat hunters?

I wear one of these for the entire season. Put it on Oct 1 and take it off after the river freezes over. My wife thinks I should take it off when I'm not hunting, but I say: "You can never be too prepared." If you take it off when you get back to shore, you might forget to put it on next time you go out. I get some funny looks at work, but if you are going to be a hunter in today's world you have to develop a thick skin and just ignore what other people think.


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Had to cut six inches of the stock to be able to shoulder a gun, but it's worth it to be safe. Now I can can hit incoming geese just as well as Huntindave.

Rick

BTW, I agree with T. Camo is overrated. If you have enough spinners in the spread, ducks don't even notice you.
 
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I'll bet that thing works just as well as an air bag when the drunk broadsides you at 4:00am too!
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This is a timely topic for NY hunters.
Just a few words to add for the NY guys.
In case anyone does not wear a PFD or was unaware of the new PFD law:

Beginning November 1, 2009, Section 40, Subdivision 1 of the Navigation Law shall be amended by adding new paragraph (e), which reads as follows:

No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation, between November first and May first, unless each person on board such vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such vessel is underway.

Failure to wear a lifejacket on such vessels will be considered a violation under Section 73-c if the Navigation Law and is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $250, applicable to either the operator and/or the owner of the vessel.
 
I'm curios as to what types of PFDs others have found to work well for boat hunting? --------------------------------- I use one of those Sterns inflatable PFD. They look like suspenders. I wear them over my coat. They are dark blue but when they inflate they are bright yellow. Like Dave, I typically hunt areas that are shallow (puddle ducks) and I usually hunt from shore -boat or otherwise. When I get where I am going, I take the PFD off. Since if I fall out of the boat I am about waste deep or less. I have also learned that if I wade too deep, and the water hits the wafer, my PFD inflates and I just spend $20 for a new kit.------------------- I really like this type of flotation because it is comfortable and I always wear it while underway, or fishing (which I do lots of). I also have a couple type 1 vests that I take with me. If things get rough, I can slip one on, but it really restricts movement. When I am out is salt water it is usually Puget Sound which is pretty sheltered compared to most salt water. Rivers bother me more. I have known two people who have drown in rivers due to current and snags. Dave
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Bill,My dad and I both wear the stearns camo float coats,we love them! Goes on before our feet hit the boat,They are a little stiff at first,but break real quick,I have found that they do not hinder my shooting whatsoever,I purchased both of them after the season at Bass Pro,they had a sale on them,hope this helps Brian Rippelmeyer
 
Rick,
That's great! I have 2 of those- one identical in orange, and a camo one I use (not often enough) for hunting. I think the orange one was $4.99, and the camo one about $7-8. Not sure my wife would be as accomodating ;^)
 
All,

Thanks for the sage input. I appreciate all the suggestions. Right now I'm thinking a short (like the bomber) float coat is the way to go (have a 4 in one parka that the bottom of gets wet when wading- hate it when the pockets fill with water...).

Have a great season!
-Bill
 
Both my buddy and I wear manually inflatable suspender style PFDs. I end up wearing it much more often than I ever did the old vest style which is why I got it in the first place. Be aware though that an inflatable is NOT a valid PFD if it is not being worn. The vest types are legal even if they are stuffed into a hold but the inflatables are not - you must be wearing it. I usually have both types in the boat.
 
I wear an inflatable SOS device ALWAYS and shoot just as well with or without it. My wife sounded kind of sceptical about having to pull the cord so I just asked "better to always wear this and take the chance on being concious in the water or have to wonder where the darn thing is floating away". Most DNR and water safety people around here (Minn.) wear them and I love it. That and a tether switch are my main safety nets.
 
Be aware though that an inflatable is NOT a valid PFD if it is not being worn. The vest types are legal even if they are stuffed into a hold but the inflatables are not - you must be wearing it. I usually have both types in the boat
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. Pete,

I agree with one exception; "even if they are stuffed into a hold" This can still garner you a ticket. Now matter where you store it , it must be readily accessible.
 
It can even get you a ticket if it's out on the deck but still in the plastic wrap. The USCG views this as not readily accessable
 
Bill,
Don't post much here but thought that this thread I would.
Went over last years when motor on my boat reved while I was standing
and went over board in 30+ water in January.
thanks to my hunting buddy that I am still here,he recovered me and my boat which
was in tide flow and got to me a fast as could be expected.

Was over about 10 minuits. Cold water?? I was so hiped that I couldn't
tell you about cold till I was out of the water.
I was wearing BPS Pro Lifevest and and their water fowl jacket with cold gear under
it seemed to keep me warm or I was JACKED up and didn't feel it till I took it off.

Save your ass and get something that gives you max float.
The hell with (can I shoot with it).
I hunt in shallow water, have been over to retreave motor in ice covered water,
all hurts in the end but don't (cheap) on the vest.

Who is going to tell your loved ones (he is gone)?

God Bless be safe.
Ken
 
Cabelas has a good camo PFD vest with mesh in the front of the shoulders. It does not effect shouldering the gun. I even wear it in the summer. It is not uncomfortable. It is also on the cheaper side of the spectrum. that being said, I am thinking about getting a float coat, Stearns or Mustang, as I live and hunt in NY waters.
Sterny

P.S. I just checked cabelas and they do not seem to carry the vest with the mesh in front. Sorry. But if you can find them, they are comfortable to wear and meet the requirements.
 
I wear one of the vests with the mesh over the shoulders, best compromise I have found. Using it in the kayak I can tell you it floats me as well or better than a traditional vest. I spend a fair amount of time outside the kayak!

I has the sospenders and they are ok but I kept forgetting to put the darn thing on. My bad but it still wasn't on every time. Plus I was never real comfortable with the inflatable idea. I've had it deploy and it works but I never liked the idea it could be punctured. My wife will appreciate the body recovery, it helps a lot with the insurance claim!

I lost a friend on the chesapeake many years ago. He was hunting in a small skiff that was over loaded on a day they never should have went out. Who hasn't done that? That loss has tempered every safety decision I've made since. I still don't do everything to a T or overkill but it's always in my mind. I figure if I can save myself or someone else his loss will not be in vain.

I've found the most dangerous situations I get into are right in front of other people when I assume someone will be there to help out. This summer I found a stranded jet skier on a busy Memorial day holiday weekend. He was stranded for over 6 hours. I heard his whistle for 2 hours and couldn't see him! I had to search for his by following the whistle and found him on a island of silt "pudding" and stuck fast with the tide falling. He tried to get off the ski and went up to his waist in muck. Long story short, sea tow got him out a few hours and couple hundred bucks later. All I did was make a few cell and radio calls and toss him a couple bottles of water. He was pretty fried from the sun and wind. A $1 whistle saved his bacon. All the basic safety equipment is very important. But you gotta float first!

Best wishes and be safe!
 
I wear an inexpensive black Stern's w/mesh shoulders. It doesn't get in the way at all when I shoot.

I did a lot of boardings during my USCG years & the notion of going w/o a pfd is not appealing. This Fall moving my 23' boat alone to the marina for haul out I slipped & fell overboard at my mooring when I was going around the cabin to drop the mooring line (a minor detail I haven't shared with my wife). I had on my pfd & did not fight falling over. No big deal. Water not cold. Motor not in gear. I worked my way to the stern & swung in using the handle I installed on the stern years ago for this specific (unplanned) occasion.
 
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