What is your wind tolerance for boat based hunts???

[tod osier]

I found some birds and I have some weather coming in, maybe snow but for sure wind (but not crazy cold). The wind is predicted to be at 25 with gusts to 40 for 12 hours. I have a number of coves that I can put the boat in to hunt out of the boat or to ditch the boat. The past 20 years I've gotten very wind shy and REALLY don't like leaving the boat on a windy day. Hunting from islands in the Atlantic is pretty unforgiving and where I've lost my tolerance for high wind, this is a much smaller body of water we are talking now.

Gusts to 40 is really hard to keep things behaving, but I do have really heavy anchors with long lines on the decoys, so they should behave. Run is not far, it is more the just keeping everything under control.

Contributing to this is I did lose the boat one day on an island and had to swim for it in single digit temps The day was stormy day with stiff, but not horrific wind, but there was a break in the wind and then the wind came back 90 degrees from where it was as a front moved through. I'll never forget hearing the sound of the anchor and chain clanking down the icy shore and the boat drifted off. . It wasn't going far with double anchors, but it went plenty far not to be able to get to it without swimming.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Does the body of water your considering to hunt have much fetch? In other words will the wind be ripping longways over open water? That would be my go-no-go criteria. Will the front blow the ducks out of the area? If I did decide to go I probably wouldn't hit the water until after sunrise. Too much wind too little visibility which is a bad combination.

 

[tod osier]

Does the body of water your considering to hunt have much fetch? In other words will the wind be ripping longways over open water? That would be my go-no-go criteria. Will the front blow the ducks out of the area? If I did decide to go I probably wouldn't hit the water until after sunrise. Too much wind too little visibility which is a bad combination.

Plenty of fetch, but I'd be launching from and hunting the sheltered shore. Not so much a safety concern, but a concern for the wind just being a general pain in the ass as far as the boat swinging, the decoys breaking free, dead birds drifting too fast for the dog, etc...

 

[tod osier]

Plenty of fetch, but I'd be hunting the sheltered shore. Not so much a safety concern, but a concern for the wind just being a general pain in the ass as far as the boat swinging, the decoys breaking free, dead birds drifting too fast for the dog, etc...

Basically, I'm wondering how much of a pussy I am to not want to hunt in 25 mile per hour wind with gusts to 40 (or where the pussy to not pussy line lays).

 

[Larry Eckart]

Todd,
I think the idea of "pussy" was when we were in our 20's. In our 50's and up, it's call wisdom.
Larry

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Basically, I'm wondering how much of a pussy I am to not want to hunt in 25 mile per hour wind with gusts to 40 (or where the pussy to not pussy line lays).

Tod, if you'd asked it that way the first time I'd bet you would have gotten a lot more responses.

Seriously, would depend on the birds (if safety truly not an issue). I'd go if confident in the birds. I'd bail if not.

 

[roy brewington]

My biggest consideration is one you mentioned already. Will the dog be able to retrieve multiple birds without them being blown away. Contant pulling anchor and chasing birds dog cant get to or shouldn't be sent on gets real old fast, at least for myself.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Todd,
I think the idea of "pussy" was when we were in our 20's. In our 50's and up, it's call wisdom.
Larry

I'd have to agree.
I have hunted conditions in which I'd now, never be out in. Not only the risk factor, but the risk/reward or I' will call it the effort/reward factor. Sometimes it's just not worth the effort.

I am to not want to hunt in 25 mile per hour wind with gusts to 40

I won't call you a pussy if you do the same for me.

 

[tod osier]

My biggest consideration is one you mentioned already. Will the dog be able to retrieve multiple birds without them being blown away. Contant pulling anchor and chasing birds dog cant get to or shouldn't be sent on gets real old fast, at least for myself.

Those "annoyances" I listed are the things I was trying to get a tangible handle on how they stack under bad conditions and at what point they become untenable. I'm not really hunting for fun, I'm hunting because I can't not hunt, but there is a point where it isn't worth it. I was sort of looking for some wisdom (as you provided) to think about a rule of thumb beyond just being scared the boat will blow away and leave me stranded when the wind blows .

