Hunting from small boats is a typical technique of reaching certain species and habitats that they may not have access to. Nothing beats spending the day on your boat and having a good time.
When it comes to hunting from a boat, however, safety should always come first! Numerous things can go wrong, and the best way to avoid them is to take the necessary safety precautions.
As a result, we've outlined “What Safety Precaution Should You Take When Hunting From A Boat?” to help you protect yourself and your relatives. Please keep in mind that laws and safety recommendations may differ depending on your state and the specific environment you hunt.
What Should Hunters Do Before The Boat Hunt?
Make a safety plan
You must always prepare for every consequence. Check with your buddies to see if anyone wants to join you on your float or if you want to leave your plan.
What should you do if a thunderstorm strikes unexpectedly? What will you do if your hunting dog falls into the water? Who do you send for assistance, and how would you do that? Answer these questions, and you may be good to go.
When going on a hunting or fishing excursion, the weather can be a make-or-break aspect that you should take extra precautions with. You should form a habit of checking local broadcast, commercial radio, and television stations regularly to get a sense of the marine weather and plan accordingly.
A handy VHF or battery-powered radio are some excellent ideas to check the forecast while you're out and about.
Besides, determine when to start and what time to stop. Your strategy should incorporate the following elements: What will you be looking for? How many preys will you bring back to your house?...
It's always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure at least one friend or family member is aware of your float plans. It should include the destination, backup locations, fellow passengers on the boat, and an estimate of when you will return. You also have to include the boat's description and registration number.
Get ready physically and psychologically
- Get some rest:
No matter how excitedly you are looking forward to hunting from a boat tomorrow, you should go to bed early and get a good night's sleep. This helps you to remain conscious and attentive during the hunting session.
- Avoid alcohol or drugs:
These dangerous substances will have a negative impact on your reflexes. When you fall into the water, the alcohol accelerates the loss of body heat, resulting in an increased risk of drowning and hypothermia.
Check the local laws and make sure you have a valid license
Hunting rules vary from region to region. Hence, a few days before your trip, you should study the local hunting laws for the location where you will be boat hunting.
If you're entering a restricted area, ensure you have your hunting licenses to prevent any potential troubles.
Avoid overloading the vessel
This is one of the most common hunting mistakes made before the hunt even begins. Overloading your boat increases the risk of capsizing, destroying your supplies, and exposing yourself to potentially dangerous wildlife in the water.
Unfortunately, overloading is likely to happen. By the time you've added your motor, hunting gear, dog, and/or a hunting partner, the weight capacity may have been exceeded. Knowing your boat's weight limit is a straightforward way to avoid this. To prevent additional weight issues, just pack only the necessities and leave some space.
Put on lifejackets & safety gear
There is a wide range of boat safety equipment available for hunters. Hunting vests, for example, are specifically designed to combine the safety of standard PFDs with the qualities that every hunter requires.
They have a lightweight design that makes movement comfortable, are camouflaged and fleece-lined for the entire day. Also, they keep you afloat because they provide an extra layer of insulation if you fall in the water.
Know how to swim
This might seem absurd to some, but it is an essential aspect of boat hunting. You should not even consider going near water, let alone getting on a boat if you do not know how to swim.
It's also crucial that you bring a hunting companion or anyone else who knows how to swim with you. If the boat capsizes or someone falls overboard, the hazards will be reduced.
In case you go with a dog, it's a good idea to teach him to swim. Your dog may be a natural hunter on land, but not assume that he stays calm in the water.
Install useful apps for GPS
You should download hunting applications that are developed with safety in mind before your expedition. Duckr, HuntStand, and onXmaps are just a few of the options.
Many of the available apps display other users' whereabouts and allow you to call them for assistance in emergency circumstances. Some contain features that show topographical details, wind direction, and additional helpful information.
Pack smartly
Nobody knows what would happen while you’re boat hunting. Therefore, carrying an emergency kit is one of the safety precautions while hunting from a boat.
To keep the kit safe from harm, you must place it in a waterproof bag. Food, warm drinking water, a fully charged communications device, clothes, fire-starting equipment, and flashing light are all possible additions to your kit.
4 Safety Precautions For Hunters When Hunting From A Boat
Do not drink while hunting on a boat
It's never a good idea to drink alcohol or use recreational drugs when on a boat, leading to unwanted risks and exposing you to danger.
If you are bored on a boat excursion, bring a radio or a book to keep you interested while waiting for your prey.
Use your gun safely
You have to anchor your boat before standing up to shoot bullets. Alternatively, you can choose to shoot the target from a seated posture for your safety. It's also not permitted to move quickly.
Most importantly, do not fire your rifle while the boat is moving. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to fire.
Even though we've covered the fundamentals, you must brush up on your gun and boat safety. Regardless of whether or not your state mandates it, we recommend taking a hunting safety course before taking your trip.
It would be a trip of error or omission during the initial try. However, with practice, you will be able to master the art of successful water hunting. After each shot, there will be an additional adventure.
Read More: How To Help A Hunting Companion With A Deep Open Chest Wound (5 Steps)
Stay calm and responsive under no circumstances
Though you know what security precautions you should take when hunting from a boat, eventually, unintentional situations can arise during the trip without preparation.
It will be a little out of control for a couple of seconds at that time. Then you have to relax and think about your safeguards. Take the proper steps to deal with all available things, find help from nearby, and get in touch with the rescue team.
You may not be successful while hunting from a boat if you are a successful land hunter.
Land hunting is just a game of shooting and aiming at animals while selecting the appropriate weapon or equipment. On the other hand, hunting from a boat requires exceptional balance and nerve control, but it's more fun than hunting on land.
Stay fun, but safety first!
We're sure you've jotted down some critical notes in your head right now. Before you go out and prepare for the next on-boat hunting game, keep in mind that hunting from a board differs significantly from hunting on the ground, particularly in terms of the risk of capsizing or swamping.
Having two people in a small hunting boat can be dangerous. So, to keep yourself and your partner safe and reduce the chance of harm, you should sit back-to-back (One hunter facing the bow and one hunter facing the rear). The double recoil from both hunters firing in the same direction could cause the boat to become imbalanced and tip.
For two hunters in a single boat, the best zone is 180 degrees in front of the hunter. This improves boat stability and eliminates the possibility of one hunter accidentally clipping the other in their shot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we believe that hunting from a boat can be enjoyable if the safety component is prioritized. For all hunters that hunt on a boat or want to try it out, they should constantly be aware of “What Safety Precaution Should You Take When Hunting From A Boat?". These things shouldn't be too difficult to follow, and you should regard them as though they could save your or someone else's life.
Please read the article at least twice and contact us if you require any additional assistance. We are always ready to assist when needed.