How to Hunt From a Kayak

Leave the Labrador retrievers at home and use a kayak to hunt for and retrieve ducks and water fowl. Kayaks glide through wetlands and shallow waters and are stealthy. This makes them an attractive choice for duck hunting as the hunter silently glides into the tall water grasses, sets a sea anchor and drifts until the quarry comes along. Duck hunting is typically done with a shotgun, which can give quite a kick, so be sure to practice firing the shotgun from the water craft prior to heading out for the hunt. While it is possible to use a kayak to get into areas with other species, the kayak is best used to hunt for water fowl.

Things You'll Need

  • Retrieval net
  • Short-style PFD
  • Dry bags, including a long rifle dry bag
  • Sea anchor/water sock
  • 40 feet of 5-mm nylon cord
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pack all of your ammo and sensitive hunting equipment into dry bags that have metal circle clips that attach to the kayak deck bungees. Keep extra ammo in a small dry bag that you can place between your legs inside the kayak.

    • 2

      Put on the PFD and head out onto a flat section of the lake where it is safe to fire the weapon. Practice firing the shotgun from the kayak and learn how the recoil and kick affect the stability of the kayak. Become comfortable with this. Using the deck bungee cords, place the retrieval net along the side of the kayak.

    • 3

      Wrap the shotgun into the rifle dry bag. Slide it between your legs in the kayak for transport to the hunting waters.

    • 4

      Paddle the kayak to your duck hunting area. When in the tall grasses, tie the 5-mm nylon rope to the sea anchor's attachment circle. The sea anchor is a large bag that fills with water when deployed, allowing the kayak to be near static in position, yet still provides a small amount of drift.

    • 5

      Tie the other end of the nylon cord to the rear kayak deck bungee. Remove the shotgun from the dry bag and store it between your legs with the barrel facing down into the kayak.

    • 6

      Slide your paddle into the front deck bungee so the paddle rests perpendicular to the kayak. Keep the paddle blades flat in relation to the water surface. This allows the paddles to act as sponsons during the shooting process.

    • 7

      Shoot your quarry when it flies overhead. Paddle to the area where it landed to retrieve it. Use the net to scoop it out of the water. Place the quarry into the rear storage compartment.