Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Rowlett
Posts: 440

It starts on Saturday, I guide a hunt that the land owner of my lease gave away at his local DU banquet. Not great two wigeon and a gadwall. Thought a pintail would pass one more time and didn't call the shot. I don't think the guys were to happy about that. Hook up with Swing and Drundel. I invite Drundel to hunt with me Sunday and my wife says that he can stay over. Head out to one of our fine local lakes to take afternoon advantage of the low ceiling and drizzle. Get about five minutes into the boat ride and I'm totally engulfed in fog. I'm not to concerned because by landmarks are pretty distinctive. Only problem is I left my GPS in the truck. Find my stump line and follow it, make the right turn at the corner. Boat on for about 10 minutes until I hit land.....normally, but this time there is no land. It just keeps going and going. Turn around and back track figuring I'll hit the ramp, grab the GPS and head back out. Long story short. 1hr and 45min later we found the ramp at 6:00pm after stump hopping through the fog. A little nervous laughter about spending the night on the lake and were off to prepare for Sunday's hunt.

Sunday morning hit the lake on time, cruise out to the spot and for the first time this season there is a Q-beam staring back at me. After a few choice words, I head to spot number two. Water is way up, but we put the decoys out and go to hide the boat. Getting ready to take our positions when three walk in guys come in and set up 75yds away from us and promptly start playing Beethovens 5th on the duck kazoo. I'm usually pretty lenient, but this was the worst I've heard this season. Top that off with no birds in range and hearing the guys in spot number one blast away. I decide at 8:00am to head to the lease to jump shoot. Shoot three teal and one Gaddy, so the skunk is taken care of. Go to jump some other ponds but am not sure if there are still hunters there or not so we pass.

Drundel heads out I head back to town. Call the wife and tell her that I'm not satisfied and it is the last day of season. So she suggests that I get something to eat and head back out and hunt till dark in spot number one. I catch some Whataburger and go to a ramp thats not normally open at the time that I launch. I put the boat in the water and have a time tying it up, finally I just set out the anchor and hustle the truck up and come back down. I see the boat drifting out, but I'm not concerened, just slack in the anchor cord. Get down to the bottom of the ramp and the anchor is there with no cord attatched. I'm watching my boat push out in the wind and think "We'll its only out about twenty five yards, I'll just swim out and get it and then head home". Not really thinking about it I run in, waders and all. When I get to my shoulders I loose my breath, but I figure that because I'm exercising I catch it soon enough. for every 3yds I swim, the boat pushes out 2 more. I'm swimming freestyle when all of a sudden I think, "This is harder that I thought it would be". I start swimming the breathe stroke to save energy and all of a sudden it dawns on me that I'm a ways from shore and tuckered out. Maude was swimming next to me, so I grabbed her collar, but she couldn't move, so I let her go ahead an grabbed her tail, trying to make the trailing rope by the boat. She can't swim with me attatched so I turn and head frantically back to shore. By this point all I can do is swim on my back and the old arms aren't moving to well. My waders feel like they weigh 300lbs and there starting to drag me under. I start kicking them free, but I'm barely staying up and I don't want them to hang on my ankles and put me under. I loosened them with a couple of small kicks and pushed them off. By this time I'm probably 15 to 20 yds from shore, but I can hardly move my arms and the water is well over my head. I start frog kicking on my back, fighting the wind and my legs start tireing out. I looked and saw fishermen on either side and called out for help two or three times. An old fisherman come's over and watches. I just focus on staying up and kicking. As my legs start giving out and dropping, my toe catches the edge of the boat ramp. I walked up until I was about two feet from the edge and tryed to catch my breath. Thanked the fisherman. Walked up and sat on my trailer for about five minutes. Went to my truck and realized that my keys and cellphone had been in the front pocket of my waders. Luckily I had a credit card key. Tried to catch my breath in the truck for about five minutes. By this time my head is pounding so hard I can barely see straight. Several people come by to see if I'm ok. Guy from the marina sends a guy on a Seadoo to grab my drifting boat. Getting that boat back on the trailer took every ounce of drive that I have. I drove home slow, my reaction time not what it should be. Fell into bed after a hot shower and thanked the lord that the ducks didn't get some back this weekend.

Goodbye season 04'

CD

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Longhorn Country
Posts: 1972

Damn CD!
Way to keep your cool. Gald to hear you're alright. Be careful out there bud. THings happen quickly.




