Sled question

[Wanttohuntmore]

Hi, I'm not a waterfowl hunter, but could see myself doing it.  Usually fishing and archery elk take precedence.  I have a 16ft open sled and live in the puyallup area.  Any place within 4 hours worth a trip?  The sled is not setup for hunting (no green paint, no blinds).  Was thinking of taking it and a friend out in it but do not know how much of a disadvantage it would be without the Camo?  Worth taking it or better to go jump shooting?

[Mr56Jeep]

You probably won't shoot anyting out of the boat but like fishing, you can use it to access areas that others can't get to and then hide the boat and hunt from land.

Pot Holes is only about 3 hours form you and there is a ton of oppertunity on the north end that is not real accessable by foot.

[wraithen]

No reason to go that far. Get the washington gazetteer book atlas thing and it clearly marks the refuges. Other than that there are thousands of bodies of water all around you. You don't have to drive more than an hour to find ducks in your area. I found a bunch less than 30 minutes away from the sw corner of graham.

[Jim Sr.]

I have a 16' Willie Predator with no blind or camo (although it is emerald green colored) that kills birds on the rivers I hunt, just because it don't have camo or a blind does not mean you can't kill birds in it. I usually drift down tight to the bank & intercept them at the bends.

You probably won't shoot anyting out of the boat but like fishing, you can use it to access areas that others can't get to and then hide the boat and hunt from land.

Pot Holes is only about 3 hours form you and there is a ton of oppertunity on the north end that is not real accessable by foot.

[snocohunter]

I thought it was illegal to shoot from a moving vehicle? I know the regs say something about being under power or something. So we are allowed to "drift" and nobody is going to write a ticket? Do you just row it to steer?

[Andrew8235]

close to puyallup, hit the chehalis/centralia area, even closer.....kapowsin lake is always a nice short drive to pick up a few divers i usually go there if im short on time. another area, up by bellingham there is a public wetland/cornfield "marietta" i have had luck there more times than not!!.

[jplmyers]

Depending upon the water, you might be able to use it to get to areas otherwise inaccessible, then stash it/camo it with available materials.

I hunt with an uncamo'd Kayak, sometimes jump-shooting, sometimes just to put out dekes, and others, I load it up with gear and wade to my little island towing it along as a safety... an unfamiliar marsh can be terrifying at 530. 

[Skagit_Hunter]

I thought it was illegal to shoot from a moving vehicle? I know the regs say something about being under power or something. So we are allowed to "drift" and nobody is going to write a ticket? Do you just row it to steer?

That is on the salt.

[snocohunter]

I thought it was illegal to shoot from a moving vehicle? I know the regs say something about being under power or something. So we are allowed to "drift" and nobody is going to write a ticket? Do you just row it to steer?

That is on the salt.

PG 31 of the Regs says:

d) From or by means, aid, or use of any motor
vehicle, motor-driven land conveyance, or
aircraft of any kind, except that paraplegics
and persons missing one or both legs may
take from any stationary motor vehicle or
stationary motor-driven land conveyance.
e) From or by means of any motorboat or other
craft having a motor attached, or any sailboat,
unless the motor has been completely shut
off and/or the sails furled, and its progress
therefrom has ceased: Provided, that a craft
under power may be used to retrieve dead or
crippled birds; however, crippled birds may
not be shot from such craft under power.

Nothing about salt or fresh water. Also page 24 says we aren't allowed to have a shell chambered in a motor vehicle. That one i'm a little leary of. I would assume the federal law would trump that. No longer a motor vehicle when not under power i would guess.

[iRem]

There's nothing wrong with a day of Cast and Blast on the river!

[Jim Sr.]

I thought it was illegal to shoot from a moving vehicle? I know the regs say something about being under power or something. So we are allowed to "drift" and nobody is going to write a ticket? Do you just row it to steer?

Sure you can, if you are not under power you can shoot, I just use the kicker to keep it pointed downstream & is in neutural 90% of the time.

[wraithen]

kicker counts as a power. motor must be in the up position to shoot. rowing/paddling is totally legit tho. its really fun jump shooting ringnecks from a kayak. seems like mallards are super smart and have eagle eyes. they fly off when youre still 200 yards away.

[Buckmark]

I thought it was illegal to shoot from a moving vehicle? I know the regs say something about being under power or something. So we are allowed to "drift" and nobody is going to write a ticket? Do you just row it to steer?

Sure you can, if you are not under power you can shoot, I just use the kicker to keep it pointed downstream & is in neutural 90% of the time.

If the kicker is still running but in neutral your are in violation....motor must be shut off...

[scout/sniper]

Been duck hunting all my life. If you are hunting a lake out of the boat it will very hard to make them commit in an open boat and no camo. When they make the final flyover they will see you and flare. Just my experience.

[Upton O. Good]

I always wonder why folks ask these questions on a forum where they will get a lot of answers from non-professionals.  Call a LE officer and have a conversation, they'll be happy to help you stay within the law.

[Special T]

I thought it was illegal to shoot from a moving vehicle? I know the regs say something about being under power or something. So we are allowed to "drift" and nobody is going to write a ticket? Do you just row it to steer?

That is on the salt.

I belive you are thinking of the rule to keep people from using sneeek boats on snows in the bays.  You have to have an anchor our and engine off in the skagit and port susan. They don't want to allow skulling boats, or "driffting" into the rafts fo birds. Its a differnt rule than not having a motor running. 

[scout/sniper]

I always wonder why folks ask these questions on a forum where they will get a lot of answers from non-professionals.  Call a LE officer and have a conversation, they'll be happy to help you stay within the law.

It doesn't take a pro to understand the regs.
Lots of experience on this forum.

[mallard79]

kicker counts as a power. motor must be in the up position to shoot. rowing/paddling is totally legit tho. its really fun jump shooting ringnecks from a kayak. seems like mallards are super smart and have eagle eyes. they fly off when youre still 200 yards away.

Where does it state that the motor must be up? Where we hunt there may be as many as 20 boats out on any given day and NONE have ever had there motors up while hunting. It has to be off and you cannot shoot until the momentum from the motor is gone.....oars wind and current are fine.

[wraithen]

I just read the state regs and didn't see it. I remember it being a subparagraph explaining what was meant by under power and it mentioned motors had to be in the up position if they were outboards. I'm not finding it now though. I'll keep looking in the federal stuff if my valium doesn't take me out first.

[mallard79]

I wasn't trying to start anything...I just don't remember seeing anything about it......If it was/is true that we have to have our motors up then that would mean that 99% of all duck hunters hunting out of motor boats are likely hunting illegally........if you find it please let us know.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Funny how my thread got hijacked!   You can not hunt from a moving boat that has any forward movement from the motor.  That is stated in the law.  Regardless, that was not what I was asking, I'm more curious if birds will come in to an un-camo'd boat.   I do have netting that will cover it front to back, but some aluminum will show/shine through.   Now that I'm tagged out, I'll have to give it a shot!

[Jim Sr.]

Funny how my thread got hijacked!   You can not hunt from a moving boat that has any forward movement from the motor.  That is stated in the law.  Regardless, that was not what I was asking, I'm more curious if birds will come in to an un-camo'd boat.   I do have netting that will cover it front to back, but some aluminum will show/shine through.   Now that I'm tagged out, I'll have to give it a shot!

I've had many birds flyin upriver within shootin range, shot quite a few just driftin in an non-camo sled (can't justify covering the nice emerald green paint job that's on it now). Good luck on the season.