Float’n for feathers: Hunting on interior rivers

By M.D. Johnson

Favorite marsh dry? Looking to escape the ‘out in the swamp at midnight’ mayhem? Small interior rivers can offer great duck hunting, without the hassle of 1 a.m. wake-ups and elbow-to-elbow crowds. A fantastic opportunity, but not without its own challenges. So grab a skiff, find a launch and get yourself ready for some of the most exciting ’fowling available.

Topography and time

First, a river. If it’s a familiar waterway, you know about the launches, take-outs, no-shooting zones (if any) and where you’re likely to encounter birds as you make your way downstream. Unfamiliar water, and there’s a bit of work. 

Google Earth can help; launch here, and take out there. Are there out-of-the-current backwaters where ducks might loaf? Bends where birds might sit? Sandbars that provide a place for a few decoys and an hour? Better yet, grab a rod ’n reel, and while the weather’s nice, devote a day to hands-on research. Take pictures of likely locations. Drop GPS pins so you know exactly where you’re going. Catch a fish.

Mid-morning is the time you want to be on the water when hunting on interior rivers. Ducks that have roosted offsite will go to feed at first light, then hit secluded stretches of the river later in the morning to loaf. Birds that have roosted on no-current backwaters, too, will have gone to feed at daybreak. You want to be there to greet them when they return. 

Teams and tactics

Float hunts are a one- or two-gun show. 

Soloists hunting on interior rivers will want to tether their paddle so as not to lose it when the shooting starts. Lone hunters work the inside of the bends, letting the current sweep them around corners tight to the bank. Two guns, and one shoots from the bow while the other provides power and direction. Switch back and forth as the hunt unfolds and opportunities present themselves. 

Kayak, canoe, Aquapod, Momarsh, aluminum jon boat: all are used when hunting on interior rivers. Float hunts can be done in virtually any seaworthy vessel; the key word is seaworthy. Most power is provided via paddle, although some find it convenient, if not necessary, to float downstream and motor back using a small lightweight outboard. As for camouflage, the element of surprise generally makes it unnecessary. A bit of brush on the bow, however, and a low-profile approach can convince birds to sit just a second longer. 

Six to 10 decoys can be handy. River ducks sit on specific stretches for specific reasons. A small spread set right where birds flushed, combined with patience and an AA-netting blind, can help fill a limit. The rig doesn’t have to be technologically advanced in design, but you do want to use enough weight to hold the blocks in the current. Realize that riverbanks and even the river bottom to the mid-stream point may be privately owned. Make sure you double-check the legality of tying up, dropping anchor, or setting decoys prior to any hunt. 

And finally, safety: PFDs and common sense are mandatory. 

Duck hunting is hard work. And float hunts are no exception; however, if you’re tired of the public land hassle and looking for something a little different, if not lonely, a float hunt might be just the cure for those “Where did the birds go?” blues.