Muskrat Hut blind?

[fishuhalik]

Any of you guys ever use this? I do a lot of hunting in shallow potholes, sloughs, beaver ponds, rice etc & when I'm by myself I really don't wanna worry about loading & dragging a canoe. Plus the blind looks great, you could sit right in the middle of a lake & never be noticed.

http://www.cuppedupoutdoors.com/

[JimBuck]

I bought a float tube last year to use on solo hunts. I also made a ghillie cover that drapes over the tube and then I wear a ghillie jacket. I think it's a real fun way to hunt, especially when ducks are on the deck coming right at you. You definitely have to keep yourself in check when swinging on shots. I use it on calm days and along with flippers to move about and retrieve. Like everything else, it has a time and a place. I haven't seen the muskrat huts but they do look pretty slick. I do wonder about how much your field of vision would be limited by a flip over blind.

[fishuhalik]

Jimbuck, do you use a tube or a uboat? I would think the uboat style would be really stable. Never been in one though

[Gordie]

I have always wanted to turn a boat into a beaver lodge or rat hut to blend in and when I had my 10fgt jon I did some thing similar with chicken wire and stick and weeds but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for,but it did work well as a blend in type blind.

[JimBuck]

It's a U-Boat style of tube with the stripping net on the front that you remove to get in and out. They are really stable, the biggest thing for me was getting in and out while on the water. It's a bit awkward if it's too deep next to cattails but still doable. I recommend flippers and a life jacket that doesn't have the flotation on the shoulders. Also a leash for the shotgun. I'll see if I can dig up some photos of my tube after work. Also look at the ones that actually put you on the surface of the water instead of submerged waist deep. It makes a difference when you hunt for any length of time.

[Bryce]

Should work great. Possibly really great. I personally have never seen a duck worth standing in more than ankle deep water for but others may see differently. Going to be cold. No place for the hound either so guess one will never be on my equipment list. Give us a review next fall.

[fishuhalik]

Not too worried about the cold. I spoiled myself last fall and got a really nice pair of insulated waders for late season hunting. I stood in belly deep water for 6 hours last November and never noticed it. And I don't have a pooch so that's a non issue. My only concern is chasing down crips but the tube will still be better than nothing! Can't wait to try it, I just found one on sale for $235 and snagged it. Anyone else have any tips for hunting out of a tube? PFD, flippers & a lanyard for the shotty are givens. What else do I need?

[LightningBG]

I believe you need to be connected to shore or vegetation in some matter, don't you?

[fishuhalik]

I dont think so. I've hunted out of a canoe in the middle of a rice patch many many times. I guess I may have been wrong, never checked the regs cuz I just thought the only rule that applied to blinds was no sink boxes

[poutpro]

From 2012 waterfowl regs:

Taking in Open Wat er

A person may not take migratory waterfowl, coots, or rails in open water unless

that person is:

a) within a natural growth of vegetation sufficient to partially conceal the person or boat, or

pursuing or shooting wounded birds (while in compliance with watercraft restrictions), or

c) on a river or stream that is not more than 100 yards in width.

Not sure what the legal description of "sufficient to partially conceal" means though.