Also , Beaver is the world's slowest swimmer, he will swim out of sight after a bird and he is the pinnacle of an athletic high performance animal , but he does not put on the gas to get a bird like my other dogs would. It is really easy for a bird to get way out there on even a nice day.

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Small bodies of water can kick up and get ugly real fast more so than larger bodies of water in my experience. In such times I'd put on my life vest while in the boat. My late great gunning partner would laugh and say "What ya doing that for? So yer wife can ID yer body?" As he adjusted the motor speed with one hand to keep our heading, and puff on a Marlboro with the other hand. Years later he damn near died doing a high wind hunt with another guy. He got wise but it took some doing.

That many of us Geezers on this site are still around to talk and write about it proves there are Guardian Angels. When a dog swims out of sight that is when our hearts sink until we see them on the way back. There were times we got into the boat to retrieve the retriever on high wind banner hunt days.

Those day are way over for me and the few hunting partners that are still Above Ground. But DAMN they were a certain Sick Kinda Fun those days were...

my 2 cents

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Key for me is wind direction as much as speed. NW sucks on most Maine lakes, because the lakes lie NW/SE having been gouged out by glaciers following that course. SW sucks on the coast because it is blowing parallel the shoreline and doesn't give much lee shore to hide behind. And there is a huge difference between 10-15 mph and 15-20 with gusts. It takes a lot of fetch for 10-15 to get me nervous, but anything forecast over 20 with potential for bigger gusts makes me very cautious and has me picking my spots carefully.

 

[tod osier]

Small bodies of water can kick up and get ugly real fast more so than larger bodies of water in my experience. In such times I'd put on my life vest while in the boat. My late great gunning partner would laugh and say "What ya doing that for? So yer wife can ID yer body?" As he adjusted the motor speed with one hand to keep our heading, and puff on a Marlboro with the other hand. Years later he damn near died doing a high wind hunt with another guy. He got wise but it took some doing.

That many of us Geezers on this site are still around to talk and write about it proves there are Guardian Angels. When a dog swims out of sight that is when our hearts sink until we see them on the way back. There were times we got into the boat to retrieve the retriever on high wind banner hunt days.

Those day are way over for me and the few hunting partners that are still Above Ground. But DAMN they were a certain Sick Kinda Fun those days were...

my 2 cents

I hear you, I hate missing those potentially great days though and I'm wondering if tomorrow will be one. I'm glad to be leaving the big water with current behind. Watching the dog's trail arc seaward as the current pushed them and the birds always added some pucker. I've done my share of of chasing the dog with the boat and it is always nice to finally get your hand on their collar.

 

[tod osier]

Key for me is wind direction as much as speed. NW sucks on most Maine lakes, because the lakes lie NW/SE having been gouged out by glaciers following that course. SW sucks on the coast because it is blowing parallel the shoreline and doesn't give much lee shore to hide behind. And there is a huge difference between 10-15 mph and 15-20 with gusts. It takes a lot of fetch for 10-15 to get me nervous, but anything forecast over 20 with potential for bigger gusts makes me very cautious and has me picking my spots carefully.

Yeah, I'm at 20-30 with gusts to 45 for tomorrow now. I was seeing some ducks on the river where I haven't hunted before, wish I'd marked some spots for the morning. It is the weekend, I usually try to hunt somewhere off the beaten path or just scout. Maybe I'll scout and bring some decoys in case I find a shore based spot that is holding birds.

 

[roy brewington]

Those "annoyances" I listed are the things I was trying to get a tangible handle on how they stack under bad conditions and at what point they become untenable. I'm not really hunting for fun, I'm hunting because I can't not hunt, but there is a point where it isn't worth it. I was sort of looking for some wisdom (as you provided) to think about a rule of thumb beyond just being scared the boat will blow away and leave me stranded when the wind blows .

Also , Beaver is the world's slowest swimmer, he will swim out of sight after a bird and he is the pinnacle of an athletic high performance animal , but he does not put on the gas to get a bird like my other dogs would. It is really easy for a bird to get way out there on even a nice day.

