Lifejackets in Canoe?

[Meyer8043]

1st off the dnr HSOforum has been down a while so I am wondering if i need a life jacket in the canoe when heading out into the marsh on sat, also does a canoe have to be registered in mn? I have no motor on it, but thinking about a trolling motor does that make a difference in whether it should be registered?

[motley man]

I would never be in a canoe without a life jacket on !!!! As of the rules of tabs I think that for hunting you don't, but check...

[ted4887]

Yes, your canoe MUST be registered. Even if it doesn't have a motor on it. It will only cost about $25-$30.

And yes, you should always wear a lifejacket. That water is going to be getting pretty cold, and if you end up going for a swim, you will be thankful you have it on.

As far as the trolling motor goes, I do believe it does make a difference in liscencing. You will need to ask the registrar, but i'm 90% sure if you have any type of motor on it, you will be issued vehicle numbers for the side of your canoe, rather than a non-motorized canoe, which would only get a year registration sticker.

[shamalex72]

Page 10 of waterfowl regs says-

"a duck boat does not have to be licensed during the waterfowl hunting season for waterfowl hunting only"

I would assume that a canoe would be considered a duck boat.

[bassmann77]

You don't need to register it if you are duck hunting. Other than that you should register it. If you are using a trolling motor, you don't need the numbers like on a boat. I registered my canoe last year and asked the registrar if I needed numbers with a trolling motor and she said no. She said only when you reach a certain horsepower. I just can't remember what the horsepower was. Life jackets should always be worn in a canoe. If you have waders on and go in, the waders are going to be the "death" of you.

[fivebucks]

A canoe is considered a watercraft and you need to have a lifejacket on board for each person, just like any boat. I haven't always done that in duck boats on small ponds but if you want to follow the law - you need life jackets.

[Burchoid]

A canoe is considered a watercraft and you need to have a lifejacket on board for each person, just like any boat. I haven't always done that in duck boats on small ponds but if you want to follow the law - you need life jackets.

Well said...

I hunt a little swamp on private land, and to be honest, I don't bring or wear a life jacket. I'd be in shin-deep water if I went in.

Technically the law still says I still need to have a life jacket in my canoe, even on private land in my little puddle.

[Lipriper84]

About 5 years ago I was Jump Shooting in a Cannoe with a buddy that hadn't hunted out of a Cannoe before. Some ducks got up and he shifted his weight to fast and over we went. Wow that water was cold. Neither of us had our life jackets on and both had wadders on. Luckily he found a seat coushion and I was able to swim to the cannoe before I sank down in to the loon Shat bottom completely. Now I never go out there without my life jacket on.