A couple tips. 1) try to find narrow winding rivers and creeks; 2) Use a short wooden paddle, painted camo primarily and learn to paddle on one side of the canoe without changing sides. 3) Only use a kayak paddle to paddle open straight stretches. 4) Always have two paddles 5) Wear one of those CO2 life vests
Will try the single paddle, unfortunately limited access to smaller streams here. Floated a small tidal creek in NC last year and it was a much easier float, more birds and can get much closer using the bends. It's tough in the mountains, not many birds and long sections of river make it hard
Beautiful hunt bro. If I can make any recommendation, I would advise against wearing waders on the yak. If you take a spill in water deeper than you can stand up , you’re done.
Waders are safe as long as you have a good tight wading belt and a PFD. I'm well aware of the risks of getting wet in cold temps and know this portion of the river extremely well. Most spots are 2-5ft deep.
Nice! What helps me in the kayak while hunting is only taking half the paddle. Use it like a regular wooden paddle and it's way more quiet and less conspicuous 👍
I just stumbled upon your videos. I hunt the way you do but don’t use kayak which they didn’t make many of those years ago. I built a 11 1/2” scull boat out of plywood and fiberglass. This is best boat for river run as I lay on my back with oar through a hole in stern as rudder and rowing. Kayak is versatile boat but the problem is high profile with body exposure. As for hugging close to shore prior the bend, kayak paddle is the little problem while the scull oar can put the boat close to the shore without touching it. All in all, you hunting method sound just about right. It is really fun and enjoyable hunt.
This river flows too strongly for anything but a kayak paddle. I have to be able to react quickly through some rapids to be confident and safe. Always learning each time I go out, happy with just getting to throw the gun up on a float lol
@@lawsonhuntsSWVA oh, scull boat has no problem going through rapids. All you have to is pull up the oar, sit up and use kayak paddle to steer through. After you past that. Lay back and use one hand on scull oar and the other on the grip of the gun, always preps for last minute action. The scull boat, without the presence of man’s body except for the head, to the ducks, looks like a log floating harmlessly down the river. Adding branches on the bow help too.
This year is my first kayak waterfowl hunting in Virginia. I have hunted waterfowl in fields and ponds and got addicted many years ago. i think I'm really enjoy this style of hunting.
A dry pair.... But in seriousness when you are getting your hands wet and it's this cold out I bring 2 pair, and a few of the "hot hands" pouches. Hands are gonna be cold. But tend to stay warm with wool if you at least paddling some. Keeps the blood moving. Good luck and warm hands!
First I’d like to say good shooting on the first duck , I myself have a different channel and I only fish and hunt on that channel. why did you not ring the ducks neck when you first got them? I don’t think that is right that you left the duck alive while you were going down the river like you should always take care of the duck and put it out of its misery. That’s the only thing I didn’t like . I show my duck to the camera but not with them looking away and kicking .
As long as you are wearing a good belt and a PFD you will be ok. Wet but ok, if you go in lay back and kick your feet up air gets trapped in them and with a PFD you can float easily. It would be a cold float but you won't sink like a rock.
A couple tips. 1) try to find narrow winding rivers and creeks; 2) Use a short wooden paddle, painted camo primarily and learn to paddle on one side of the canoe without changing sides. 3) Only use a kayak paddle to paddle open straight stretches. 4) Always have two paddles 5) Wear one of those CO2 life vests
Will try the single paddle, unfortunately limited access to smaller streams here. Floated a small tidal creek in NC last year and it was a much easier float, more birds and can get much closer using the bends. It's tough in the mountains, not many birds and long sections of river make it hard
Beautiful hunt bro. If I can make any recommendation, I would advise against wearing waders on the yak. If you take a spill in water deeper than you can stand up , you’re done.
Waders are safe as long as you have a good tight wading belt and a PFD. I'm well aware of the risks of getting wet in cold temps and know this portion of the river extremely well. Most spots are 2-5ft deep.
Nice! What helps me in the kayak while hunting is only taking half the paddle. Use it like a regular wooden paddle and it's way more quiet and less conspicuous 👍
hmm I'm going to try this.
I bought an old town 119 so I'm going to try that with a more natural colored paddle. Should help glide into birds with less input compared to a kayak
I just stumbled upon your videos. I hunt the way you do but don’t use kayak which they didn’t make many of those years ago. I built a 11 1/2” scull boat out of plywood and fiberglass. This is best boat for river run as I lay on my back with oar through a hole in stern as rudder and rowing. Kayak is versatile boat but the problem is high profile with body exposure. As for hugging close to shore prior the bend, kayak paddle is the little problem while the scull oar can put the boat close to the shore without touching it. All in all, you hunting method sound just about right. It is really fun and enjoyable hunt.
This river flows too strongly for anything but a kayak paddle. I have to be able to react quickly through some rapids to be confident and safe. Always learning each time I go out, happy with just getting to throw the gun up on a float lol
@@lawsonhuntsSWVA oh, scull boat has no problem going through rapids. All you have to is pull up the oar, sit up and use kayak paddle to steer through. After you past that. Lay back and use one hand on scull oar and the other on the grip of the gun, always preps for last minute action. The scull boat, without the presence of man’s body except for the head, to the ducks, looks like a log floating harmlessly down the river. Adding branches on the bow help too.
This year is my first kayak waterfowl hunting in Virginia. I have hunted waterfowl in fields and ponds and got addicted many years ago. i think I'm really enjoy this style of hunting.
It's not the beat way but is certainly a lot of fun
Hunting from a kayak is so much fun but its not as easy as it looks. Good job.
Way harder than I expected it to be, almost impossible to get in range when the river is decent size and has minimal bends.
Great video
Thanks, ready to start floating again soon for geese. Should have some videos up in Sept. doing that
That looked pretty far good shot!
Was such a lucky natural point of aim shot, could never hit that again lol
Nice video and thanks for picking up your empty hulls!! What state if you don't mind answering?
VA
@@lawsonhuntsSWVA Cool, I was thinking either SW VA or WV. River looks similar to where I live.
What gloves do you recommend?
A dry pair....
But in seriousness when you are getting your hands wet and it's this cold out I bring 2 pair, and a few of the "hot hands" pouches. Hands are gonna be cold. But tend to stay warm with wool if you at least paddling some. Keeps the blood moving. Good luck and warm hands!
What river is this looks familiar
Not going to burn my spot on the interwebs lol
what shotgun are you using?
Stoeger m3500
First I’d like to say good shooting on the first duck , I myself have a different channel and I only fish and hunt on that channel. why did you not ring the ducks neck when you first got them? I don’t think that is right that you left the duck alive while you were going down the river like you should always take care of the duck and put it out of its misery.
That’s the only thing I didn’t like .
I show my duck to the camera but not with them looking away and kicking .
🙋💖🇵🇭
I'm 99 percent sure that was a black du k
Don't wear ur waders in kayak, canoe or boat
Safety safety
As long as you are wearing a good belt and a PFD you will be ok. Wet but ok, if you go in lay back and kick your feet up air gets trapped in them and with a PFD you can float easily. It would be a cold float but you won't sink like a rock.
Not a fan of this style of hunting… you’re pretty much ass shooting everything… too many crippled duck can get away with
It works for me and I have never lost a bird while floating. Pick the shots you can hit and it's fine.