The tidal river I mainly hunt continuously flows out on upper reachs . Add a big rain night before hunt or strong N,W. winds and birds get out of sight quick while my dogs making the first retrieve unless you just happen to drop birds in lee of something, not in channel. Narrow windy timbered river that I hunt in a boat blind. Got so tired of having to untie and chase down out going birds I finally started getting my gunning buddy to run his small boat up and tuck it in between boat blind and woods so he could chase down the out going birds while I was working dog on closest fallen. Worked real good. Of course if your gunnin by yourself that doesn,t really work. Or limit yourself to only shooting one bird so dog can make an easier retrieve. Or set up where wind and tide isn,t a big factor .

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Yeah, I'm at 20-30 with gusts to 45 for tomorrow now. I was seeing some ducks on the river where I haven't hunted before, wish I'd marked some spots for the morning. It is the weekend, I usually try to hunt somewhere off the beaten path or just scout. Maybe I'll scout and bring some decoys in case I find a shore based spot that is holding birds.

Now yer talking. That's my kinda game plan and many times pays off with great rewards. Your dog will love it also might find some other kind of birds also if In Season.

 

[Carl]

I’ve hunted a few days in those kinds of winds but always tried to be tucked up against the lee shore.
I’ve also gotten up, heard the wind roaring and went back to bed. Or got to the ramp and said heck no and went home.
If you have a spot you can safely get to on the lee side go for it. Otherwise sleep in.

 

[MIKE-SID]

Tod,
I hunt in the Long Island Sound, and some rivers running into it this time of year.
For me, 15 and over steady wind in the marsh is questionable I'll probably not go. Even if I get a good hide, the wind just makes everything much to difficult. Decoys running away, boat blind top constantly blowing open, and nothing flying. It really takes the fun out of the hunt.
We just hunted with a steady 10 to 12 mph wind in the marsh. That was not uncomfortable or problematic, in fact we had a great day.
Now for open water like LIS, it depends on the wind direction and if we can find a sheltered spot. 15+ could kick up the waves and make my long likes, short birds nests!
Maybe I'm a pussy, but big season and steady winds aren't appealing to me anymore. Maybe I became wise, or more likely just old!

 

[Steve Sanford]

I found some birds and I have some weather coming in, maybe snow but for sure wind (but not crazy cold). The wind is predicted to be at 25 with gusts to 40 for 12 hours. I have a number of coves that I can put the boat in to hunt out of the boat or to ditch the boat. The past 20 years I've gotten very wind shy and REALLY don't like leaving the boat on a windy day. Hunting from islands in the Atlantic is pretty unforgiving and where I've lost my tolerance for high wind, this is a much smaller body of water we are talking now.

Gusts to 40 is really hard to keep things behaving, but I do have really heavy anchors with long lines on the decoys, so they should behave. Run is not far, it is more the just keeping everything under control.

Contributing to this is I did lose the boat one day on an island and had to swim for it in single digit temps The day was stormy day with stiff, but not horrific wind, but there was a break in the wind and then the wind came back 90 degrees from where it was as a front moved through. I'll never forget hearing the sound of the anchor and chain clanking down the icy shore and the boat drifted off. . It wasn't going far with double anchors, but it went plenty far not to be able to get to it without swimming.

Tod-

The title of your post grabbed me right away. I decided to wait a bit before responding – not wanting to appear either reckless or cavalier. Like you, I suffer from the biological imperative that drives me to bays and marshes and rivers – usually in pursuit of waterfowl. When I lived on Long Island, it was wind more than anything that was the most powerful driving force (pun intended). If I could hear, see or feel the wind – and the season was open – I simply had to be on the bay.

I moved away from the Atlantic Tidewater – which for me was any of the bays that surround Long Island – in 1994. So, I was a mere 42 when I still succumbed to the siren songs of “Small Craft Warning” – and especially “Gale Warning”. Of course, any hint of snow was “Simply Irresistible” (pretty sure Robert Palmer was not a gunner, however….).

For me, strong weather was the element that elevated any time in the natural world to the Next Level. Obviously, wind was sort of necessary for my time under canvas in our gaff sloop – but was often a key ingredient when in pursuit of the famously wary and wily Black Duck. One famous quote, attributed apocryphally to the notorious Cap’n Fowler: “I don’t need luck…I need wind!”

