Kayak hunting.

[duckcommander727]

So, I don't own a boat and I'm In Illinois with uncle sam. I bought a kayak, gave it a little camo paint job. I'm wondering if anyone knows how to do a diy stabilizer, and a blind. I'm going to make a pole to a anchor myself in for easy access. I think ring king uses kayaks a lot, any ideas would be great.

[SouthernWake]

Don't know a ton about hunting from a kayak but I have spent a lot of time fishing from one.
I feel like a constructed stabilizer will get in the way, you should have enough stability to shoot from a seated position. Depending on your balance you should be able to pole standing up although it may take some time to get used to.
When it comes to an anchor, buy 2 small pulleys and put one at the very front and one at the back. Then run a line in a loop between them. You can tie your anchor off to a point on this loop then slide it from front to back to align yourself at the best angle regardless of the current.

[surfcock]

Just from the looks of it that doesn't look like a kayak to try and stand in, but you can kill some ducks sitting down for sure! Kayaks are deadly!

[surfcock]

Oh, my advice is to take her out and try and shoot from her. Mimic a few passing shots and a dead on coming at you bird before you take her hunting.

[BigBrother]

Practice your broadside shots while it's warm still.

Have someone film for a chuckle later.

Use it to get to where you are going, and retrieving, then stand.

[duckiller]

Most areas I hunt I just tuck back into the brush and it holds me there just fine. Never found a need to try and make it more stable. As for a blind I made a ghillie for mine and it works great!

[Gone South]

That looks good, is that made with that avery brush kit?

[duckcommander727]

That looks good, is that made with that avery brush kit?

This

[surfcock]

BTW you can kill ducks from an orange sit on top if you drape burlap over it and brush yourself in. Don't over think it, but seriously be careful shooting from one.

[sut]

My buddy made stabilizers from flag pole holders crab pot bouys and aluminum tube.

[Ring King]

I have never needed the stabilizer on any of my small craft. Although, many that have hunted with me from pirogues will tell you my balance is far better than most folks. You'll be surprised once you get a few seasons of use under your belt. When hunting you will rarely be sitting in wide open water. That's the only real time that you need to be careful with your broadside shots. The majority of the time you'll be pulled up on a bank or pushes up into some grass or cattails. It takes very little vegetation to make even the tippiest kayak stable. The only time I really find myself shooting while in open water is when jump shooting or chasing cripples. In either case you're usually situated where the bow is pointed in the direction of your quarry when shooting.

[billbuster84]

Practice your broadside shots while it's warm still.

.

This!!! And do it in shallow water. Mine has a catamaran type hull, so stability isn't an issue. But, it's definitely a different ball game shooting from a half laying, half sitting position.

[803]

I made a stabilizer from two boat bumpers and tied rope in between . When I stop paddling and want to move around , I through out the bumpers and paddle on top of them. When I finish I just take them off and put in the back of the kayak. I can then stand up easily. Since I got rid of my duck boat, it will be my only choice for duck hunting he everglades and Lake O this year.

[duckiller]

I used military tank netting as the base. Closed the ends together to form to the shape of the kayak. This keeps it in place but is still easy to remove. Took killer weed and attached it to the netting and was done. Has worked great for me

[Cutm jack]

I'm working on something too but I want it easily removed but still able to hide in somewhat open water. Does anyone make skirts for kayaks that you can brush yourselves?

[Ring King]

There are so many different length and shaped kayaks that you're really better off making your own or having one made. Any canvas shop or awning shop can make you one from cordura that is custom fit. Then you simply have them see on brushing straps like you see on layout blinds.

[M.R.Ducks]

Lots of good advice in this thread. I'm going to be doing some kayak hunting for the first time this year. Just to clarify from someone that knows what they're doing what is the law as far as lighting for your kayak between "dark" hours. I've read it has to be a 360 degree light and I've read that you can have a directional light. For safety purposes I plan on having a 360 degree light so everyone can see me but was curious what the actual law states.

[SpitinImage]

Tie a string to your gun and don't carry anything you want to keep dry. I can first hand tell ya why I suggest the string tied to the gun.... There's still an 870 sittin somehwere on the Edisto bottom from one of my trips many moons ago. I've kayaked my whole life, yet that one trip I flipped that SOB and got a shocking suprise of wet ass. Prepare for it expecting you could flip.

[HartClemson99]

I tried Kayaking this summer for the first time at farm pond in GA. It cost me an Iphone 4.

[Ring King]

You have to carry a light source with you but it does not have to be illuminated to be legal. An all around white light is your best bet but even then you need to be careful of power boats.