Boat hunting...

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Boat hunting...

Postby DukMan » Mon Jun 08, 2015 8:38 am

Hey guys... Long time reader first time poster!

I've been a field and marsh guy most of my hunting career but d/t a recent move and limited property to hunt I picked up a boat for open water hunting. It's a 18' starcraft with a 90hp outboard and side counsel, gutted with decoy shelves and open floor and custom aluminum spray shield/blind. I'll post a pic as soon as I can.

My question is what kind of success can I plan on having hunting directly out of the 18' starcraft. I don't know if I need to or want to invest in a layout boat simply because I'll be hunting usually with only one other person. My hunting will be taking place on the bay of Green Bay, Lake Winnebago, and pool 9 in the Mississippi.
2018 Totals
4 Canadian Geese
7 Blue Wing Teal
2 Green Wing Teal
1 Gadwall
1 Black Duck
1 Canvasback
6 Bufflehead
12 Mallards ( 10 drakes + 2 hens)
10 Wood Ducks

Mergansers
1 Hooded ( 1 Drake)
1 Common ( 1 Hen)
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Olly » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:25 am

Lots of hunters have lots of success hunting from a boat. Best piece of advice I can give you is don't under estimate camouflage. Grass the hell out of that thing and when you're done grass it some more.
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” ― Samuel Adams
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby DukMan » Mon Jun 08, 2015 11:34 am

Here's some pic's of the rig... Would you still brush the hell out of it?
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2018 Totals
4 Canadian Geese
7 Blue Wing Teal
2 Green Wing Teal
1 Gadwall
1 Black Duck
1 Canvasback
6 Bufflehead
12 Mallards ( 10 drakes + 2 hens)
10 Wood Ducks

Mergansers
1 Hooded ( 1 Drake)
1 Common ( 1 Hen)
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DukMan
 
Posts: 229
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Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Olly » Mon Jun 08, 2015 1:25 pm

Oh forget everything I said. I didn't see this was in the diver section. You should be just fine in that!
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” ― Samuel Adams
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby The Duck Hammer » Mon Jun 08, 2015 11:27 pm

Is that flints boat?
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby DeadEye_Dan » Tue Jun 09, 2015 5:46 am

You can kill out of that just the way it is
Cover your ears, Darlin'
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Olly » Tue Jun 09, 2015 7:00 am

The Duck Hammer wrote:Is that flints boat?

No. His was much smaller.
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” ― Samuel Adams
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Darren » Tue Jun 09, 2015 7:06 am

Nice rig, just make sure all your safety equipment is up to snuff.......lifejackets, a throwable ring or cushion, etc. Hunting out in the deep water makes for new dangers, good luck!
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby DukMan » Tue Jun 09, 2015 5:25 pm

Yeah... I'm paranoid about safety so we are definitely up to snuff in that department. Plus in WI law requires most of your safety equipment for this large of a boat... fire extinguisher, one throwable preserver, and one for each occupant, flares, orange smoke signal and whistle/horn... I've also purchased a PLB, strobe, and portable weather radio... you can't be too cautious on the big water...
2018 Totals
4 Canadian Geese
7 Blue Wing Teal
2 Green Wing Teal
1 Gadwall
1 Black Duck
1 Canvasback
6 Bufflehead
12 Mallards ( 10 drakes + 2 hens)
10 Wood Ducks

Mergansers
1 Hooded ( 1 Drake)
1 Common ( 1 Hen)
User avatar
DukMan
 
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:02 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Darren » Wed Jun 10, 2015 12:50 pm

DukMan wrote:Yeah... I'm paranoid about safety so we are definitely up to snuff in that department. Plus in WI law requires most of your safety equipment for this large of a boat... fire extinguisher, one throwable preserver, and one for each occupant, flares, orange smoke signal and whistle/horn... I've also purchased a PLB, strobe, and portable weather radio... you can't be too cautious on the big water...


Sounds like you're in the game! I could use a couple more items myself for some of our bigger water routes to the marsh holes
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby DukMan » Fri Jun 12, 2015 5:00 pm

So I'm up in the air right now about what I'm going to use on my boat for a kicker... do I put my 7.5hp Chrysler on the back which has never let me down and one pull starts like a champ.... or spring for a 101lb thrust engine mount minn kota 36v system... this would also allow me to pick up ducks quietly without starting up the main motor...

Thoughts?
2018 Totals
4 Canadian Geese
7 Blue Wing Teal
2 Green Wing Teal
1 Gadwall
1 Black Duck
1 Canvasback
6 Bufflehead
12 Mallards ( 10 drakes + 2 hens)
10 Wood Ducks

Mergansers
1 Hooded ( 1 Drake)
1 Common ( 1 Hen)
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DukMan
 
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:02 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Bad17 » Fri Jun 12, 2015 5:04 pm

Stay with old faithful
If it flies it dies. If it lands... It dies too.
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Woody » Thu Jun 18, 2015 6:52 pm

Bad17 wrote:Stay with old faithful


X2
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby DukMan » Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:30 pm

So long story short I had trouble mounting the 7.5 hp motor I had due the configuration of the blind and current outboard. I decided to go with a 80lb thrust 24v EM Minn Kota. I will post some pictures and updates on how is works shortly.
2018 Totals
4 Canadian Geese
7 Blue Wing Teal
2 Green Wing Teal
1 Gadwall
1 Black Duck
1 Canvasback
6 Bufflehead
12 Mallards ( 10 drakes + 2 hens)
10 Wood Ducks

Mergansers
1 Hooded ( 1 Drake)
1 Common ( 1 Hen)
User avatar
DukMan
 
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:02 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Boat hunting...

Postby DukMan » Wed Sep 09, 2015 2:10 pm

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1441825707.159673.jpg


Mounted the motor and took it out... Got about 4mph out of it with about a 1.5' chop in the bay... I didn't think that was too bad.
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2018 Totals
4 Canadian Geese
7 Blue Wing Teal
2 Green Wing Teal
1 Gadwall
1 Black Duck
1 Canvasback
6 Bufflehead
12 Mallards ( 10 drakes + 2 hens)
10 Wood Ducks

Mergansers
1 Hooded ( 1 Drake)
1 Common ( 1 Hen)
User avatar
DukMan
 
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:02 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Boat hunting...

Postby Throbbin Rods » Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:07 am

I would still have supplemental camo available. Those colors wouldn't work well here where all the cattails are still bright green. Match surroundings with camo. I carry 4 lengths of painted conduit with me, sometimes the cover isn't tall enough so I push the conduit into the bottom, spread a piece of leaf o flage over it and fill it with the local growth. Then I pull the boat right under the leaf o flage, which has a slit in the top to shoot out of.
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Re: Boat hunting...

Postby DukMan » Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:10 am

I have two military surplus camo nets... 8' x 20' brown/green. I drape them over the edge of the boat then clip on some Avery realgrass, which I zip tied in clumps to clothes pins for easy set up and removal. I match the realgrass to the surrounding environment. I will post a picture of it all camo'd out in a week or so, to give you an idea of where I'm at.
2018 Totals
4 Canadian Geese
7 Blue Wing Teal
2 Green Wing Teal
1 Gadwall
1 Black Duck
1 Canvasback
6 Bufflehead
12 Mallards ( 10 drakes + 2 hens)
10 Wood Ducks

Mergansers
1 Hooded ( 1 Drake)
1 Common ( 1 Hen)
User avatar
DukMan
 
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:02 am
Location: SE Wisconsin


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