STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTO BY CHAS. J. DEES

A quick survey of hunters at a popular area on the Illinois River last waterfowl season revealed that few hunters really understood what is legal when hunting out of a canoe or kayak during duck season. Most of those surveyed pointed at my camouflage-painted kayak and said that, if I used it for hunting, it would mean a ticket or a quick trip to jail.

Not true.

Most of the confusion seems to revolve around the fact that it is illegal to hunt out of a motorized boat or a moving camouflaged boat.

Tim Sickmeyer, acting director of DNR Law Enforcement, cleared up some of the misconceptions.

"Boats and kayaks painted in a camouflage pattern are not considered camouflaged. If the hunter were to add netting, sticks, grass or anything other than paint to conceal the boat, that would be considered camouflaged," he explained. "The only time it is legal to hunt out of a camouflaged boat is when it is anchored and considered a floating blind."

Sickmeyer added that as long as the canoe or kayak is not propelled with mechanical power or sails, it is legal to use for waterfowl hunting.

The kayak comes in handy when hunting shallow water as it allows the hunter to quickly and quietly reach secluded areas that would normally be difficult to reach by wading or via conventional boat and motor.

Searching for a kayak or canoe? For more information on hunting kayaks visit: www.oldtowncanoe. com; www.pokeboat.com; www. stearnsinc.com. For more information on hunting canoes visit: www.castlecraft.com; www.osage-canoes.com; www.otter-outdoors.com. Find plans to build your own hunting kayak at www.svensons.com/ boats/huntingkayak.

Hunting kayaks are designed to be stable shooting platforms. Newer kayaks are easy to maneuver and nearly impossible to sink with the built-in flotation. Their slim, low-water profile makes them hard to detect from a distance, which is ideal for hunting rivers and flooded timber. If hunting conditions change, a kayak makes it easy to pick up and reset the decoy spread.

Kayak and canoe hunters need to be aware that all users must have a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for each passenger. It is also a good idea to make sure they tell people when and where they are hunting, in case of any mishaps.

Those looking for a new challenge in hunting waterfowl should try hunting from a canoe or kayak. They might be surprised at what might drop in for a short visit.

16   OutdoorIllinois