If tomorrow was Sunday, would you go backout?
TB

__________________
Texas Bill

President - North Dallas Chapter
Clay Target Preservation Society
Est. 2003


I've spent 90% of my money on hunt'n, gamblin, and women. The rest I waisted.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Denton, Texas... Hook'em Horns!
Posts: 6921

Damn CD....That is some scary stuff...Glad to hear you are alive and well and able to post this..

It makes that life jacket in the boat seem all the more important.

__________________
Mack might bite but Stoops CHOKES!

Also known as ......skank, skunk, shack, skak, skrot and skat....

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!...

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Friendswood, TX
Posts: 9001

Holycrap Jason!!! I was wondering what its like with waders full of water when I hit that hole this morning... dude glad you are ok. That was a close call.

BTW, that book on tape, FREAKIN awesome!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2003
Location: Port Lavaca, Tx - Theodosia, Mo
Posts: 44

Glad you're OK Jason.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Ennis, Texas
Posts: 2120

Jason, first let me preface this post by sayin I am Glad you are OK!!!

BUT,,,,,,,NEVER,,,,EVER,,,,,,TRY SWIMIN or GO INTO WATER DEEPER THAN CHEST DEEP WIF WADERS ON,,,,,,,,ESPECIALLY IN COLD WATER!!!!! The boat can be found and brought back, but your LIFE won't iffin ya go under!!!!!

Man, ya scared me,,,,,,, just by describin' the adventure!!!!! But I am glad to hear you're OK!!!!!

YOU ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!!!! Hell, I wouldn't have tried in my "TENNIS SHOES"!!!!! Give Maude an extra helpin of dinner tonite,,,,,She deserves it!!!

Damn Yankee I guess a guy from Kansas doesn't know much about water,,,,does he????

Dan

__________________
THAR SHE BLOWS!!!! eerrrr GOES!!!!!!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Waco, TX
Posts: 59

CD

Glad you were able to type us the report! There was a guy at Eufaula this year that was not so fortunate for the exact same reasons. Thanks for the reminder!

Cheers
Dave

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Cypress
Posts: 77

Dang Jason. You're lucky to get out bud. It's no fun walking back with waders full of water, let alone try to swim with them loaded.

Glad to hear it ended well.

CD

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2002
Location: Holding my baby boy in my arms!!! In the GREAT NATION of TEXAS!
Posts: 4080

jason...i told you saturday to kiss this sorry arse season goodbye! man, scary stuff...i guess maudes ok? WOW!

__________________
TEXAS WATERFOWL HUNTERS ORGANIZATION

Count had Maudes legal name changed to PEANUT BUTTER.

I AM The Coot Commander!

I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: West Columbia, the first capital of Texas, Texas
Posts: 1796

glad to heaqr your alright Cd all it takes is one mistake. thats why i always hunt with someone.

__________________
them ducks are the grass and i'm the hippie on the lawnmower.

"I need a decoy of a guy picking up decoys!"

C to da Bass.. ridin on glass

"Kick his ass Cbass"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2001
Location: DKOS/BEACH
Posts: 790

clothes and waders off,,,jump in, get the boat come back and dry off with one of you underlayers, get dressed and head out,,,course hindsight is 20/20, glad your ok...

__________________
"i once ate a raw duck heart"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 1846

Damn. Glad your ok. That was one hell of a situation to get into, out of.

__________________
TexasWaterfowler.com

"Those who have forgotten the skills of hunting, or have never learned them, are not worthy of the Canvasback." - H. Albert Hochbaum

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 1478

Dang, Jason. Glad to read that you are ok. That is some scary stuff.

__________________
Gig 'Em, class of '94. If you can shoot it, you can jerk it.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Katy, TX
Posts: 845

I can't even speak.....unbelievable.

__________________
"You being Mexican and all, you must really like mangos?"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Houston
Posts: 1452

glad you're ok, bud!

by the way, did you REALLY thank the Lord for making it back ok? maybe swing really is starting to rub off on you!!!

__________________
WOOO WOOOOOOOOO!!!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Posts: 1848

Very scary.

I was having trouble with jordan this year about putting his life jacket on on the boat rides because "he can swim"

So one morning about a month ago it was kinda warm, about 40-45 and when we got back to the ramp we were waiting for some guys to load there boat and just standing on a dock in about six feet of water I decided I was going to teach him a lesson and pushed him in. Well his waders filled up with water and, believe it or not he could not swim. I fished him out with my push pole and about two days later when he got done being mad he told me that I was right and I don't have to tell him to put it on anymore.

