Registered: Oct 2014
Location: NC
Posts: 143

I’m thinking about rigging a 15’ flat bottom to access river land and islands to hunt. Anyone else on here hunt off a boat? Not looking to rig up anything fancy, just a 15’ Jon boat with a 25 horse motor, couple of snaps for the dogs and some good lights. We’ve got a ton of public land but the bulk and best of it is deer on the river and only acceable by boat.

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

We do it all the time. Works great, but if you cut on coons you see on the bank you will cause a babbling problem real fast.

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Michael Rosamond
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Registered: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 1739

It's alot of fun....we use canoes .. dog strikes off the canoe and we send them from the canoe ......almost as enjoyable as useing mules.

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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: ky
Posts: 153

Love it! Hunt on the lake every fall. Like Joey said don't always turn right on top of coons on the bank it don't take long your dog will go crazy as soon as his feet hits the bank whether there is a coon there or not! Easy to start a babbling problem but absolutely love hunting on the lake. Love to hear the echoes of treed hounds on the water!

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

Dogs will learn to rig out of a boat just like off a dog box. Tie them in the front of the boat and cruise along the bank. When they start opening, stop about 20 yds from the bank and cut em loose. Make em jump in and swim to the bank.

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: batsville ark
Posts: 1110

quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Lambert
Dogs will learn to rig out of a boat just like off a dog box. Tie them in the front of the boat and cruise along the bank. When they start opening, stop about 20 yds from the bank and cut em loose. Make em jump in and swim to the bank.

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

Did he put his beer down and say, "watch this" right before he scooped him up?

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5630

Now that was funny, I can just imagine what that battle looked like. Lol. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: batsville ark
Posts: 1110

quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Lambert
Did he put his beer down and say, "watch this" right before he scooped him up?

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: Latta, SC
Posts: 1016

Hip boots and tying a dog in a small boat at night could be deadly,, trying to unsnap a drowning dog in the dark with hipboots on may cost you your life......Please,Take this advise Train that dog to sit/stay....wear a PFD...and roll those hipboots down.Years ago I had 2 friends almost drown in 40 degree water while using a johnboat trying to get dogs in flooded timber They had 2 dogs tied and 1 jumped out and caused the boat to flip.....

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Reedy Creek Kennel

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: Latta, SC
Posts: 1016

Hip boots and tying a dog in a small boat at night could be deadly,, trying to unsnap a drowning dog in the dark with hipboots on may cost you your life......Please,Take this advise Train that dog to sit/stay....wear a PFD...Years ago I had 2 friends almost drown in a johnboat trying to get dogs in flooded timber They had 2 dogs tied and 1 jumped out and caused the boat to flip.....

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Reedy Creek Kennel

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5630

Excellent advise, it only takes one mistake, always wear a life jacket. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

Last edited by Dave Richards on 05-19-2018 at 06:38 PM

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

You have to have a 12 in chain for each dog bolted to the inside of your boat to keep your dogs snapped to. Lead straps are too long. Having a boat wide enough to put your dog box in is best. A pontoon boat is the best hunting boat, plenty of room for a dog box and they do well in shallow water. Also enough room for a cooler and spectators. Wives, girlfriends and buddies will enjoy pontoon boat hunting.

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Registered: Aug 2011
Location: Perrinton, Michigan
Posts: 632

Look at Dec 1990 Blood Lines, Steve Fielder, Todd Kellum, and myself float hunted my river up here in Michigan. We did a float trip for coon. Back in late 80's early 90's I floated using a 14 ft Flat bottom boat with a trolling motor. I rigged off of boat, no I did not have trouble with dogs babbling . It's a lot of fun and you will see things you normally would not while coon hunting. I recommend using a trolling motor to cruise with while hunting much quitier just use the gas motor to either get to where you are going and hunt back or use trolling motor to hunt first and gas to get you back. I also built a 4 ft wide platform on front of boat and yes about 12 to 15 inch chain with snap. When dogs rigged I would unsnap and usually they jumped off boat before I hit shore. Again great way to hunt and lots of fun.

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Perrinton, Mi
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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

A trolling motor would be ideal but all three of the rivers I hunt would be a bit much for one. I put a ratchet strap across the front and tie loops in it to snap the dogs on. They can only move their heads a few inches. I keep a knife on my side and hopefully could get them cut loose if something goes wrong. I wouldn't hunt out of a boat that a dog could flip. I can stand on the side of mine and not take on water. Its 15ft and has a 50hp yamaha. It was originally a duck boat. Everyone wears a PFD or they don't get in.

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

Me and two friends had three dogs in the boat one night and my foot got caught on something. I didn't pay much attention to it but a few minutes later I moved my foot and water splashed. I looked down and water was half way up my knee. My brother in law had used my boat and tied the string to the plug and then the side of the boat. That's what my foot hung in and I had pulled the plug. We were already several miles down river so we just kept hunting. It was to much weight to get planed off and pull the plug out to drain it, so we just dealt with it. Lots of stuff can go wrong so be really careful.

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Michael Rosamond
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PKC Ch, Grch Grnch 2008 Tx state champion They call me Crazy Betty

PKC SCh CH Grnch They call me Howler too

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Registered: Mar 2012
Location: Chesnee, S.C.
Posts: 197

I like hunting out of a boat. We always wear a vest. Coon & hog hunt from boat, run trot lines, fish baskets, cast a net for shrimp, gig flounder in saltwater & catfish in fresh, & gator hunt. In the middle of the night or early morning, you see & hear all kinds of varmits if drifting down or using trolling motor. Somtimes go 30+ miles from boat ramp. Carry extra gas & backup motor. We have had the motor quit a long way from the ramp. A lot of times we have took tent,sleeping bags,etc & stayed a few days.

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2765

quote:

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Originally posted by joey
Me and two friends had three dogs in the boat one night and my foot got caught on something. I didn't pay much attention to it but a few minutes later I moved my foot and water splashed. I looked down and water was half way up my knee..

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Friends don't let friends hunt blueticks

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

Combine camping and coon hunting in one trip. Fish all day and hunt all night. What a life.

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3369

It's the best way I know of to get pups on hot tracks.

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

quote:

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Originally posted by Donnie Stevens
At that particular moment would you consider that boat half full or half empty lol

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Michael Rosamond
Sunspot Lights
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Home Of:
PKC Ch, Grch Grnch 2008 Tx state champion They call me Crazy Betty

PKC SCh CH Grnch They call me Howler too

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

It is officially summer now.

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Registered: Mar 2012
Location: Chesnee, S.C.
Posts: 197

quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Lambert
Combine camping and coon hunting in one trip. Fish all day and hunt all night. What a life.

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5630

Now that's plumb funny! Didn't know you were the Tom Sawyer type. Lol. Hope you have a ton of fun, stay safe. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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