| nting has become an enjoyable outdoor sport for | | | | would also allow for the gear to be taken along. |
| many people. It is challenging in that it requires a | | | | The ducks are wary quarry; camouflage helps the |
| hunter's eye for a good shot, a hunter's patience | | | | hunter to overcome this wariness. Take note of |
| while he stalks or waits for the prey, and the | | | | how this is incorporated in the design of the boat. |
| dedication needed to overcome cold weather. | | | | Some boats are painted in camouflage colors, |
| He will need skill if he is laying out decoys. The | | | | others use reed, rush or grass screens to hide |
| right spot has to be chosen, wind conditions | | | | the hunters. |
| assessed and taken into account for the layout | | | | At this point, it may be worth personally |
| and shotguns and shot kept in good order and at | | | | considering what type of hunt you want. Do you |
| the ready. | | | | want to be able to stand up and sit down fairly |
| The reward is the satisfaction of a successful | | | | regularly without disturbing your cover? Then |
| hunt — not too many as to result in | | | | consider a boat based on a pontoon design. They |
| decomposition and wastage, not so few as to | | | | come in size from as small as 2 people up to |
| leave behind the sense of being deprived of a due | | | | reasonably about a party of 8. |
| reward. | | | | These boats may well have a built-in stove |
| What does all this mean then, when buying a boat | | | | providing the hunter with warmth. Some even |
| for duck hunting? | | | | boast a flat-screen DVD for entertainment. As |
| By their very nature, duck hunting boats have a | | | | any hunter will know though, noise on the water, |
| hull which is nearly flat. This is because the boat | | | | except for the duck calls, is the best way to |
| rides on top of the waves, it does not cut | | | | scare off any ducks planning to land nearby. |
| through them in the way a V hull boat would. | | | | Lastly, aluminum has the edge over other types |
| Duck hunting boats are made for calmer, flatter | | | | of duck hunting boat building materials today. This |
| water, the kind of water on which the ducks land. | | | | is because it makes for a light boat, a big plus |
| The Jon boat is flat bottomed. Traditionally it was | | | | when transporting it to and from the water. |
| made of wood (though aluminum is a popular | | | | Trailers often need to be bought on which to |
| material today) and it has one, two or three | | | | carry the larger boats to and from the water. |
| bench seats built into the boat across the wide | | | | Aluminum rivets can leak after a time though. For |
| part. They earned a reputation of being relatively | | | | this reason, some boat manufacturers believe |
| stable, which is conducive to a successful hunt. | | | | roto moulding is a better option. |
| The hunting party is limited to 3 people, which | | | | |