__________________
Not as lean, Not as mean, but still a marine.
Semper FI

"stay fit, eat well, and die anyway"

Remember in elementary school, you were told that in case of fire you
have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest.
What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Garland, TX
Posts: 607

Scary, Jason! Glad you're ok.

quote:

---

clothes and waders off,,,jump in, get the boat come back and dry off with one of you underlayers, get dressed and head out,,,

---

Guess you didn't want to show those fishermen your Hillary Clinton special edition commemorative longjohns!

All kidding aside....glad things turned out well.

__________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW--What a Ride!"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Prairie Valley, Tx
Posts: 2685

Close, way too close.

__________________
"The forties ain't a bad age. Still young enough to fool around a lot, but just about old enough to be indifferent if you don't." Riffle Clearwater-2004

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Moderator
Texas Forum

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 4377

Holy crap dude!!!!! Ya gots to be careful. Man, when you said you had your waders still on, I was thinking the worst. . .

Glad you're alright!!!!

__________________
If the ducks are flying today. . . . then we'll see some.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Friendswood, TX
Posts: 9001

Man I keep having a though that this might have been the last pict. of Jason alive.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Denton, Texas... Hook'em Horns!
Posts: 6921

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drundel
Man I keep having a though that this might have been the last pict. of Jason alive.

---

especially ruining the pic with Drundie in there....his wife would have to cut that out....hehehe

__________________
Mack might bite but Stoops CHOKES!

Also known as ......skank, skunk, shack, skak, skrot and skat....

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!...

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Friendswood, TX
Posts: 9001

Nope, got one of just him and the ducks and with the boat at the ramp too.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Rowlett
Posts: 440

Thanks guys. I'm still a touch freaked out about it.

Now that I've had some time to think about it I feel like a fag for calling for help from the fishermen. I guess I figured that if I did go under they would know where to look to get me out.

I had a conversation about this with the guy I hunted with Saturday morning. He was telling me about swamping his boat and trying to stay up in waders, when he finally couldn't swim anymore and started to go under he discovered that the water was only about 5ft deep and he could keep his head above. I told him about an article I had read in Wildfowl magazine (actually a quiz, Dec-Jan issue page 32, looked it up when I got home) that said that most experts agree that you will expend to much energy removing your waders to take them off and that they help provide bouyancy. What a crock of crap!!!

Maude is fine. She's a little sleepy after a long weekend, but when I was headed for the door she was hopping around wanting to go. I'm a little sore today, but other than that and the pain in a$$ of chasing down a new door remote for my truck and a new cell phone, everything is back to normal.

Dane - Lisa told my mom and she told me that the "good lord" was looking out for me. I told if that it would have been nice if while he was "looking out" he could have switched the wind back to shore or let me make it to the boat at least. I am more appreciative of my wife and kids today though.

If it were Sunday I would surely be out there again. I wouldn't be so glib about securing the boat before I pull the truck up. If you hunt enough, conditions will arise that create an uncomfortable situation.

My opinion on what caused this was:
1)Wind pushing away from shore
2)Not testing the knot on the anchor
3)60 degrees out feels warm and I misjudged the water temperature and it's effects.
4)Thought swimming in waders would be no big deal

Still feel like a dumb ass.

CD

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Denton, Texas... Hook'em Horns!
Posts: 6921

CD....What kind of waders do you have? Neos?......Cordura?

__________________
Mack might bite but Stoops CHOKES!

Also known as ......skank, skunk, shack, skak, skrot and skat....

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!...

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Ennis, Texas
Posts: 2120

Yup, Jason

quote:

---

Still feel like a dumb ass.

---

,,,,

Just call 'em like ya sees em

Just think how you'd be feelin iffin you did go under and what we'd be sayin"DUMB A$$!!!!!" about ya at yer funeral!!!!!

Again, glad yer OK,,,,,
BUT DON'T DO IT AGAIN!!!!

Maybe you should write a letter and send it into someone who might publish it for posterity!!!! Just might help someone else think before they act like a DUMB A$$!!!! and drown!!!

Dan

__________________
THAR SHE BLOWS!!!! eerrrr GOES!!!!!!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged