Duck boats in Venice....

What's a large boat? You just get to the area and paddle in? I've never hunted Venice so I legit have no idea what it's like during the winter

My boat is 25' with radar. I have pirouge racks built in and park boat at hunting area and paddle to where I hunt.

Even in a larger boat Venice is dangerous. I always take instances like this to help show those who just see a place to kill ducks that you need to be careful.

When hammer says duck boat I am assuming he is talking about a surface drive. This is our venice rig (now have radar installed), with what we call a "duck boat" stacked in a large pirogue. We use the larger boat to run the river/passes, then launch the pirogues/duckboat to hunt. Typically just pushpoling over a flat to set up.

Just taking a guess but I assume when hammer is talking about a big enough boat he is not just talking size, HP plays a big factor as well. An underpowered boat running the river can get you in a bind real quick. Yeah your surface drive may be 18ft but if it has low sides and is only being pushed by a 36hp motor you will catch hell crossing a cargo ship wake or running back up river in a NW wind.

A lot of my friends do not respect the river because they have made it down and back safe 2 or 3 times. I try to explain to them that yeah you will probably be ok 9 out of 10 times but it only takes a seemingly small variable to put you in a world of hurt if you don't give the river the respect it deserves (demands really).

Edit to add after seeing Hammers reply:
There are times where we decided it was better to wait it out at the camp an extra day rather then head back upriver when a front is breaking in this boat which has made hundreds of trips up and down the river.

Hopefully people heed your advice hammer, unfortunately most who have been bitten by the Venice bug after 1-2 trips with a buddy probably won't.

You're dead on. The size of the boat is only one of the variables. Horsepower and outfit are equally as important. Too many people who haven't spent a large amount of time on the after do not understand that, and unfortunately, a lot of people who recently started duck hunting fall into that category.

My uncle had a camp in Ostrica, use to launch my 16x48 Weldcraft, with a 55 Suzuki, at Riverside launch in Buras and run across the river to the locks.

Only time I wore a life jacket in my flat...

Just getting back from a pm hunt it's windy and angry down here. Passed a few duck boats (surface drives) in the river they have bigger balls and less brains than I do.

Glad to see my thinking isn't in the minority here.

I go pretty much when I can down here but feel comfortable in the boat I have to do that. Still hairy sometimes always have to be on your toes here. This weather I do t leave without extra clothes, food, emergency supplies and EPIRB and PLB's

Yeah, no duck is worth risking that. Hope they pull through.

Jason the anchor with long rode is important more than most realize. If the shite hits the fan and you loose power in rough water an anchor on a long line even if not touching bottom will in some cases keep the bow of the boat into the waves.

I keep the following on my boat in the winter
Tarps
Space blankets
Old sleeping bag
2 pairs clothes
MREs
Extensive first aid kit
Flare gun
Back up VHF
battery jumper for boat and cell phone
Float coats
PLBx 2
EPRIB
Extra bilge pump
Extra plug and a whole lot of other stuff I probably can't think of. I put what I use on here to possibly help people maybe it will...