One more way to die Deer Hunting

[ssiredfish]

As if fallin outta the stand, a "stray" bullet or a heart attack when that 160" buck you've been chasin for 3 years steps out, add hypothermia to the list. I was on my way to my second spot at 9am yesterday when I shot a beaver from the road that crosses the swamp. I popped the beaver good at 25yrds and jumped a deer that was in the thick behind it. I wasn't Beaver huntin so I decided to mark the spot and try to cut the deer off 200yrds around the edge of the swamp. That ended up bein pointless after an hour so I decided Id go find the beaver. That whole side of the swamp is shallow and was covered in a thin layer of ice and I knew I could walk it carefully to avoid a over-the-cuff disaster.

I did just that for 30 min and never came across the beaver and managed to stay dry. I decided it was time enough and we should just forget about it and take the deer my buddy shot earlier to the processor. I got about 10yrds from the road and all of a sudden the ground disappeared. My gasp got louder every inch I fell!! I got about thigh-deep before I went to full out jumpin-jack pose and stopped myself right around the waist. Couldn't find the bottom but the hole was about 2 1/2' around and I was able to dig my boots and arms in and climb out of the icy abyss. My first thought was what the - was that all about! Second was to check the breach of the rifle on my back and then I realized how freezing and soakin wet I was, in that order.....

I got on the road and started walkin back to my truck. Thank god it was only 100yrds away but even by the time I reached the bumper my knees were knockin out. I cranked the truck and the heat and started getting naked. The small sheets of ice, boggy peat and brown doodoo water were of no combination that any hunter wants to pour out of his boot. Threw my clothes on the ground and jumped in the truck. I looked at the rearview to read the word "ICE" and "29" flashin. I figured Id let my partner know what happened and realized my phone was in the thigh pocket of my pants. Grabbed it out and somehow it was bone dry. I thought it pretty funny that somehow it went completely under water and Im the one that's still wet!!!

As I warmed up I thought how lucky I was that I didn't go over my head and somehow my phone was still working. It obviously coulda gone much more south than that and Im glad it didn't. Yall be safe out there.....

PS. What I keep in my boxers just reappeared this morning. I couldn't sleep last night cause I thought I lost it

[EngstromNK]

It is a bad feeling having the ground disappear under your feet. I have duck hunted quite a few salt marshes. One morning I was walking in the dark next to my buddy. We were in a few inches of water & you could see the grasses all around us by our head lamps. The next step I was gone. Armpit deep in a hole that wasn't 2' round. Fortunately for me I hit bottom & it wasn't too cold.

I read a story years ago about a guy doing the same thing and he went back the next day to find his gun & he couldn't find the bottom of the hole with the push pole of his john boat.

[Destroyer]

Yet another reason why I do all of my hunting for deer meat, etc at the local butchers shop. Glad you're okay ssiredfish. Be careful out there. Sounds like that orange blaze hunting vest should be a life jacket.

[willy]

Faced a few scary moments in the woods myself, by myself. There is no more alone type feeling any where. Glad you made it back OK brother.

[smokeonthewater]

Sure glad ur OK.... Good thing you were close to the truck

years back I was blasting back and forth over a flooded field on my snowmobile.... about pass 8 the drive belt got wet and she sank in the middle.... I had busted all the ice in passes 1-3... when it hit bottom I was standing on the handle bars and hood with my ankles in the water..... After a few minutes I decided to remove my pants and put my shoes back on for the 500' waste deep walk back to dry land..... then I wiped as much water off as I could, put my pants back on and squeezed what I could from my boots... THEN I got to walk about 5 miles home in deep snow.... NOT fun. Thankfully I was in my late teens or early 20's then ..... I'm not certain I'd make it as easily now.

I stumbled several times but had I fallen and got my coat and pants wet I doubt I would have survived the walk back...... Looking back....ummmm... yeah that whole snowmobile over water that far from help by myself in that cold of weather..... not my brightest moment.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by smokeonthewater

Sure glad ur OK.... Good thing you were close to the truck

years back I was blasting back and forth over a flooded field on my snowmobile.... about pass 8 the drive belt got wet and she sank in the middle.... I had busted all the ice in passes 1-3... when it hit bottom I was standing on the handle bars and hood with my ankles in the water..... After a few minutes I decided to remove my pants and put my shoes back on for the 500' waste deep walk back to dry land..... then I wiped as much water off as I could, put my pants back on and squeezed what I could from my boots... THEN I got to walk about 5 miles home in deep snow.... NOT fun. Thankfully I was in my late teens or early 20's then ..... I'm not certain I'd make it as easily now.

I stumbled several times but had I fallen and got my coat and pants wet I doubt I would have survived the walk back...... Looking back....ummmm... yeah that whole snowmobile over water that far from help by myself in that cold of weather..... not my brightest moment.

Yep... that one was a definite candidate for an honorable mention in the Darwin Awards.

[ssiredfish]

HAHA....

As long as it only happens once I'll be alright with it!!

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by ssiredfish

HAHA....

As long as it only happens once I'll be alright with it!!

Hung my foot on a log 10' from the bank and went down and under in Feb duck hunting...I know the GASP you mentioned as it takes your breath...glad yer OK...

[ssiredfish]

Thanks man, yea that gasp was large enough to fill an inflatable pool!!!!