Kayak vs canoe
Whitetail Deer
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Looking at boats, was initially leaning toward kayak but now thinking canoe would be better to get in to a couple spots land locked by water. Not sure how well a kayak would handle me plus stand bow and deer. Anybody using either?
Several years ago I bought a one-man canoe for specific hunting area. Wanted a light weight one with sufficient carrying capacity. Chose the Guide 119 model. Works great.
I have 3 sit on top kayaks and a 17' canoe. Kayaks are easy to load in the truck and paddle fast but your gear won't be as protected as it would in a canoe, and it would be tough to fit a deer in it. I agree, a solo canoe would probably be the way to go. Easy to load, paddle, and can fit more gear.
Had considered that too. Shows capacity at 450. Me 200 plus bow stand and deer would get pretty close. Have you floated with all your gear? Not looking to get in any rivers, just creeks, couple ponds and lakes to cross. Plus wanted to be able to load in back of truck
Canoe. Toss it on top of the truck and ratchet strap it. Quick and more secure in case of a hard stop or swerve.
Later this afternoon, I'll post a few pics loaded with gear, stand, and a young doe.
A big buck, with climbing stand would max out the canoe. Slow and steady. Sure beats dragging a deer out.
What if you have a tendency to roll out of canoes?:)
Will you be deboning the deer or hauling it out whole? What kinds of water sports will you be doing the rest of the year? If you have a family and will be canoeing the rest of the year, I would get a 2-person canoe and sit backwards on the front seat (put a rock - or deer - at the 'rear' end).
take a look at native water craft, look at the hybrid models. excellent, stable and can hold plenty of weight
Use will be primarily hunting, scouting. As far as whole deer or boning, depends on area, some places won't let you debone in field because they make you weight in at check points. I have no problem with either, just want to be capable of both. Minimal fishing but I do have a 3 yr that I might take at some point. I think I could handle 50-60 craft. May option to add trolling motor or gas would be great but not deal breaker. A buddy of mine had a old town 2 man, while it is stable, it's big for one man unless you have a easy place for acces
solo pack canoes are a wonderful boat to have.
RySol's Link
as Trial153 said, look into Hybrids. They are more stable than a canoe, yet have more space than a kayak. I think this model would be perfect: (see link above).
It has a 600# capacity, room for gear and a deer. i use the slightly smaller 12' for ducks and it's the ticket.
I have a Wenonah Heron. 15' and 50 lbs. Hull material is Tuffweave. It's very stable and easy to load and unload by yourself. I picked it up off Craigslist for $350 with 5 paddles and cane seat backs.
kellyharris's Link
A kayak is much more stable than a canoe (that's why most people kayak vs. canoe in whitewater) With that being said for gear and animals storage is your main concern plus trying to keep balance. It would be easier to balance your canoe with off centered weight because you sit higher in the canoe. I slight lean in your part will help you stay stable and not tip.
There are many 1 person canoes and the smaller the better for you to load and unload. Also they sell air bags to help with flotation if you were to get a lot of water in your canoe.
Depending on your budget there are some nice canoes out there.
I would search for a used on myself, I have purchased 2 whitewater kayaks 1 a play-boat and the other a creek-boat that retailed for 1300-1600 each and I don't have over 700 in both of them.
The other thing for transporting to make easy is you could buy what we use to call a (Duckie) basically an inflatable kayak made of non-destructible nylon. They sell them now that are a decent price.
There are many Tough/durable models on amazon that would work very well with what your needs are and will make for a much more quieter approach and be very stable as well.
good luck on this and please let us know what you bought.
I have a Hobie Pro Angler kayak that you peddle with your feet. Both arms are free for fishing. It's nearly impossible to capsize. It's built for standing up and fishing. You will likely fall over-board before rolling it over! I've tried to roll it and nearly impossible unless there are giant waves. It's used a lot for ocean fishing. I've used mine on the Great Lakes fishing.
It has a large cargo area on the front and there is gobs of room on the back where you could likely haul out boned elk sized game plus camp! They aren't cheap but you may be able to find one on Craigslist. I love mine!
