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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[wcasey755]

I appreciate everyone’s responses! We don’t hunt the main channel and for the most part don’t ever set foot on it. Mostly just run offshoots and sloughs. That river scares me and I know a guide just died this year in a 22’ sled so I don’t plan to be dumb