Kayak or canoe…?

[WTNBowHunter]

Picked up some property that is only accessible by water. Wanted to see what y'all had experience with, or recommend, for accessing a property with a kayak or canoe? Primarily bow hunting and would want to mount a trolling motor to remain quiet since it's not a large area.
Thanks in advance for the replies/ideas!

 

[Hduke86]

Canoe hands down

 

[knightrider]

Wide as i can get flat bottom, im way to clumsy to be putting a 2000 dollar bow and a thousand dollars worth of climbing gear in a canoe or kayak

 

[MickThompson]

Canoe or flat bottom. Kayaks aren't designed to tote a load

 

[Lost Lake]

The most stable canoe that you can get. I've hauled an awful lot of deer out in my Old Town Guide 147.

 

[Ski]

Fiberglass or plastic canoe. They're quiet and will keep you dry. A kayak will get you wet, especially when the wind is making choppy water. Canoe can also haul a deer out.

A small johnboat would be most stable but if aluminum it'll be loud.

 

[swampbadger]

What kind of water? Lake or River? River with rocks or stumps or cypress bottoms? A property only accessible by boat? Island? or Land locked without a right of way?

I've put a buck inside of a sit on top kayak and also an inflated kayak… It's immediately a dicey situation.

I'd much rather use my canoe or jon boat. Troller is quiet but won't take you against the current with any kind confidence. A flat back canoe with a mud motor is awesome and can go places jon boats only dream about.

 

[WTNBowHunter]

What kind of water? Lake or River? River with rocks or stumps or cypress bottoms? A property only accessible by boat? Island? or Land locked without a right of way?

I've put a buck inside of a sit on top kayak and also an inflated kayak… It's immediately a dicey situation.

I'd much rather use my canoe or jon boat. Troller is quiet but won't take you against the current with any kind confidence. A flat back canoe with a mud motor is awesome and can go places jon boats only dream about.

It's a river but not like the MS or TN. ~75 yds from bank to bank. I'm 6'4" 210 plus all my gear so I'd rather have something sturdy for sure!

 

[MickThompson]

It's a river but not like the MS or TN. ~75 yds from bank to bank. I'm 6'4" 210 plus all my gear so I'd rather have something sturdy for sure!

Always have your life jacket on and a change of dry clothes. A lot can go wrong in 75 yards of water in the dark.

How will you launch your boat and get out on the other side?

 

[CATCHDAWG]

A lot of misconceptions about kayaks in this thread. I have both a kayak and a canoe. If I had to choose between the two for hunting, I'd take my kayak. I can move more water much faster in the kayak and it will carry plenty of weight. Tracks way better than a canoe. I can stand in the kayak, not so easy in the canoe. I can also stay just as dry. The only time I would pick the canoe would be if two people were going.

 

[swampbadger]

A lot of misconceptions about kayaks in this thread. I have both a kayak and a canoe. If I had to choose between the two for hunting, I'd take my kayak. I can move more water much faster in the kayak and it will carry plenty of weight. Tracks way better than a canoe. I can stand in the kayak, not so easy in the canoe. I can also stay just as dry. The only time I would pick the canoe would be if two people were going.

This is fair. I think it depends on which kayak vs which canoe. Kayaks most likely get a bad wrap because getting in and out of them can be a challenge and a lot of tip overs happen getting in or out of them.

I've been in tippy canoes and kayaks. My canoe is very stable. It won't flip easy at all, you can stand and fish but for all of its stability It steers like a log. But I have no fear of swimming with all my gear so I actually use my canoe because it's safe.

 

[TRHC]

Check out https://www.nucanoe.com/
They're kind of a mix between a canoe and a kayak. The best of both worlds it seems like.

 

[Rackseeker]

I have a Nucanoe Frontier 12 I use for hunting. Very stable even loaded, with the weight capacity being 650 lbs.

 

[WTNBowHunter]

is a trolling motor on the back of one of those going to be enough to make a 1000-1500yd run without taking an hour?

 

[WTNBowHunter]

Always have your life jacket on and a change of dry clothes. A lot can go wrong in 75 yards of water in the dark.

