Canoe for hunting?

[jhg]

Originally posted by pavan:
One thing.  Everyone that I have ever taken on a canoe trip that thought that learning the proper way to paddle a canoe was beneath them,...

Thats a great point. Learning a good J stroke is most important. (its not a "pry" stroke) You will be glad you did. Just turn the thumb of your top hand down toward the water as you pull through your stroke. For stalking/stealth you can amend this stroke and leave the blade in the water on its return forward, thus being super quiet.

Another good one is a draw stroke. Easy to learn and useful.

Joshua

[Ryan Rothhaar]

I have an old aluminum Quachita (12 footer) that I grew up in and have used for fishing, carping, hunting and just floating around.

That said, for the hunting I do by water I find the canoe stays under the porch and I use my 8 ft plastic "bass boat" - you know, the green pontoon like boat with removable swivel seats - and a trolling motor.  The plastic boat (bought for my wife and I to fish out of for $300 at Gander Mt) is much quieter, only a bit heavier, easier to work in the dark (I'll take the trolling motor over the paddle any day) and more versatile for what I do - lake access, strip mine pit access, etc.  You don't have the "romance" of the canoe, tho - (and don't have to worry about your un-canoe savvy buddy rolling you either    )

Definitely no good for white water LOL, but for smooth water, relatively short portages (dragging it) the plastic boat is great.

I've had myself and a buddy in this boat (about 500 lbs of beef) along with a marine trolling motor battery and hunting gear - not much freeboard left - and we'd have to put the life vests on the deer and float it - but it worked out ok.

R

[Fallguy]

Eidsvolling hit the nail on the head. Find a local canoe nut and go paddling with them. They will be able to demonstrate the pros and cons of different hull designs. There are no bad designs all have one place were they excel. Others are more versatile. I have 2 Souris River canoes a Wilderness 18 and a Quetico 17. Both are great canoes. If am taking the wife out we take the 17 because she is not as strong of paddler and this one handles better with no load. If I am paddling with my son we take the 18. We have paddled into 2 to 2 1/2 foot waves in Canada with around 600 lbs in the canoe counting paddlers and gear. We got no more than a quart of water in the canoe. I would not recommend this for first time paddlers. The point is that good hull designs can haul large loads in ruff water. Try as many canoes as you can before buying. Do not be surprised this turns into another search for the perfect canoe similar to the search for the perfect bow.

[Morning Star]

The most versitile canoe I've paddled.........

 http://www.bellcanoe.com/products/default.asp?page=product&id=594&catid=194

[mongoose]

I have an old Tracker River King, but the center support rotted out on one side where it bolts to the side. Anyone know where to buy parts? ThanksGeorge

scbowhunter, you never stated if you will be doing this solo or with a front seat paddler. It is possible to get a canoe all the way from ely, mn.  the dealers up there pay travelers to deliver canoes for them.  however, you need to know what you are buying, first.  I have the first Seliga delivered from Bell, the original seliga design, I think it can do more than the Morning Star, the Morning star can solo nice with a change in the seating. The Souris rivers are tough and stable, but the 17 needs to have a seat added for solo work with a long kayak paddle.  My daughters 18.5' Quetico SR is a super canoe, will haul two people and a moose.  The 16' is good up to about 600 pounds, and makes a good solo and passes pretty well for two modest sized adults and some gear. Redrock outfitters, Ely is great web site to explore.

[BA]

Google Riverhawk.  It might stretch the meaning of canoe but you can do everything out of one.  Check out the B52.  Impossible to turn over and goes anywhere.

[Mitch-In-NJ]

One thing I saw at Cabelas really piqued my interest, but more for bowfishing.

 Link  

If anyone has any experience with this please chime in.

[myshootinstinks]

Looking at Ron LaClair's pics makes me want to try a canoe hunt.  

[Looper]

I bought a used Mad River Duck Hunter last year off Craigslist.  It's based on the Explorer shell, but has dark interior.  It's a great do-it-all type of canoe. It doesn't excel in any one area, but I've found it to be a great compromise.

Where in SC are you?

[OkKeith]

David,

Holy... ? What the heck is that thing? I've never seen anything like that. Looks interesting though.

OkKeith

[Morning Star]

the Morning star can solo nice with a change in the seating.

I put in a kneeling pad and lean back against the rear thwart for a solo ride, but most of my hunts are only around 2 miles round trip.  If I have a load up front, say treestands and such, from the rear seat works great.  
The damn thing always seems to ride best with a deer up front though.  

[Morning Star]

I also use a Wenonah Vagabond for my solo excursions.  It's a smaller canoe, with barely enough capacity for both me and a deer, but it sure is nice getting around in when I want to pack light and go quick.

If you really get to looking at canoes.....you realize you have to make trade offs to get what ya want.  

I think the best advise someone can give is........go somewhere you can paddle a bunch of different models.  Like bows, canoes can be a tricky pick.

[Ron LaClair]

There's just something about an authentic birch bark canoe that puts you in touch with hunters of long ago....especially if your hunting with primitive bows and arrows.    

   

[J-dog]

Did the pirogue thing from uncle mikes and they work great. I did the kit but now I have a table saw and would start from scratch with their plans. They do 10 inch sides but I woul ddo 12 inch. Thinking about 12'/12" sides for the next one. Last one was 14'/10" sides.

They do work great. I have a book on how to build a kevlar coanoe which is a project for next summer - gotta get a 23 foot carolina custom out the shop first!

J

[Fallguy]

Mongoose check this web site they should be able to help you out. I have delt with them. Ted and Vi are great people they well help you out.
  http://www.springcreek.com/a/j/