Hunting by Kayak on the Eel River

What a great trip. Thanks for the photos and story. Congrats on the buck, too. I'll be up that way this weekend for the B-zone closer. I bet the weather was really nice for your trip.
 
Planetcat said:
What a great trip. Thanks for the photos and story. Congrats on the buck, too. I'll be up that way this weekend for the B-zone closer. I bet the weather was really nice for your trip.
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How did you do this weekend? I bummed I couldnt make it out. I still have a deer tag for B zone but an injury has slowed me down a little.

Matt
 
Great photos and trip report! I am curious about this part... "... and multiple dunks in the water were taking their toll... "? Was this because of the high center of gravity after the weight of the meat was added? If so, you might try towing your game behind you in a cheap inflatable raft or inner tube. I've never used a SOT kayak, so I don't know for sure, but I do have a tiny pack canoe that has little freeboard when I am in it without adding 100 or so pounds of game.
 
Oakietree said:
How did you do this weekend? I bummed I couldnt make it out. I still have a deer tag for B zone but an injury has slowed me down a little.

Matt
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It was ridiculously hot on Saturday for this time of year. We covered many miles, hitting the high country and the lower elevations. Had three deer shot in camp over the last week, 1 very big 4x4 on Wednesday, a big bodied 3x3 and decent forkie on Saturday. Even the doe population was sparse. I saw (and shot one) way more critters on the 90* rifle opening weekend than I did for the closer. All in all, still a fun hunt as always and everyone got home safely.
 
Great pictures.even though a couple didnt show.Is that one picture of a crayfish seems a large one if so!Nothing beats a paddling trip hunting or otherwise and always nice to be prepared which seemed like you were
Thanks for taking the time to post
Dan'l
 
Codger, the getting wet was mainly due to my kayak, a Wilderness System Tarpon 120(not pictured) being designed to go strait. It tracks really well for a 12' kayak but it did not like the rapids so much. It had also been a couple of years since I paddled on a river. The water was still pretty low. We had to walk some rapids because they were too shallow. Others I couldnt touch the bottom. I think towing a raft would have been way too much trouble in the rapids. My buddy who was carrying the deer didnt roll at all. He did get pinned a few times but managed to stay a bit dryer than I did.

Planetcat, that doesnt sound so bad. What area of "B" did you hunt. I've been up to the Yolly Bolly when it was jam packed with people. Cars everywhere. At least you all got some meat. I had an injury take me out of the rest of deer season. I still have a chance on bear.

Dboles, those are some crawdads in the picture. There is a second one near the side of my head's shadow, by the corner of the rock. We washed off the blades and they came running out. I am always on the hunt for wild food. This section of the river is full of edible life. If I was doing an over night I would have set out a trap or done some gigging. It's probably a little funny that I was all excited about crawdads while we were loading up a deer.

Thanks all

Matt
 
Oakietree said:
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Planetcat, that doesnt sound so bad. What area of "B" did you hunt. I've been up to the Yolly Bolly when it was jam packed with people. Cars everywhere. At least you all got some meat. I had an injury take me out of the rest of deer season. I still have a chance on bear....

Thanks all

Matt
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Hey Matt, I hunt on a private ranch adjacent to the Round Valley Indian Reservation. About 5 miles NE of Covelo town center. In general, I'd say it was fairly quiet for closing weekend, probably due to the long stretch of clear, warm, sunshine. I'd love for all of our seasons (deer and waterfowl) to get extended a month or at least shifted forward a month. I seems like every year lately we're battling warm weather.
 
Outstanding pics and trip right up!!! Good for you and your Bud to get out and get-r-done. Nothing can take the place of a good adventure.:thumbup:
 
Very interesting approach to deer hunting. The photos were good and the story even better. Did you shoot from the yak or were you beached at that moment?
 
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