Now, me of all people should be able to answer my own question. But thought i'd ask .

I hunt a Ms River bottomland delta. I need a small boat almost 2 miles deep from road, to cross a brake.

Now i have a nice new pirogue, but i need an inexpensive junker that may be beat up and ugly, but floats. It will likely stay back there, subject to theft.

Question is-- what about a small 8 ft kayak ? We tried a 10 footer today in my pond. But what about a 200 lb buck AND me ??

So, i put my wife in the front (145) and a 40 lb Rinehart deer target. We got a little wet because we didnt have skupper plugs in the kayak holes. But other than that, i believe i might be able to cross with a deer, then go back across to get bow and stand.

I'd rather my pirogue, but i need a junker that can get beat up and if stolen, oh well. The 8 ft kayak would be easy to transport back there and maneuverable.

Couldn't you put a flotation device on any deer and drag through the water behind your boat? Smaller boat would get you by then.

old beat up aluminum canoe?

That is a good point

Man i'd hate to flip in cold weather, but hey, it's an adventure.

Why can't you quarter the deer and bring it across in stages?

Not Legal to Qtr

There are some big cypress trees deep in there. I bet some of them are from before 1900. Full of wood ducks and Mallards. We take some fine bucks from there. Need a small, maneuverable boat. I'm going to look tomorrow at a 8 ft Lotus Kayak from craigslist.

My kayak will handle 400 lbs. I hunt the Delta too. Public land. floating the deer and towing should work. I know what you mean about theft. I chain mine.

truck innertube with plywood on top or, blow up raft to pull behind you.

Are you dragging the deer the whole 2 miles after the water crossing????

get you a used 10' aluminum John boat. Paint that thing green and black- get it really dull colored, and chain it to a tree with a logging chain, and heavy-shanked lock. Always keep the plug in your pack. Plugs can be improvised, but some thieves may not want the hassle.

https://jackson.craigslist.org/boa/6090180202.html

I call these Duck punts.

No. Boat trip is only across flooded timber, maybe 80 yards. Deer goes on wheeled cart after that

What Sawtooth said. Locked up with Camo netting on top.

Deno

What happens if gator jumps in boat with ya? You prepaired to do battle?

If i see any i might not go

https://jackson.craigslist.org/boa/6090180202.html I call these Duck punts.

I guess it is Sold. I'd a jumped on that.

Yep, old jon boat. You can pick up around here sometimes for $100.00 if you pay attention.

I hunt alot of creeks .I was able to find a cheap used 18ft canoe on craigslist.I can travel Soo much futher, faster and easier than the others guys trekking it on foot through swamp and thicket. Plus my scent trail is zero and Im silent.

Gators and mocs an issue? If so, 8 ft kayak not good,idea.

Yeah, an old Coleman like that… If you were to survive hauling it back in there, chances are good it would never be stolen!

yea.Its a workout getting it to and from any body of water but, it can carry A lot of cargo. Tree stands dead animals cooler ect. I pull off to the side of a bridge unload and push it into the water. Tie a long piece of rope to it and pull it right up to the road side with your vehicle works well :)I simply do the best I can with what I have.

Ocean kayak made an ambush boat. It is kind of like a ghenoe, very stable with wt limit of 800lbs. Has a transom and battery box for electric motor. 14 ft long.

You probably know it, but in the way of a reminder, if you leave the boat in the swamp always check for snakes underneath as you turn it right side up to use it.

I think Hutton is on the right track with a johnboat... something not worth the hassle of stealing it and cheap enough that you wouldn't care too much if somebody did.

Thats a lot of weight for a 10' kayak (with the deer). Fabricate or buy an outrigger system with flotation pods outboard on both sides and all should be more safe and stable.

Thats a lot of weight for a 10' kayak (with the deer). Fabricate or buy an outrigger system with flotation pods outboard on both sides and all should be more safe and stable.

I saw a guy make pontoons for a canoe to bow fish out of using five gallon buckets with the lids on them and he bolted them to gunnels of canoe, you prob could even use the buckets as dry storage for extra clothes in case you got wet.

I have that same 18' Coleman canoe and it is a beast to portage. I hunted a neighboring island this fall with it and it was a sob to portage by yourself. I pissed off a lot of sea duck hunters that morning paddling by at day break on the last day of duck season, two of them shot at nothing in particular over my head while I paddled past.

EF Hutton - your wife is a good sport!

My pirogue is a Ron Chapman canebreak model. Look it up

I took my canoe across a lake a few times last fall to cut out a two mile walk. Stumps everywhere I couldn't see in the dark tipping the canoe sideways. Water splashing my pants from paddles. Scary as hell dark and fog. I would hate to think if I had went in with all those Hunting clothes, not to mention a $1500 bow plus equipment. Or a big buck at the bottom of the lake. Not sure if dead gutted deer would float. I thought about putting a life jacket on deer if I got one. In the end I decided to take the two mile walk.

I took my canoe across a lake a few times last fall to cut out a two mile walk. Stumps everywhere I couldn't see in the dark tipping the canoe sideways. Water splashing my pants from paddles. Scary as hell dark and fog. I would hate to think if I had went in with all those Hunting clothes, not to mention a $1500 bow plus equipment. Or a big buck at the bottom of the lake. Not sure if dead gutted deer would float. I thought about putting a life jacket on deer if I got one. In the end I decided to take the two mile walk.

If you like woodworking, a simple but good boat can go together in a day. Paint it with latex, pick an ugly plan. I recommend Bolger designs as they are really good in simple form, but some are spectacularly ugly precisely so they won't get stolen. Full plans are in Howard Dynamite Payson's various books. If you are near a library they should be available.

Of course second hand is usually cheaper.

Given that you are only going 80 feet in a shallow marsh, 8 feet might be OK, for you. If it was 30-36 inches wide and 8 feet long, and that is one fat pig of a kayak, it would displace about 310- 372 pounds at a 3 inch waterline, with probably 100 pounds an inch immersion beyond that point, but with vanishing stability. You have to cut the weight of the boat and gear out of the 310 pounds.

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