Thought I was going to buy the farm

mgorvi

Active member
I hunted Goose Lake here in southern Wisconsin last week and I tried to cross a six foot drainage ditch that looked shallow and had grass growing on the surface in a lot of areas. My dog just jumped across. I took one step and went down to my chest in muck. My momentum allowed me to grab the bank on the other side after throwing my gun over there. I never did touch the bottom. Had the ditch been ten feet wide my dog would have gone back to my truck with just my hat. Wingworks vest, pockets, cell phone soaked with mud. Geez, I've stepped in badger holes, fallen down, got caught in fences, got lost, but this was by far the worst. I'll never do that again.
 
I watched a friend do the same thing on a two foot wide creek in wyoming. it looked shallow but was 10 feet deep. Lesson learned.:eek:
 
Geez... glad you're ok. I was literally laying in bed the other night thinking about the frozen creeks, rivers and water areas I stupidly crossed or tried to cross over the years... not very wise but I told myself no more. We all get a little to cocky and think the stuff we read about won't happen to us (it can and it will). :/ Be safe and no more of that stuff! Best wishes...
 
Glad your ok. I did something similar years ago scouting for deer. Saw a wooded island out in middle of swamp. This had to be the honey hole of all deer spots so I thought. Half way across the grassy bogs began to move under my feet. No worries I thought just stay on grassy stuff. Only 40 more yards I said and I'm there. Then the rug got pulled out from under my feet.?wham! Down I went. My instincts were to grab anything I could. I never touched bottom. I calmed myself down in water up to my neck and pulled myself up onto the floating grass.
I thought I was done for. Luckily I made it out. Never again will I try stupid things like that again. Just not worth it.

Bob
 
Spect I have had a bunch of close calls like that. One memorable one was when I was setting raccoon traps. Waded in below a concrete bridge and things were fine until I got below the concrete piling. Seems there had been a vortec there during high water at some point and I found myself standing on the bottom with 70 pounds of traps in my packbasket looking up at the creek's surface. I don't know why I didn't get rattled, but just crawled up the slope to the surface and unloaded. Stripped down and wrung out my clothes and headed home for another set. There are plenty of hazards in the field. When you get that feeling, best listen. Glad you got out of this one!!!
 
Whew!!!, fellas. :eek:
 
Ha

One good thing about this forum is that it can help keep us out of the Darwin Awards book. There is stuff out there that will try and take you out. Cant keep making the same mistakes. Dont want a lot of chuckling at my funeral. Ha
 
Here's mine. Two years ago I was scouting a new DNR property in late December. Approx. 15 degrees with 20 MPH winds. Decided to cross some cattails to get back to a wooded point. What I had not realized was that water had been pumped into the area I was walking. In addition, they had just installed a culvert to drain the area, so I think there was some current under the ice. Went straight thru up to my chest. First tried to grab a bunch of cattails, and just about choked to death from the seeds I flung in the air. Then I calmed down a bit, pushed my gun up the bank a bit, busted a little ice until it was thick enough to hoist myself out and roll on to the ice. Dog was really freaked out. Pretty much a Popsicle by the time I got back to the car. Stripped off all the wet stuff right there in the parking lot and wrapped a spare coat around my waist. I think the holiday deer hunters in the parking lot must have thought I was nuts.
 
Mishaps

After getting soaked from falling in creeks, dew, rain, sleet, and snow, I now keep a complete set of clothes in the truck all the time when I'm in SD. The whole shabang, boots, jacket, and everything right down to a fresh clean pair of whitey tighties. In the weather you have described, you gotta think hypothermia could have set in pretty quick. A couple miles from the car and an old guy in that situation hunting alone and he could be feeding the coyotes after sundown.
 
Well, in fairness to ourselves, guys...nobody does this sort of thing on purpose.

Mostly, the hunters I have known well are conscientious about the movements they make, the areas they traverse, and the tools they use. Stuff happens, even when you know "stuff happens."

These are the lucky stories. Actually, they are literally "cautionary tales."

Be well and safe.

