Kayak duck hunting can be cold, wet, and miserable but it can also be one of the best ways to access prime hunting areas. Today I am sharing my top 5 hacks for kayak duck hunting that will keep you dry and comfortable. Read on to find out how you can kill more ducks and feel good doing it.

Wear Your Waders

Wearing your waders while kayaking is a very reliable way to stay dry. Keeping your rear out of the water sitting in your kayak will make a big difference in cold weather. I’d much rather have a little bulk on the paddle out than icy jewels that will surely end a hunt early. Keep in mind that while kayaking in big water you should always wear your life jacket. This is especially important while wearing waders. I once took a spill in deep water and learned that wearing a life jacket is definitely worth the hassle.

Plug Your Scuppers

Scupper plugs are an affordable method to plug up a sit-on-top style kayak and keep extra water out. These plugs will help keep you and your gear dry. An added benefit is that keeping water out of your kayak will make it easier to paddle.

Paddle With Decoy Gloves

Insulated rubber decoy gloves are worth their weight in gold for chilly late-season kayak hunts. Frozen fingers have brought an early end to my hunts in the past. Once I discovered these decoy gloves everything changed. Not only are they great for keeping your hands dry while paddling, they really help while picking up and setting out decoys. I prefer the rubber style with a Thinsulate lining. I also prefer to have my gloves extend up to my forearms, cold wet sleeves aren’t any fun either.

Install Drip Guards on Your Paddle

This one is pretty common among recreational kayak and canoe paddles. If you don’t already have a pair of drip guards on your paddle I would definitely suggest purchasing some. These little rubber rings keep a whole lot of water off of your hands and out of your kayak. Without drip guards every time you paddle you may as well be dumping a cup of water into your boat.

Haul Your Gear in a Sled

Use a Jet Sled to haul in decoys and other bulky gear to stay safe and dry. Overloading your kayak can lead to more water in your boat or risk a rollover. I use a jet sled whenever I duck hunt with my kayak. I will load my blind, stool, decoys, anchors, etc. into the sled to save space in my kayak. When I get to my hunting spot I simply unload the sled and then stash it in some nearby cover

Dry Bags, Dry Bags, Dry Bags

Dry bags come in all shapes and sizes and they are very versatile. I currently use three types of dry bags while kayak duck hunting. The first and biggest is my roll-top dry bag backpack. This bag can fit all of my safety gear, cameras, snacks, extra clothes, shells, and calls. The best part is that it also includes backpack straps and a hanging loop. In the event I need to ditch the kayak and walk in I can simply throw this bag on my back and trudge on. I also love the webbing handle on top that allows me to hang the bag from a limb while hunting in timber.

My medium-sized roll-top dry bags lack handles and backpack straps but fit nicely into the inside of the kayak for dry storage. In this bag, I will keep extra clothes or emergency safety gear.

Last but not least I’d like to mention the mini dry bags made specifically to hold your shotgun shells. Keeping your ammo dry but also accessible is crucial to a successful hunt. A lot of times I will stow my boat and gear and sit in my blind with nothing but my gun, calls, and shell bag. You never know when the action may heat up and you do not want to be stuck digging around your boat looking for a soggy cardboard box full of shells while birds are lighting in the decoys.

Kayak duck hunting can you put right in the middle of some of the best feet down in the decoys action you’ve ever experienced. I hope these 5 hacks for kayak duck hunting help you get out there more often and stay safe and comfortable while doing so. We all know you can’t kill them from the couch!