How will you launch your boat and get out on the other side?

i grew up on the water and have a healthy fear of the water without question. i will launch it at my buddies farm, he's got river frontage on one side of his place. will pull it a slough and nose it on the bank

 

[Rackseeker]

is a trolling motor on the back of one of those going to be enough to make a 1000-1500yd run without taking an hour?

3/4 of mile is a good haul in the dark with a trolling motor. You might be better off with a flat bottom and a small 4 stroke outboard.

 

[Snake]

Canoe hands down

Exactly...if you kill a deer you'll be glad you had a canoe .

 

[Snake]

I have a Nucanoe Frontier 12 I use for hunting. Very stable even loaded, with the weight capacity being 650 lbs.View attachment 262152

Looks adaptable for a motor as well

 

[Shanman]

https://www.meyersboat.com/#/sportspal/models/S-13
Had mine for 18yrs and love it, only downside is I have to add weight in the front to keep it down as I'm 254lbs. Extremely lightweight and easy to transport, foam lining inside helps with sound dampening, foam sponsoons keep it from flipping doesn't mean you can't fall out. Lol
So many options and nothing new will be cheap that's for sure.

 

[CHRIS WILSON]

is a trolling motor on the back of one of those going to be enough to make a 1000-1500yd run without taking an hour?

Yes...I have a 30 lb thrust trolling motor that I use on my canoe. The canoe is a 15+ foot Pelican Dakota. Out on the river, it typically hits around 4 mph according to a gps tracker that I use. If I'm going against a strong current or a decent wind, It may only hit 3-3 1/2 mph. I have one spot that is a 1.5 mile trek up river. Typically, I can make it in less than 30 minutes.

 

[Wooden Arrow]

not hardly room for ME in my kayak. thought about taking two life jackets and putting one on the deer if i got lucky. gut him out when i get back to launch site. a turkey would be no problem.

 

[CHRIS WILSON]

not hardly room for ME in my kayak. thought about taking two life jackets and putting one on the deer if i got lucky. gut him out when i get back to launch site. a turkey would be no problem.

That was my thought when I was debating between a canoe or a kayak. Even with some of the larger kayaks, I just didn't see how I was going to load up myself, my gear and a deer onto one.

 

[Grnwing]

Canoe hands down and buy a good paddle. I cringe when I see trolling motors on a canoe or even worse a kayak. We've got a bunch of lazy peddlers. Canoes are much more capable to carry loads, whether gear or deer. In river situations they are easier to cross down logs/rocks. There isn't a more simple and perfect craft capable of doing so much!

 

[MickThompson]

Something else you absolutely have to watch for crossing in the dark- logs that barely stick out of the water. You are pretty darn stable heading straight down the river but if you are cross ways to the current and get pushed against something, you're getting wet. I've watched it happen to 17' aluminum bass rigs before

 

[hammer33]

Your put in and landing spots will also have a lot to do with your success. Imagine trying to get your canoe up against a 3' bank, walk across your stand and bow in the wobbly boat to get to the front and tie off, then throw your stuff up on the bank while standing in a wobbly boat. Then crawl up yourself. All while trying to be quiet and in the dark.
If the bank isn't steep, its going to be much easier, but if its steep, I would look at a jonboat.
Oh and bring extra life jackets!! Deer with holes in their lungs sink!!! Just ask Crappie Luck

 

[thirdwilliam]

Another canoe vote. Old town discovery 158. wide and stable

 

[yellalinehunter]

not hardly room for ME in my kayak. thought about taking two life jackets and putting one on the deer if i got lucky. gut him out when i get back to launch site. a turkey would be no problem.

A heavy stringer of fish is awkward to paddle tha resistance of a deer would get old really fast

 

[MickThompson]

A heavy stringer of fish is awkward to paddle tha resistance of a deer would get old really fast

And pull you downstream in even a light current

 

[Wooden Arrow]

And pull you downstream in even a light current

no current where i've canoed to while deer hunting on Cherokee Lake. might could fit a deer in my 'yak if i boned the meat out...

 

[CritterGitter]

Once I sat in a buddys gheenoe , it spoiled me . I can't hardly sit still in a canoe without feeling uneasy . I recently got this one. Yet to get it dirty