:thumbsup:
 
I have been through the ice a fair number of times. This is the reason I only hunt area I know during freeze up. Went down ice fishing a couple times in 30 feet of water. Went in on the long prairie river muskrat trapping on ice. Each time I was with 1 friend. had I not been, I would not be here. Once you can be sure winter has all locked solid then I move around. Right now for example, is a horrible year here in this part of the world, to be venturing in to un known cattail sloughs. Very dangerous right now. Temps in the 40's during the day, and freeze at night. We know there is birds in there. Its just not worth it. Grouse hunting for ruffies in the woods is awesome right now, and much more safe.
 
Been there. I shot a bird that landed near a muskrat hut on a shallow marsh in SD, temp in teens and had been for weeks, good cold wind. Walked on ice slowly with no issues- then BAM! I'm standing on the bottom with water to my shoulders. I busted ice towards the way I came with my buttstock until I couldnt bust it anymore and crawled on top, then slithered to shore.

A few lessons learned:
1- Cattail marshes can be weird, no idea why that one spot had skinny ice.
2- Cheap clothes hold lots of water.
3- Wool.
4- Above all stay calm and clear but act fast.

Many, many times I thought I was a goner while hunting- but that ones towards the top of the list.
 
Hunting with my dad and his friends on a duck hunt. the north platte river was frozen solid. We found a place that was covered with ducks on an open site. several hundred ducks and geese. dad creeped in an shot three times. 15 ducks fell. 5 of witch hit the water. are brit hit the water and retreved one duck and dad saved him just before he went under the ice. I thought i was going to lose my dad and the dog.
 
Been there. I shot a bird that landed near a muskrat hut on a shallow marsh in SD, temp in teens and had been for weeks, good cold wind. Walked on ice slowly with no issues- then BAM! I'm standing on the bottom with water to my shoulders. I busted ice towards the way I came with my buttstock until I couldnt bust it anymore and crawled on top, then slithered to shore.

A few lessons learned:
1- Cattail marshes can be weird, no idea why that one spot had skinny ice.
2- Cheap clothes hold lots of water.
3- Wool.
4- Above all stay calm and clear but act fast.

Many, many times I thought I was a goner while hunting- but that ones towards the top of the list.


I can tell ya why. As a trapper for years, I trapped through the ice many many times for rats. Prime, best fur. Right as you said when the ice is 3-4 inches and cold. We trapped right through the houses. But, they keep them thawed inside from warm bodies and good insulation. They will have 2 runs leading in and out under the ice. You need to be very careful anytime you get close to a hut. If I am hunting, I avoid them taking wide passes at least 10 feet away. There is always a weak spot by them somewhere. Trapping you use a spud and check the ice up to the hut and find the strong sides to approach and leave from.:thumbsup:
 
I can tell ya why. As a trapper for years, I trapped through the ice many many times for rats. Prime, best fur. Right as you said when the ice is 3-4 inches and cold. We trapped right through the houses. But, they keep them thawed inside from warm bodies and good insulation. They will have 2 runs leading in and out under the ice. You need to be very careful anytime you get close to a hut. If I am hunting, I avoid them taking wide passes at least 10 feet away. There is always a weak spot by them somewhere. Trapping you use a spud and check the ice up to the hut and find the strong sides to approach and leave from.:thumbsup:

Never knew that. Good advice! Thanks!
 
I can tell ya why. As a trapper for years, I trapped through the ice many many times for rats. Prime, best fur. Right as you said when the ice is 3-4 inches and cold. We trapped right through the houses. But, they keep them thawed inside from warm bodies and good insulation. They will have 2 runs leading in and out under the ice. You need to be very careful anytime you get close to a hut. If I am hunting, I avoid them taking wide passes at least 10 feet away. There is always a weak spot by them somewhere. Trapping you use a spud and check the ice up to the hut and find the strong sides to approach and leave from.:thumbsup:

The same applies for beaver houses, bank dens, and dams. Seems the motion of them going in and out of their dens thins the ice and you will often go right through that thin spot. dams are a function of moving water and rarely freeze as thick as ice further away. I got a mile and a half run after a bounce off the bottom dunking below a beaver dam. Mothers understand the running through her house with all you clothes frozen solid to get into the basement shower more than the situation that caused the incident! FYI, they're also a bit objectionable to dead mink in the house or skunk scented boots placed around the end of the couch! Interesting to come home after midnight from a date in January to find your folks up and all the windows open with fans in them. Dressing in the garage for the rest of trapping season can make you a bit more thoughtful!
 
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