Injured while duck hunting
 

Hey,

So, as the title says, I was injured while I was duck hunting on Sunday. Here is what happened:

I shot a male mallard, and it fell in the water. I got my waders on and went out to get it. While in the ice cold water with my waders on, I slipped and fell in the water completely. Struggling, I had to abandon the duck and swim back to shore. No duck is as important as my life.

I almost died, but I was able to make it to the shore. It was a near death experience. Very scary.

I am letting you all know I am okay, and I made it out with only a big bruise on my leg that is very painful.

Be safe while you are hunting.

Jared

my condolences, sir.
we are but mortal
be careful

Thank you for the condolences. I'm sure I'll get better soon.

Looks like you found out why you should wear a pfd in cold water in the winter. If you are shooting over water, a canoe or small boat is a better idea than waders. I hunt ducks out of a boat and I wear chest waders and a PFD and I have been in cold water in December. You cannot be too prepared.

To be honest, it didn't occur to me to have a PFD. I guess I learned something today!

You're right. You cannot be too prepared.

Anyway, I am sure I will recover soon. It just takes time.

Thanks for the advice!

Jared

Glad you're okay and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Also, good choice on letting go of the duck. Like you said, not worth your life.

Heck of a wake up call. Glad you're okay. It seems like very few years, some older guy falls out of a boat into a high elevation lake while fishing and the cold water temps hocks their heart and they die.

The thing to have if you are going to be on water, especially cold water is SOSpenders the kind that inflates as soon as you hit the water. They are light weight and you really don't even think about them when you have them on. they are perfect for hunting because they are not as bulky as regular PFDs and you can shoot while wearing them. I wore a set when I helped a friend bring his 42 ft sail boat back from Bermuda to MD. I wore it for 6 days and We hit a full gale a half a day out of Hamilton and were in it for almost 3 days and I wore it all day and night. They cost more than the standard PFD but they are worth it. https://www.landfallnavigation.com/s...w-harness.html

How do those inflate ot? Do you have to pull a cord or does it do it automatically somehow?

Like say you fall in unconscious?

-Jake

Never heard of those kinds of waders. I'll have to look into it.

Anyway, my leg is a little better today. Still in pain, but a little better.

Those SOSpenders look like a slick idea.

Waterfowl hunting can be very dangerous. (also a lot of fun). But you should hunt with a partner especially under those conditions. Many years ago when I was young and daring my cousin and I went trout fishing one winter day. The temp when we left the house was -12*. We both were only wearing hip boots with layers of clothes/socks. Where the water was running in the stream it was open and we were catching some nice fish. At least we were until I slipped and fell into the water up to my just past my waist. We were about 3/4 mile from his truck. I tossed him my rod and he tossed me his keys and I ran for the truck. My legs and feet were so cold they felt like they were in a vise!

I do have a partner, but he wasnt with me at the time. Thanks for the advice! It sounds like you had quite the experience too!

Some you have to pull a cord that fires off the CO2 cartridge and with some the water causes the cartridge to fire and inflates the vest automatically. Thos are the ones you want because if you are unconscious you can't pull the cord. The automatic SOSpenders are a little more expensive but the difference is not worth not getting the auto.

Had a little fun and wrote a ukulele song about the experience. Its good therapy!

Just letting you all know that I made a full recovery.

I hope you used a wader belt, with a sheath knife attached to it...so you can cut the waders off of you, before it fills-up with water and weighs you down.

:lolabove::happy0157::lolabove:

Sorry to hear this!

Guy's, one of the better solutions we found was
to place a rod or walking staff in each blind.
To be use when you go collect your ducks.
This can help you balance and prevent those slips.
It can also be used to test the water depth ahead of your next step.

Thanks for caring and still posting even after I recovered. It didn't occur to me to have a walking stick or rod with me. Then again, there were plenty of sticks around me. Why didn't I think of that?

Well, you have to learn somehow. Next October, which is the next Duck and Goose season, I'll be a lot more careful.

Jared