Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by Afsar
Looking for the best duck hunting kayaks of 2018?Fear no more, your guide for the best duck hunting kayak is here. As a veteran kayaker, I often get asked about what should be the top kayaks for duck hunting. Even though I am a not a hunter, I have a good grasp on the kayak industry. I will share some cool tips about landing the top duck hunting kayak for you. Duck hunting is a practice where the hunter hunts duck, geese or other waterfowl for food and sports. There are many ways to do the duck hunting, but it is a very expensive activity which makes it tough for a lot of hunters. A lot of hunters opt for expensive boats, but many of them can’t afford them. One alternative is to buy a kayak which is suitable for duck hunting.
Table of Contents
Old Town Predator PDL Kayak – 2019 Version
The Old Town Predator PDL kayak was made with the needs of a duck hunter in mind since it is designed with all the features a duck hunter could ask for. Primarily, this is a fishing kayak with pedal drive, but it perfectly suits the duck hunters. The kayak comes with PDL drive mounts to help you tie to the docks easily and quickly. This best duck hunting kayak’s length is 13ft and 2 inches. The maximum load of this kayak is 500lb. Duck hunting requires you to have your hands free when needed. This is where this kayak is a killer.
Old Town’s Predator PDL kayak lets you focus on hunting or fishing while keeping your hands free. You can access places without the paddle. You can take advantage of the single-hand rudder and the pedal drive to move both forward and reverse. The removable mounting plates will help you do tons of customization. No matter whether you are into fishing or duck hunting, you will enjoy this kayak.
Pros
- LT900 (polyethylene) hull material
- 13ft 2 inches long
- One-handed rudder
- The maximum load is 500lb
- Excellent for fishing and duck hunting
- checkTank well and bow hatch can be used to keep your necessary gears
- checkRemovable mounting plates allow the user to do tons of customization
- checkSteering is easy, thanks to the rudder control knobs
- checkYou can do forward and reverse pedaling
Cons
- Expensive
Perception Kayak Pescador Pro
It is fast, stable, and has an excellent ability to track straight in different situations. One unique thing is it’s removable and adjustable camp chair which offers impressive comfort to the users. There are a couple of storage zones where you can keep your gears and other things. The secured attachment keeps your items within your reach. I personally liked the green moss color camo of this kayak. The price of the Pescador pro is reasonable. There are two versions of this kayak: 12 feet and 12 feet.
Pros
- Available in two different sizes: 10ft and 12 ft
- Available in three cool colors
- Fast and stable
- Back-friendly seats
- checkExcellent cushioning
- The large open cockpit for easy entrance
- checkIndustry-leading rotational molding process used
- checkHigh-density polyethylene used
- checkLeak-proof one-piece construction
- checkReasonable price
Cons
- Need to mount extra gun holders
Vibe Kayaks Sea Ghost 130 Angler Kayak
I am a big fan of Vibe kayaks. Despite being new to the business, they have introduced some incredible kayaks on the market at a very reasonable price. Sea Ghost 130 is primarily a fishing kayak which can be modified to be used as duck hunting kayak. This is a one-person kayak which comes with two flush-mount rod holder and 4 integrated gear tracks. These gear tracks can be customized to keep your duck hunting gears.
Sea Ghost 130 offers impressive control to the users with pre-installed toe controlled rubber system. This toe-controlled rubber system will save your energy during the long paddles, windy days, and strong currents. There are multiple storage options to keep your gears. For example, the large center console, rear hatch, bungee rear tank well, and front oval hatch allows easy access to your gears and essentials.
You will have superior comfort with its dual position vibe hero seat which provides excellent comfort and support for a very long day. So, if you are an avid duck hunter, you can spend a very long time at your kayak. Considering all of this, including the price, I think this is one of the best duck hunting kayaks in the market.
Pros
- Available in four different colors
- Four integrated gear tracks for customized rigging
- Excellent control
- Pre-installed toe-controlled rubber system
- Reduces fatigue
- checkMultiple storage options
- checkEasy access to storage
- checkSuperior comfort
- checkExcellent dual position vibe hero seat
- checkAvailable at a reasonable price
- checktackle tray holders
Cons
- You will need a little bit of time to learn how to stand properly in this kayak
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 2018
If you are willing to shell out a good amount of money and want to get a fantastic duck hunting kayak, Hobie Mirage Pro 12 is an excellent option for you. This is the newest version of the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler kayak. It is equipped with the powerful Drive 180 with the turbofans and retractable rudder system. The length of the kayak is 12’, and its weight capacity is 500lbs. The hull is made of rotomolded polyethylene, and the kayak is available in three different colors.