Randy, you get back in. 3 times.
lol
I have both a kayak and a canoe. The kayak is an Old Town Loon 120, and the canoe is an OT Pack canoe. I hunt out of the canoe, fish ponds with the kayak.
I was originally looking at a ocean big game kayak. Has a 600 lb weight limit. Storage for stand and bow would be fine, not sure on deer unless quartered up. I'm liking that canoe Russell. Were you pretty steady loaded like that?
I bought the canoe from Dick's several years ago. Wasn't sure how well is going to work out for hunting. It took some getting used to training with fishing and just paddling around. I flipped it over at least twice in the summer learning. The canoe only weighs I believe about 34 lb and I have to Portage about 300 yd to get to the water.
Now I'm very comfortable in it and use it fishing quite a bit in the spring and out paddling around on the river and I'm very comfortable and stable with it.
If you decide to go the canoe route I would strongly suggest getting a pontoon to make it more stable. I've swamped twice over the years....icy water in the fall/winter can be a bit spooky! If you have the $ go with a hobie pro angler! I have no problem in big waves and can beat a canoe across a lake by around 5x!
You guys are.... "hard core hunters" :)
A fond memory of an evening hunt a couple years ago. 3/4 mile paddle to a hunting spot. 1/2 mile hike to my hunting spot. Saw deer, but no shots.
At dusk, hiked back to the canoe, water was like glass with a full moon rising. Place looked awesome. Soo quiet. Pulled a cold beer out and enjoyed the evening just floating.
Or you could build your own.
Man that's looks way to nice to tear up. Anyone have any experience with a native pro slayer 12? Found a good deal on craigslist
Over here, the bushmen (hunters, trappers, etc.) use canoes and the tourists use Kayaks.
To my way of thinking you can't go wrong with a canoe, but then I started paddling canoes 52 years ago and I don't know much about kayaks.
Try standing up in a canoe....trouble! Try crossing a giant body of water in a canoe with tall waves....trouble! Try paddling against a strong wind....trouble! Take a look at a Hobie Pro Angler that is built for fishing on giant bodies of water like the ocean! The Pro Angler is built for standing up to fish. I've tried standing up in it and rocking back and forth....can't get it to roll even in waves! The hobie mirage drive that propels the kayak is pretty amazing. There is also gobs of room in the front and back for moose sized game! You use your legs rather than paddle so your arms are free for fishing or what ever. Kayaks have come a long ways since the good ole days!
I have a 17ft Grumman that I purchased at a discount 30+ years ago. The hauler was delivering a trailer load and forgot about a low bridge. Wrecked about 10 of them. Mine was one that wasn't in too bad of shape. Pounded out the dents, twisted a rib back in shape, few rivots replaced, almost as good as new. Since I travel alone a lot I sit in the front seat and spin around. Load other end with 80-100 lbs of rocks, my pack stand etc. for ballast and off I go. The extra weight makes it much more stable in waves, wind and current. Plenty of outrigger kits out there too, or you can make your own.
Put some indoor outdoor carpeting on the floor, pipe wrap on the gunnels and cross beams to quiet it down. Carpet works good for changing into hunting boots from waders (yeah the good areas, you get stuck getting there). Pack a push pole as well as extra paddle. About 15 years ago paddled to an island, shot a deer about 80yds from the canoe. It spun around headed towards the water, ran right past the canoe. Drug it 10 yards or so and dropped it off into the canoe. Padded out ( ~ 1 mile ) on a small river just fine. Works very well on small lakes too. Really helps a guy get to those less hunted areas. I strongly encourage a canoe over a kayak, not enough room if you are successful.
Forgot to mention you need to tie off, anchor that canoe once you get to where you are going. Followed a beaver run further up the dry swamp once. Didn't tie the or anchored the canoe. About 2 hours later guess who pushed it back into the lake?? Could see it from the stand, what the??? A quick run across a tamarack swamp to point it was drifting by and recovered the canoe. Good thing I brought extra clothes in the dray sack that time. Also use a bright orange reflective vest, hang in a tree so I can find the rig on shore after dark while dragging one out. Reflectors on canoe too.
I would invest in a dry bag depending what part of the country you hunt in?
Pack wool clothing and dry clothes hypothermia sets in quick if you get wet