Wes Littlefield 11.19.24
As I glided throughout the water, I appeared invisible to them. The deer seemed up at me and casually put their heads again right down to browse. Shocked by their lack of response, I continued to paddle, beached my kayak, and started unloading my gear for the stalk. My introduction to kayaks was at a younger age. We all the time had a kayak or canoe for fishing and searching. So, because of my dad, I used to be already forward of the curve when the kayak searching craze hit the searching and fishing communities in the course of the pandemic. Now that the preliminary rush has settled, hunters have to be reminded of why searching from a kayak is value it. So, I compiled an inventory of 5 causes to hunt out of a kayak this season.
1. Kayak Searching can attain Locations different Modes of Transportation Can’t
There are many unreachable public searching lands as a result of they’re bordered by water and personal land. Utilizing a ship, resembling a kayak, is a straightforward method to attain these areas. Whereas a ship is nice, a kayak can get additional again into the shallow creeks, permitting you to hunt deer that others can’t attain with out far more effort.
A kayak can be extremely helpful should you hunt non-public land (with a creek or different physique of water) as a result of you should utilize it to scale back the quantity of your scent tracked by means of the woods and arrange in locations you couldn’t in any other case with out bumping deer.
The advantages of searching areas that lack strain are value investing in a kayak alone, so I may finish the article right here, however I consider the opposite 4 causes are important, too.
2. Kayak Searching is extra Stealthy
A ship motor is obnoxiously loud, alerting each animal for miles round that you simply (the predator) are close by. At one time, I believed working a mud motor on my kayak was a good suggestion, however I now not do, so I may be extra stealthy.
I nonetheless use a trolling or electrical motor designed for my kayaks, however they’re nearly silent, particularly in comparison with the gas-powered outboard motor on my boat.
It’s additionally simpler to mix in whereas duck searching from a kayak. There are kayak blinds you should buy, or you’ll be able to construct your individual to vanish. You don’t have to fret about hiding an enormous boat as a result of brushing in a kayak is far much less difficult.
Attending to your spot by way of a kayak additionally means you unfold much less of your scent by means of the woods and scare fewer animals. Spreading your scent is unavoidable, however a kayak is much less smelly than a gas-powered boat, and the water helps dilute your scent.
This elevated stealth means the animals aren’t on excessive alert as I method, giving me a bonus. I’m in search of each edge I can get, and searching from a kayak offers me many benefits.
3. Kayak Searching is extra Versatile
I’ve briefly touched on how versatile a kayak may be, however let’s buckle down on this level. A kayak can be utilized to hunt almost any recreation animal.
It is likely to be so simple as utilizing a kayak to cross the creek whereas turkey or hog searching. I had a number of hunts when the water was too deep to wade throughout, and I refused to swim within the chilly water. Not having a kayak on these hunts positively price me.
As I’ve already talked about, kayaks are sometimes used to succeed in spots. It’s so simple as loading your gear into the yak and paddling throughout the physique of water near your stand or blind.
You can too hunt from the kayak. That is primarily for waterfowl hunters (but when your state permits it, deer hunters can even attempt it); it takes a while to get used to it and iron out the way you need the kayak rigged. Nevertheless, it’s one among my favourite methods to duck hunt as a result of it opens up extra locations to arrange the unfold.
Bear in mind, a kayak is one other instrument so as to add to your searching equipment to extend your probabilities of a profitable hunt, so don’t be restricted by the concepts I’ve mentioned (they’re merely strategies).
4. Kayak Searching Makes you extra Adventurous
I’ve a way more adventurous facet than my spouse. She prefers the comforts of spending time inside, whereas I’m extra apt to courageous the weather, which is sensible why I really like searching from a kayak.
You’re extra uncovered to the weather, nearer to the water, and spending extra time in distant places whereas searching from a kayak. So, it’s the one means (that is the way in which) should you’re an journey seeker like me.
Nevertheless, elevated hazard comes hand-in-hand with extra journey. Whereas utilizing a kayak, you’re extra more likely to get moist (a horrible mixture with the chilly), and the wind is far more of an element, particularly on bigger water our bodies. It’s additionally far more work, unloading and loading the yak and paddling to your spot.
I’m not attempting to scare you away from kayak searching, however you need to be conscious of the elevated risks and be ready to face them. At all times put on your life vest and waterproof clothes/gear is finest. You must also regulate the wind and climate and by no means place your self in a dangerous scenario, as no journey is value your life.
5. Kayak Searching Connects us to the Previous
Now, possibly I’m simply being too nostalgic, however utilizing a kayak (even the trendy plastic yaks) connects me to my ancestors. I’ve a Native American background, which makes searching from a kayak a bit extra sentimental.
Even should you don’t have Native American ancestors, many different folks teams used small boats for searching expeditions, and you’ll nonetheless expertise what it was prefer to hunt again within the day.
Searching from a kayak has helped me respect how simple we’ve got it with our fashionable searching conveniences and supplies a extra profound reference to the hunters who got here earlier than me.
I would by no means know all of the challenges and successes they skilled, however I can do my half to make sure the kayak searching heritage continues.
