Well I went on another duck hunting trip and I'm really getting into duck hunting! My brother-in-law took me again and is showing me the ropes of duck hunting. We got to the lake around 5am and with a short hike to the edge, we found ice about 20-30 yards out towards the lake. We were set up by 6am, and sitting there waiting for the sun to come up watching a boat ramp across the lake launching boat after boat. As soon as the sun came up we started shooting and were doing quite well, but after about 9am, there was NOTHING. The ducks seemed quite content to stay on the water and not fly (it was really cold and windy).

But that's not the bad part. As I got to become a little chilled around 9:30, I decided to walk around a little bit to get the blood flowing. While walking around in the water in the cove we were at, I found a stump/log underwater with my foot and promptly found myself completely submerged. It was so quick and I at first had my shotgun above water (kind of like the "don't spill yer beer while falling" look). I quickly started panicking when I realized I could get my feet underneath me again because my left foot was caught on the stump/log in a Y and it was holding me under. I was freaked out to say the least. But my old Boy Scout training kicked in, and I calmed down, shoved the butt of the gun in the mud and climbed (yes climbed) the barrel slowly to get my head above water to take another breath. I could barely hold my head up (it was pretty deep) but I was able to keep breathing and slowly untwist my foot from the branch and stand up again. I pulled a calf muscle in the process and probably took half the lake into my waders. My cell phone (which I normally leave in the truck ) was ruined and I was standing there in the lake soaking wet from head to toe in 28 degrees with the wind at about 20-30 mph. My brother-in-law heard the "bloop" of me going under, looked and didn't see me, wondered where I went, but went back to calling as some mallards flew over. Remind me not to hunt with someone who doesn't think twice about his hunting buddy "disappearing" in the middle of the lake. All-in-all, it was a bad experiance for what happened, but I just don't think it was enough to keep me from hunting ducks again. I just love the challenge and I get so excited everytime I take down a bird. Hopefully next time I won't fall again!!!

The only good news of the whole thing is that I got a little bit nicer cell phone now and since my old (and I mean old) wallet was ruined also, my wife says make do until this weekend and I can go get a really nice leather one from Cabelas or BPS to replace it now. I've always had the cheaper ones from Wally World, so this will be nice.

brrrrrrrrrr. That sounds cold. I have gone under once and then had a thorn bush under the water rip an old pair of canvas waders all the way up the leg. It will sure wake you up. Glad you were okay though!

glad you are ok. Good job on the survival thinking.

I thought about going hunting alone this past weekend but didn't because of things just like that. If I had a dog to do the retrieving I might have doe it.

It was really short, maybe only 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity when it happened. It really scared me, and just re-assured me of the ol' buddy system. Just not with my brother-in-law apparently!

Oh man, I bet that a horrible feeling. How long did it take to get back to the truck?

My worst was I decided to pond hunt a morning after a successful deer hunt. I didn't take my waders since it is small tank. But there zero wind. I got my feet wet to retrieve my birds and headed to the truck. My keys were locked inside and camp was 2 miles away! It was below freezing. Luckily 2 hours the locksmith got my keys out (I actually used his tools to open the door actually!) and I could finally warm up.

You got a couple ducks right? Then I'd call it a successful trip! I hunt alone a lot and have really lucked out considering some of the terrain I hunt. On Sunday I has in chest deep water trying to get a decoy that was trying to get away from me. I got the sucker but a $7 decoy probably wasn't worth the risk since I was about 3/4" from the top of my waders and by myself.

GLAD TO HEAR EVERYTHING TURNED OUT GOOD THIS TIME.
I will back the buddy system also. Never go alone if there is even a chance that something might not go as planned. Always let someone know where you are going also.
Now for my question Nate was the water cold as ice

Honestly if someone gets dunked like that the hunt is over. You are lucky you didnt go into shock or something. I've had hunts when it wasnt even that cold were I got an arm wet and was pretty cold after...not cold enough to call it but still cold. You get water in your waders it's over in my book.

Worst case the guy should at least let you take his truck and then come back and get you. Your B-i-L sounds like an azzhole to me.

He's a decent guy all in all, he just wasn't thinking this time. When it comes to hunting, I've learned he doesn't think much about the other guys, particularly when bird hunting. I've learned if I want to shoot ducks, hunt next to him, because he's always in the right spot, and he won't let them get by for those behind him to shoot. So I hunt next to him and I get more shots...

Other than that, he's a really good guy, and has been teaching me about duck hunting and all. He also took me to the National Forrest for my first time this year. So he really is a good guy over all. This time he just didn't think where a 290# guy "disappears" to in the middle of a cove instantaneously.

I would make it plain and simple next time I went hunting with him. If something like that happens again it's over NO MATTER WHO IT IS.
Just my .02

been there and done that and it is not fun at all. glad it turned out ok

I would have taken his keys and left if you where close to home. It sounds like pneumonia waiting to happen.

Any duck hunter who says he has never taken the plunge is lying or his number just hasn't come up yet. I took the dive while setting deeks well before shooting light. Hunted the morning and absoltely froze. But we got ducks!

Screw that! I would have left him there if he wanted to wait it out.

Last tues. I went with a fellow that told me we needed to cross an area in a canoe. It was me, 6'1" 225 before Thanksgiving anyway, and my buddy who is always 6'5" and 340 lbs. Had dog and decoys, but only 30 yards to the X. Well we get across okay, but realize we ain't on the X in a couple of hours. Head back and get close to the ramp when, floomp, Big Daddy down. My buddy was able to manage to get on dry ground without submerging, benefit of being in the front. I on the other had was imitating a diver, which was necessary to retrieve our bags and guns. I swear I heard my dog chuckle. So, being discouraged, I went again the next day, ALONE with no boat. I thought my waders had been dried until my socks turned into a sponge. Oh well, 80 miles from home, what do you do. can't take it after an hour and 2 birds. Get back to truck and my feet were blue. If you know me you understand the brevity of that statement. So, discouraged, I went the next 4 days. Only fell once without going underwater. Gonna be a long next 5 hunts.

Rob

Wow what a story!

I make it a point to always bring extra dry clothes in my boat's gun case. Taking off the wet clothes and replacing them with dry ones can make a huge difference, especially in really cold conditions. I would always call it a day if you get that wet and the weather is that cold. Hypothermia can happen quick, I would not take it lightly. Natedogg, I'm glad everything turned out all right. Be careful out there.

My son Shawn fell in sunday. It was his 2nd time this year.

Well usually I drive seperate, and I think from now on I will continue to, that way if anything happens, I can leave when I'm ready and not wait on him. Unfortunately I'm still new to duck hunting and my equipment list only consists of a shotgun and waders. So I'm reliant on hunting with my BIL as he has the decoys, calls, and knows what the heck we are doing.