Tips for Hunting from a Kayak

Most everyone, whether you’re a hunter or not, is familiar with hunting from a treestand or a blind. There’s a more unique style of hunting you might not have heard of: kayak hunting. Though it might be one of the lesser-known hunting tactics, it’s definitely real. It’s precisely what it sounds like, hunting from a kayak on the water. We’ve got some tips on how you can arrow a deer from the water on a kayak this fall and partake in this out-of-the-box style of hunting.

Safety First

Staying safe on the water is essential and a life jacket should be part of your nonnegotiable gear list. If your kayak tips over, you need to be prepared when you enter the water. Lake and river currents can be unpredictable, so you can’t assume you know how the water will flow in any given body of water. Always assume the water could have an undertow, even if it appears calm. Even the strongest of swimmers should always wear a life jacket.

Attach a light to your kayak so you can be seen by other boaters and from the shore. This will help other watercrafts see you in the dark and will help people see you from shore in an emergency. It’s required by law in some states, so check your local regulations.

Wear the Appropriate Footwear

The appropriate footwear for hunting in a kayak is not the same as it is on the ground. Rubber boots are great for hunting on land because they can withstand mud and cushion your feet while walking across rough terrain. For kayak hunting, you’ll want to wear a lighter shoe. Rubber boots, heavy shoes, and any shoe that could fill with water are unsafe choices for kayak hunting.

Make Sure You Can Haul the Deer

After you’ve successfully arrowed a deer, you’ll need to have a way to transport it back to land. Some kayaks have a high weight capacity that might be able to hold both you and a deer, but if your chosen kayak has a lower weight capacity, there are still options. You can carry an inflatable raft with you, set the deer on the raft, and hook the raft up to your kayak with a rope to pull it to shore. You could also field dress the deer on the spot before you leave the area and carry the meat back in our Bucket Backpack, which will decrease the weight because you’ll be leaving some of the deer behind.

You can also use our Husky Hauler Utility Sled to transport the deer. It’s large enough to hold the whole deer and will float. It also comes with an optional cover that will keep the deer dry as you move across the water. It comes with tow ears that will allow you to easily hitch the sled to your kayak.

Hunting from a kayak on the water could present you with an exciting new hunting adventure this fall. You can combine a hunting trip with the relaxing experience of being on the water. Whether you hunt from a Stump blind or from a kayak, we hope you have a successful fall deer hunting season. As always, check your local regulations to make sure kayak hunting is legal in your area and what the requirements are. T-minus one month until deer season opens in Minnesota on Sept. 14!