The canoe glides silently along the river, mere inches from a slick, muddy bank. Its two occupants remain vigilant. The front hunter cradles a shotgun at port arms while the rear paddler sculls slightly to maintain alignment with the current. The sound of “shaking water” ahead signals the presence of ducks.

Suddenly, a dozen mallards appear, spot the hunters, and erupt from the water in a flurry! The paddler backstrokes to angle the canoe for a better shot. The shooter swings on a greenhead, pulls the trigger, and the duck folds. He quickly finds and fires at another drake within 30 yards, and this bird cartwheels. In mere seconds, an explosion of ducks results in a brace of mallards in the bag. Calmness returns to the river as the hunters retrieve their birds and continue downstream.

Float Hunting: The Ultimate Duck Hunting Experience in Alaska

Float hunting represents a unique and effective approach to duck hunting, allowing hunters to escape the crowded public hunting areas. This method provides high-quality sport at minimal expense and emphasizes skill over modern gadgets prevalent in contemporary waterfowling. Despite being an old-school technique, float hunting remains accessible, effective, and exhilarating.

Conrad Vollertsen, a seasoned float hunter from Sand Spring, Oklahoma, boasts over 30 years of experience. He describes this hunting style as “unparalleled in quality.” “More mallards and wood ducks are scattered along small rivers than most people realize. Float hunters often encounter deer, beavers, turkeys, squirrels, and other wildlife. The scenery is beautiful, the environment is tranquil, and this hunting method is both enjoyable and effective for bagging ducks that many overlook.”

Vollertsen typically float-hunts from a canoe with a partner. One paddles while the other keeps watch at the front. Their canoe is camouflaged, and both hunters don full camouflage attire to blend into the river’s backdrop.

“A canoe is ideal for float hunting,” Vollertsen asserts. “It’s quiet, highly maneuverable, and stable if weight is shifted carefully. In all my years, I’ve never tipped a canoe.” He recommends a Kevlar or polyethylene canoe over aluminum due to their quieter operation.

A float hunt usually begins at a public access point on a river—such as a bridge, ford, or boat ramp—and progresses downstream. Hunters can paddle to a predetermined takeout point (where another vehicle should be pre-positioned) or use a mini-outboard motor to return upstream after their float.

According to Vollertsen, the best conditions for float hunting occur when water levels are normal to low. During floods, ducks disperse widely. However, when rivers are within their banks, especially in cold temperatures that freeze surrounding ponds and sloughs, ducks concentrate in moving water.

Vollertsen typically starts his float hunts around 7:30 a.m. His strategy is straightforward: “We paddle quietly and hug the banks on inside bends. Ducks prefer to rest in pools and eddies, especially near logs or upturned roots. Often, we ease around a bend and find ourselves right on top of them before they realize.”

Occasionally, float hunters spot ducks far ahead on long, straight stretches of river, where the ducks also see the hunters. Vollertsen explains, “At a distance, they may be suspicious and swim ahead or fly a couple of hundred yards downstream before landing.” In either scenario, the hunters remain still, allowing the ducks to make the next move. If the ducks swim around a bend, they paddle quickly to catch up for a flush shot, or if the ducks take flight, they anticipate another opportunity downstream.

For jump-shooting ducks, Vollertsen recommends a 12-gauge shotgun with an open choke, loaded with #4 or #6 steel loads, such as Hevi-Shot duck load shotshells. “Ducks often flush within 10 yards of the canoe, and sometimes it’s necessary to let them get a bit further out to shoot. This is why a shotgun and load that provide a wide, dense pattern at close range are essential.”

Safety is paramount when floating. Only the front hunter should shoot, maintaining constant awareness of muzzle direction. All hunters should wear life vests. Vollertsen suggests a vest with shoulder straps that has flotation panels around the waist, ensuring it does not hinder shotgun mounting or paddling.

Each hunter should carry waterproof matches and fire-starting materials in case of wet conditions. Bringing extra clothing in a dry bag is also advisable. Finally, float hunters should inform someone of their plans and expected return time, ensuring that rescuers know where to begin searching in case of an emergency.

Vollertsen and his partner adapt to the river’s pace, taking whatever bounty it offers. They often bag a few squirrels alongside ducks and sometimes explore tributaries. Vollertsen carries a half-dozen duck decoys in his canoe. If he identifies an area with active ducks, he deploys the decoys and hides along the bank to wait for the next flight. At lunchtime, they beach their canoe on a sandbar, build a fire, and prepare a hot meal.

“That’s the beauty of float hunting,” Vollertsen states. “You conduct your hunt as you wish. You can start and end when you want, take breaks when needed, and enjoy the solitude and wild nature of the river.”

“Rivers are truly a last frontier for waterfowl hunters. You simply launch downstream, ready for action around every bend.”