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I like to use 2 sleds stacked together in my duck hunts.
I purchased made-in-USA sleds for $40 each on clearance at the local hardware store.
( typically I see them going on clearance sale in Feb...)
I like sleds in my Alaska duck hunts because:
1) Most importantly it helps keep my dog dry...I put a ridgerest sleeping pad in and
turn over the sled to drain it after a few retrieves. No muss, no fuss.
2) I can use it in heavy cover hunting next to my dog, or put it back in the willows
while I layout in a mudflat in the other sled.
3) If I need to change a prop or water pump, I can float the sled under the outboard
to catch any bolts or washers or small parts I might drop.
4) Puppies learn the "place command" in the sled in the yard, so
they are comfortable with retrieving from it and
they have been conditioned to be steady from it for future duck hunts.
5) Since we always camp out on our Alaska duck hunts,
the sled is handy for hauling camp to and from the boat.
6) The sled is perfect for holding decoys, setting up or picking up
with the boat stashed in heavy cover a couple hundred yards away.
7) These sleds are durable..serve to haul firewood at -30F at home for 20 years,
and strong and I can hunt 2 labs, each in his own sled.
8) I can layout shoot in a few inches of water using natural cover from a sled.
My favorite hunts are shallow water layout shoots for pintails and teal.
![Pintails.JPG]()
9) If it is really cold, I can knock the ice out of the sled and ridgerest pad to keep the retriever warm and dry.
10) If I shoot a moose I can easily deal with it.
This year I shot a bull in knee deep water and the sled was invaluable
for dealing with the ~>100 pound quarters.
![moose_sled.jpg]()
I hunt very shallow water, typically laying in the sled with my lab back in the willows in another sled.
If you hunt flooded timber,here is a sled that apparently works well in deep water:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2GMGIupYUY
I purchased made-in-USA sleds for $40 each on clearance at the local hardware store.
( typically I see them going on clearance sale in Feb...)
I like sleds in my Alaska duck hunts because:
1) Most importantly it helps keep my dog dry...I put a ridgerest sleeping pad in and
turn over the sled to drain it after a few retrieves. No muss, no fuss.
2) I can use it in heavy cover hunting next to my dog, or put it back in the willows
while I layout in a mudflat in the other sled.
3) If I need to change a prop or water pump, I can float the sled under the outboard
to catch any bolts or washers or small parts I might drop.
4) Puppies learn the "place command" in the sled in the yard, so
they are comfortable with retrieving from it and
they have been conditioned to be steady from it for future duck hunts.
5) Since we always camp out on our Alaska duck hunts,
the sled is handy for hauling camp to and from the boat.
6) The sled is perfect for holding decoys, setting up or picking up
with the boat stashed in heavy cover a couple hundred yards away.
7) These sleds are durable..serve to haul firewood at -30F at home for 20 years,
and strong and I can hunt 2 labs, each in his own sled.
8) I can layout shoot in a few inches of water using natural cover from a sled.
My favorite hunts are shallow water layout shoots for pintails and teal.
9) If it is really cold, I can knock the ice out of the sled and ridgerest pad to keep the retriever warm and dry.
10) If I shoot a moose I can easily deal with it.
This year I shot a bull in knee deep water and the sled was invaluable
for dealing with the ~>100 pound quarters.
I hunt very shallow water, typically laying in the sled with my lab back in the willows in another sled.
If you hunt flooded timber,here is a sled that apparently works well in deep water:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2GMGIupYUY