Hobie uses the vantage seating system which offers incredible comfort to the users. The seat is 4-way adjustable and has boa lumbar support. As this is a fishing kayak, it has two vertical rod holders along with four horizontal rod holder. There are two-piece paddle and T-handle available with it.
You can install your duck hunting gears into the kayak, and make it a duck hunting kayak. I know the price is kind of a put-off, but you have to consider the durability, features, tracking, and unprecedented opportunities. If budget is not an issue, this is undoubtedly one of the best duck hunting kayaks for you.
Pros
- Comes with Hobie Mirage Drive 180 turbo fins
- Retractable rudder system
- Vantage Seating system: comfortable and 4-way adjustability
- 12′ long design
- weight capacity is 500 lbs
- checkCorrosion resistant mounting platform to mount more gears
- checkTackle management system
Cons
- Expensive
Native Watercraft Slayer Propel 13 Kayak
Native Watercraft’s Slayer Propel 13 kayak is ranked as one of the best duck hunting kayak in my research. This incredible kayak comes with tons of useful features to make sure you get the best out of your 13-inch kayak. Native Watercraft used propel Pedal Drive system with both forward and reverse movement. You will find a left-hand rudder control system.
It comes with hand-sewn 1st class seating with adjustable inseam. As you will be hunting ducks, you will have to stand a lot. Native Watercraft used premium deck padding to make it easy for standing. You will also find propel drive trunk cover with some accessory tray and cup holder. There is also a 5” dry storage hatch to keep your electronics. There is also a rear storage well for easy access.
To carry it, you can take advantage of the padded carry handles. It has sharp bow entry for better tracking. The rudder protective keel also helps for tracking.
Pros
- Propel pedal drive system: forward and reverse
- Left-hand rudder control system
- Padded deck for standing
- Sewn seating with adjustable inseam
- Padded carry handles
- checkRear storage well
- check5” dry storage hatch
- checkSuper seal scupper plugs
Cons
- Expensive
Why use a kayak for duck hunting?
A lot of people uses boats for duck hunting. Most of the times these kayak hunting boats are expensive. These expensive boats come with tons of useful features, but the price is high. On the contrary, kayaks are comparably cheaper than the boats. Not only they are cheaper, but kayaks also offer some incredible features that will be hard to find in other water vessels. There are several reasons to choose a duck hunting kayak over boats, and I am going to share the major ones.
Kayaks are usually lightweight. Most of the kayaks available on the market are way lighter than a full-fledged boat. A duck hunter will have to go to remote places where taking a boat would be a hassle. Oppositely, a kayak is lightweight and much more comfortable to carry on your car rooftop. There are some excellent kayak roof rack carriers where you can carry your kayak with ease. This is why I prefer kayak over a boat for duck hunting.
Accessibility is low when you are using a boat. As mentioned before, boats are not suitable for remote places. Besides the weight, boats are just not ideal for such sites. They are big, doesn’t do good in shallow water, and accessibility is poor. Usually, kayaks are made for shallow water and can be used when there are few inches of water. By using a kayak, you can explore very remote places, which is tough to do with a boat. A duck hunting kayak will take you to the places you can only dream of with your boats.
Another most important thing about duck hunting is that you should not make noise as they will drive away the birds. Usually, the water vessels make a lot of noise, and it makes it hard for the duck hunters. This is where the kayaks are significantly better than the boats. Kayaks barely cause noise, and if you paddle slowly, you won’t scare the birds. Before you take a shot, you should always turn off the motor of your kayak, and wait for the suitable time.
Final Verdict
I know choosing the best duck hunting kayak can be a tedious job for most people. This is why I suggest you look for the most critical factors for you when looking for a duck hunting kayak. There are tons of kayaks available in the market, but a few can serve the abilities you are looking for. I have already offered some amazing duck hunting kayaks above, and I hope you will be able to find the perfect one for your next duck hunting trip. Just remember that it is wise to shell out a little bit of extra money to land the best duck hunting kayak. It will let you enjoy the nice hunting trip, and it will also help you chill while you hunt duck. Choose one of the kayaks from this list of best duck hunting kayaks,and hunt some ducks.
(6 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)
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Afsar is an avid kayak blogger born near the coast. He has a passion for kayaking and started as a child. He has paddled in various conditions and locations and promotes responsible kayaking. Afsar’s blog is widely read, and they are a respected voice in the kayaking community, offering valuable content on kayaking trips, gear, tips, and tricks. Afsar collaborates with other bloggers and brands and continues to inspire others through their writing and social media.