Hi all!

So who wants to know what about layout hunting??  Hunting out of a layout has been quite the journey for me.  it started with the crazy idea of building my own layout boat.  but not only was i crazy to build one...  i built 3!  The wife told me that if I was to build one for me I had to build one for my son.  yup it took the entire summer to do it.  countless hours on weeknights and just about every saturday from april to september.  But when all was said and done what a HUGE satisfaction to gun out of something i built myself!!  well this endeavor was a team effort with my twin brother.  So after gallons of fiberglass resin(that is some sticky stuff!!!) and lots of work we completed the build.  Here are a few pics for your enjoyment!

The cockpits and apron with bulkheads completed on all three boats.

 the cockpit has been figerglassed with the top skeleton being made for the top deck.

 Top decking installed.  lots of bondo and sanding to do...

 the last fiberglass hooraaa!  never again will i do that!!

Well what do you know, they all floated and no leaks!

So once you have the boat, either by ponying up the $$ or do it the HARD way.  then its on to the decoys.  and with layout spreads the more the merrier!  yup you can justify buying as many decoys as you like.  tell the wife its time for you to buy bluebills.  and lots of them!!!  I currently run about 8 dozen bluebills, 2 dozen coots, 1 dozen of each redheads, ringnecks, canvasbacks, buffleheads, goldeneyes, and last but not least... a few oldsquaws just in case!!!  there have been a few times when i took every puddler decoy i owned and made one heck of a layout spread.  So the thing is you really cant over do it!

Now once you have the gear its time to find the birds.  trick to that is to scout!  once you start seeing divers on open water you are good to go!  layout hunting for puddler ducks can be very frustrating as they approach from higher in the sky.  this gives them the advantage to look down on you.  diver ducks tend to fly lower to the water.  so laying in a boat simply just makes you disappear.  its funny, you feel as naked as the world is laying in a boat and them divers just come crashing into you like they are coming home to mamma!

you can set your spread up in many different ways.  i tend to like a large "J" hook.  with the layout being in the bottom.  Then all you do is have the species your gunning for sit on the tip of the "J" or in the middle of the open space.  I call this the honey hole.  With that you are good to go.  Don't forget your radio's so you can talk with the tender boat.  This is the guy who comes in and picks up your birds.  The tender boat usually sits off to the side at about 200 yards or so.  far enough distance not to interfere with birds that are looking for a new home. 

 Their is some trial and error just like you would expect.  But it doesnt take long to get the hang of it and your into the action.  One of the good things with diver hunting is that you can throw away the duck call.  so no skill is required when it comes to that!

All I can say is if you have ever have the chance to shoot out of a layout boat, take a sick day from work and dont miss the opportunity!

Enjoy!!

D. Noorda

btw, a good place to start if your interested in layout boats.  go see my good friend Tony or Bob.  They build one heck of a solid boat.    Please click on the link.

http://www.lakebonnevillelayoutboats.com/ 

http://www.bfolayouts.com/

 ps. enjoy a few pics.  its good eye candy for the soul!