Hunting with a Dog from Canoes and Kayaks [GUIDE]

By: Christi Holmes, Pro Staff

If you’re looking for an action-packed hunt, waterfowl hunting can’t be beaten. The season is long, and the hunt is social- multiple hunters are common and there’s no need to worry about scent control. Plus, man’s best friend gets to take part. 

Up your game to hunting from a kayak or canoe with your pup and you’ve got a challenging but rewarding endeavor. It will take additional planning and considerations, but you’ll access more terrain than you would in a boat or by foot. Kayaks and canoes can get through shallow waters and are much easier to hide than a boat. What you gain in accessibility you don’t give up in space as you can still load up your craft with blind material, decoys, shotguns, etc.  

One benefit of hunting from a canoe or kayak is that since you’re already in your vessel, you can retrieve your downed game more easily. While this is true, it can be a bit cumbersome if you’re perfectly brushed in and surrounded by decoys. Additionally, a dog is usually a faster retriever, and well, why have a retriever to just leave them at home? 

Here are some tips for waterfowl hunting from a canoe or kayak with a dog. 

TRAINING YOUR DOG FOR HUNTING

Before hunting with your dog out of a canoe or kayak, make sure he or she is simply comfortable with being in your craft and develops some body awareness. A little pre-hunt training goes a long way to ensure the safety of you both. Capsizing in an icy river in December is not a risk to take lightly.  

With your canoe or kayak on the lawn, have your dog practice jumping in and out of it. Work on the stay command; every move your dog makes will be amplified while in a boat on the water. You can assign a place for your dog in your watercraft so he or she knows where to stay. Throw a bumper and have your dog retrieve it back to the canoe. Once the two of you are confident on the lawn, move to the water. 

Go canoeing or kayaking on calm water on a warm day. Work on stay if your pup walks around the watercraft unnecessarily. Notice the stability of your watercraft when your dog walks around and shakes water off his or her coat. Have your dog jump out and fetch a bumper. What part of the craft do you want them to jump from? A seat? Help your dog back into your canoe or kayak. Often, you’ll be hunting close to shore where your dog can easily get in, but a dog vest with a handle on top is helpful for times when you’re away from shore.  

Once you’re comfortable in calm waters, take the practice to a faster flowing river and repeat. 

SAFETY TIPS FOR HUNTING WITH DOGS

Safety is paramount for waterfowl hunting, where you’ll often by hunting in stormy, cold weather. Since birds fly at first light, you’ll likely be on the water heading to your spot in the dark. Equip your craft with proper lighting and bring extra headlamps and flashlights. Always wear your life jacket. 

Choose a safe, stable canoe design like Old Town’s Discovery canoes or Sportsman kayaks. 

HUNTING WITH DOGS 

Consider your first few times hunting with your pup training sessions. Don’t invite a large group of friends. Focus on your dog and his or her training. See what’s working and don’t hesitate to try new positions. 

I prefer to have my dog sit behind me so I’m not shooting over them or shooting near his sensitive ears. I also create a hole in the blind material so he can see. He loves to watch for ducks and will sit still and silent but only if he can see. Read Old Town’s blog here about how to make a DIY kayak duck blind.

Think about where you want your dog to retrieve to. Normally hunters train their dog to deliver directly to them, but your dog will prefer to head to shore versus your floating watercraft. If you insist on your dog retrieving directly to you, prepare for them to drop the bird the first few times as he or she climbs in and add this exercise to your at-home training regime. 

Your dog can’t tell you if he or she is too cold, so when temps drop, bring a wool blanket and put a vest on your pup. Take breaks to let them run around on land for a few minutes to warm up and if that doesn’t help, don’t hesitate to call it a day.  

It’s a learning process for both you and your dog, but with some tweaks to your setup and strategy, I’m sure you’ll agree that hunting from a canoe or kayak with your dog is extremely rewarding.