PNW waterfowl from a boat.

[wcasey755]

So I am in the process of buying a tracker grizzly 16’ with a beavertail blind. I’m just wondering what you guys hunting the Columbia are doing? Are you anchoring in deep water and then using a dog or kayak to retrieve? Or still hunting from the bank? Are you avoiding using a boat on outgoing tides? I’ve only hunted from a kayak and I’m excited to have more options for locations, but worried about the tide land locking my boat. Just wondering what you guys are doing for hunting from a boat on the Columbia.

 

[Bachto]

I hunt WAY up the Columbia from you since you mentioned tide but the dams can fluctuate the water level a couple feet. Me and my buddies use boats to get to spots either before the walk-in guys or spots that are only accessible by boat. We will then put the boat in about a foot or so of water in the reeds/cattails but it will be anchored. Depending on the area and if we have a dog we will plan accordingly on how to retrieve ducks. Sometimes we won't even use a boat blind and just use it as transportation to an island or an area land locked by private land. I personally don't like hunting in deeper water, I want to be able to retrieve ducks myself if needed, a kayak would fix that issue. Then you have the issue of hauling a kayak in a 16 foot boat. I would try it a couple different ways until you find what you like.

 

[wcasey755]

I hunt WAY up the Columbia from you since you mentioned tide but the dams can fluctuate the water level a couple feet. Me and my buddies use boats to get to spots either before the walk-in guys or spots that are only accessible by boat. We will then put the boat in about a foot or so of water in the reeds/cattails but it will be anchored. Depending on the area and if we have a dog we will plan accordingly on how to retrieve ducks. Sometimes we won't even use a boat blind and just use it as transportation to an island or an area land locked by private land. I personally don't like hunting in deeper water, I want to be able to retrieve ducks myself if needed, a kayak would fix that issue. Then you have the issue of hauling a kayak in a 16 foot boat. I would try it a couple different ways until you find what

That makes sense. I think I’m just terrified of getting my new boat landlocked and being stranded. I appreciate the info!

 

[ORwaterfowler]

Depending on how low on the river there can be 9ft tide swings, both low and high tides can be good it's all spot-dependent, what does that water level give the birds access to? A deeper-sided boat would be my preference if spending time on the lower river, we run a 20ft boat with 34" sides, 88" beam for reference. We hunted in a 15ft Alaskan for a long time, can be done safely but need to really watch the weather and be ready to call it a short day when needed to make a quick run for the ramp.

Big water and weather can turn fast, lots of old pilings and logs barely out of the water. 95% of our hunting is from the boat, dog or boat for retrieving birds. Get a good tide app and charts like Navionics, go in the daylight in good weather through a full tide cycle both low and high, what has water at what tide/where can you go. Don't walk too far from your boat if hunting from shore, getting back across a now flooded island not knowing where the drop offs are isn't fun. lots of guys tow a marsh rat for bird and boat retrieval/substitute for a dog. The further upriver you go the less tide influence for water level changes until you get above the dams as mentioned.

 

[Macintosh]

I dont know that area, but just for reference a small kayak fits pretty easy in my 16’ boat, Ive been using it to cut the 1.5 hour pre-dawn kayak trip into a 15 minute boat ride, then hunt from shore or from the kayak.
10’ kayak in a 16’ boat. Still room for 2 guys, couple dozen decoys, guns, dog if you have one, etc. A similar 12’ would fit as well.

 

[Spindrift]

Man, I grew up hunting on the Columbia and wouldn’t be running anything smaller than 18’. 20 with deep gunnels as mentioned above is preferable. That river doesn’t mess around.


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