Now at age 72, I often wonder if I would still launch pre-dawn into the teeth of a gale and head out into the maelstrom with avid anticipation. I do know for sure that I loved every moment of such adventures – even when they called on the full capabilities of my vessel or my own knowledge. The draw was never about pitting myself against the weather. Instead, it was the same joy that drives me to hunt – to meet the natural world on its own terms – and to learn its ways. To be a participant – and not just an observer.

I cannot answer your question directly. Almost all of my experience gunning in high winds was in pursuit of puddle ducks - and maybe some Brant or Canadas. I was traveling in and shooting from a smallish (13 x 5) grassboat/sneakbox. I generally hunted over 16 to 24 decoys – and almost always by myself when in high winds (unless a partner had his own rig). Exhilaration is the word that leaps to mind when I recall any such hunt. Although I also recall many successful hunts on “bluebird days” – with puddlers sailing into the rig without a care.

I did not hunt with a dog. I retrieved all my birds with boots or boat. And, I did not cross the biggest waters in high wind or sea. Even running 2 or more miles across some of our smaller bays I was protected by carefully chosen lees.

One downside of gunning in strong weather is that it limits my use of a camera. I have almost no photos of my hunts on the “worst” (best?) days. And, wind can be challenging to capture in any meaningful way – at least for me – with a still photo. The one I truly regret not having would have been taken by a partner – Mike Fishman (co-builder of the JAMES CAIRD) on this adventure. We had hunted the morning in a strong northwest wind. Your "20 to 30 with gusts to 45" was probably a fair description. The Mercury was well below freezing – but the open bay had not yet frozen. Any spray that fell on the boat – my 2-man sneakbox – froze instantly. I was at the helm and Mike tucked himself up under the dodger. The wind was on the port beam. It probably took us 20 or 30 minutes to get back to the mainland. I had moved little – mostly just my right arm on the tiller.

We call the result the “Full Nansen” (from the Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen). Coated entirely with a sheet of salt ice – I think “rime” is the correct term – I presented a sight to remember. As the coating discouraged any sort of movement, my loyal partner could not help but utter the immortal words of the badly-rusted Tin Man – in The Wizard of Oz: “Oil can!”

Those two words now bring back the entire hunt. I count myself very fortunate to have these memories - made possible only by a willingness to embrace the natural world - to give it a go.

BTW: As you can see from my other post today – severe cold can keep me car-bound. And, when I hear strong winds here on the farm I now think: no time to be in the woods…. (I never had to worry about falling trees or branches out on the bay.)

All the best,

SJS

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

I found some birds and I have some weather coming in, maybe snow but for sure wind (but not crazy cold). The wind is predicted to be at 25 with gusts to 40 for 12 hours. I have a number of coves that I can put the boat in to hunt out of the boat or to ditch the boat. The past 20 years I've gotten very wind shy and REALLY don't like leaving the boat on a windy day. Hunting from islands in the Atlantic is pretty unforgiving and where I've lost my tolerance for high wind, this is a much smaller body of water we are talking now.

Gusts to 40 is really hard to keep things behaving, but I do have really heavy anchors with long lines on the decoys, so they should behave. Run is not far, it is more the just keeping everything under control.

Contributing to this is I did lose the boat one day on an island and had to swim for it in single digit temps The day was stormy day with stiff, but not horrific wind, but there was a break in the wind and then the wind came back 90 degrees from where it was as a front moved through. I'll never forget hearing the sound of the anchor and chain clanking down the icy shore and the boat drifted off. . It wasn't going far with double anchors, but it went plenty far not to be able to get to it without swimming.

I mostly hunt tidal creeks, not much real open water. Got caught a few times in heavy weather and had to run the shoreline for safety, was a wrong decision. Open water, bigger boat. Wear you life preserver when under way, the life you save may be your own!!!

 

[tod osier]

This morning was the definition of horrible. I found a little walk-in spot to set up that was holding some birds, but there was no cover at all to block the wind. It was so windy that I took my gun out of the case and had to stand on the case to keep it from blowing away - when birds worked and I wanted to take off my mittens they had to be tucked under me so they wouldn't blow away. I jumped up to shoot some very pretty late season gadwall and my hat blew off. At least it wasn't all that cold being just below freezing.

Tomorrow is cold and maybe still too windy for the boat. Monday looks a whole lot better, but there is a chance the birds will blow out any day with the big moon.