Kayak Jump Shooting

If finding more game is a question for most hunters, access may be one answer. The numbers reflect it. Hunters across America spend millions of dollars on ATVs, land leases, more comfortable boots, lighter packs, and much more all in the name of getting away from people to get into more un-molested animals.

It’s no surprise then, that the fast evolution of fishing kayaks has led sportsmen to start utilizing their boats for hunting. With a strong historical precedent for the use of the smaller quiet crafts, it's no wonder. Man, for centuries has been carving boats out of trees and building them out of bark in order to cover more ground in search of game.

Today, more modern, plastic and stable craft are getting cranked out of factories all over the world. Those boats are spawning a new breed of kayak jump shooters. These hunters are using their boats to drift into unsuspecting game. Floating rivers and streams for big game is not unheard of, but many of these boats and their low profiles are very useful for sneaking up on waterfowl. Jump-shooting river and streams on foot has always been popular, but here’s how it works in a kayak.

The Art of the Jump

Plan Your Corners

You're on the creep and will be able to find birds tucked in along the river. You can maximize your strategy by plotting out where you’ll be coming around blind corners. Of course, this can be done with time in the field, but on a new river, use Google Earth. Once you understand where the back eddies and sloughs come into the main body of the river, you’ll know where you’ll get shooting at the big groups.

Know your Shuttle

If you didn’t bring your buddy and his rig, camp a bike at the end of your run. You’ll be able to get back upstream after you’ve finished your float. Know the road though. The last thing you’ll want to do after a long day on the water is go for an aggressive mountain bike ride.

Safety Safety Safety

Not only do you need to know how hydraulics operate in big bodies of water, but you need to be prepared to fall out. Make sure you have a certified personal flotation device (PFD) and a change of clothes to get dry in the event of a disaster. Additionally, know where you’re shooting. Hunting a good floating jump moves fast and seeing the “backdrop” in every shot is very important.

Stay Dry, but have a Back Up

Things can and will go wrong. If you do get yourself wet, have a change of clothes and be able to start a fire. You may be away from your truck for awhile. Have a plan to stay out of trouble.

Thinking of getting into a boat? Here are some things to consider:

Stability

There are lots of great boats on the market and the difference of which model you prefer may depend on what kind of water you’re hunting. For big water (Rivers with a CFS over 2000) you may want a sit-in craft. If you are in a tiny stream, you may want to forgo some stability to sit up higher. If so, there are great options for sit-on-top boats. Additionally, Paddle Boards are not unheard of.

Weight

How are you going to move your boat around? If you’re going to be putting it on the roof of your truck, you’ll need to be able to lift it up. Or, if you have to pull it over a substantial distance, you’ll want a lighter model. How are you going to be decoying and moving around bags of gear? That may change which boat you select.

Camo Patterns and Brushing

You’re trying to put the sneak on some animals right? You’ll want to look like a small grass island, or at the very least you don’t want to look like a bright red boat. Many manufacturers have started to incorporate subdued patterns to their factory models. Others have built in bungees to strap natural vegetation to your boat.

Room for your Dog

While you’re busting ducks out of your hidey-holes, they’ll be trying to make it back to the brush. In the time it takes you to get out of your boat, many will get away. Jump shooting from a kayak can be effective, but you will lose birds. Bring a dog along. However, your Chesapeake Bay Retriever is going to be difficult to fit in a small boat. There are models which can accommodate him, but most are too small. Smaller breeds typically produce better results for this type of hunting. American Water Spaniels and Boykins do really well for this application.

Store your Gear

You’ll have stuff with you: PFD, extra clothes, shells, mittens, a dry bag and a shotgun. Know how all the gear fits into the boat with you and how to access it.

Our favorite jump shooting boat is the Jackson Kilroy. The lightweight American built craft offers a sit-in design perfect for big water. It’s easy to paddle and comes equipped with rails for mounting accessories (It’ll hold your shotgun at the ready). It’s light enough to move everywhere and offers lots of space to store the dog and all your gear.

So, now you’ve bought yourself a boat, figured out a stream to float and know how to get back to your truck. You’ll probably be able to get into birds and your dog will be more than happy to bring them back to you. Here’s something you didn’t think of….

Pro Tip

The biggest advantage of jump shooting is being able to access lightly-hunted waters. You don’t have to have a ramp and will be able to get your boat into really really shallow water. The best days will be the coldest of the season. All other water will be locked up… only moving streams will hold waterfowl. Consider though, you will be freezing your hands off. Not to worry. Inuit tribes have been paddling sub-zero oceans for thousands of years.

Get to a surplus store and get an old pair of mittens. Find a proper oil soaking product and treat your new/used hand-wear. Water and cold will bead off your hands while you paddle.

Love waterfowl, but not quite up to Kayak Jump Shooting yet? Browse other waterfowl hunting trips on Guidefitter.