When considering the various uses and activities for boating, hunting often is overlooked. Perhaps, because hunting boats are too well camouflaged and just never seen.
With the arrival of duck season, Kansas boat owner Lucas Carpenter’s boat “Transformer,” has evolved from fishing machine, to a stealthy, giant, floating bale of hay. For ease of hauling, this accessory is “totally collapsible “and travels as “a couple of rolls and a bag of PVC pipes.”
I contacted the Boat US Foundation and Ducks Unlimited but was unable to secure exact figures for the number of boating duck hunters. Lance Meeks, Hunter Education Coordinator with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife took a rough guess with 25%. Professional Guide Jack Morris estimated much higher numbers. “Most hard core duck hunters at least have a boat of some kind, little or big. Nationwide, I’d say 45-65%.”
Whatever your boat use when the water has turned cold, be sure to take safety precautions.
And maybe don’t park too close to the neighbor’s cows…
Andy Whitcomb is a columnist, outdoor humorist, and stressed-out Dad living in Oklahoma. Visit him at www.justkeepreeling.com.
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Posted by Andy Whitcomb on December 1, 2011
Important update! I recently learned that the camo duck hunting boat in photo almost went up in flames during a first outing. Also brought to my attention that my link for safety precautions fails to include a fire extinguisher. Cold water or not, a fire extinguisher is a critical boat safety item! Stay safe!
Posted by F Carpenter on December 1, 2011
My NASA training mandated I click on the “Safety” item in your article. The Pratt experts did not mention a fire extingisher. (A critical item, it seems, when one battery runs bilge and mobilization duty on floating hay bails.)
Posted by F Carpenter on November 2, 2011
If my father and I would have camoed our duck hunting boat like LC – it would have been a very long winter. (The brother-in-laws would still be working to pull islands through the ice.)