Warning to hunters in the cattails

[Mark Newman]

In Wisconsin, we hunted a frozen lake (ice @12" thick) surrounded by 20-40 yards of cattails and reeds which I hunted 3 days earlier. Skirting around to the North side of the lake we encountered a 6-8 ' wide 3' deep creek still open and running fast. I back tracked 50 yards and took a deer path through the cattails to get out to the solid ice. Chip, my GSP bounded by me on the path, 2 bounds and he broke through to his shoulders and hips and was wedged in. I put down my gun to help him, intending to get on my belly but one foot broke through before that. We got out, but it was a scary experience. There must have been a warm spring there. I will be more careful to hunt with a partner in unfamiliar places. Just want to put a warning out to others on this. If there is a lot of clear fast running water coming out of a swamp or lake, it is a good question to ask- where is the water coming from. (Another inflowing creek or springs) Lots of birds under those reeds! Tough for 1 guy and 1 dog to get them.

[oilcan]

Glad to hear both you and your Dog are OK.

[gonehuntin']

Keep in mind that the ice is usually thinner in the cattail's than outside them.

[Mark Newman]

It is a lot of fun hunting the reeds! (When not breaking through)(By the way, I didn't tell my wife. I washed the clothes, the dog and I both showered before she was home-Chip kept it a secret also). The snow sucked the moisture off him pretty well and I wasn't too wet, (it was about 31 degrees- so not too cold) so we hunted another 2 hours where I knew it was safe. This time I didn't put the bell on him and just kept track of him by the noise and the movement of the reeds. It was funny to watch! He was rooting around and I know he has a scent when he is doing his snort grunting noise like a pig, he comes to a sudden stop and I know he is on a point. Holds it for awhile and then they move! The reeds are moving big time in a fast semi straight and zigzaggy line for about 15 yards) and suddenly the reeds are moving in a "T"! Gun is ready as one line pops out 10 yards to my left (that was Chip) and the other line of movement were a couple roosters and a hen that jumped up and flew away about 40+ yards off to my right. I can hardly walk through that stuff unless I find a trail broken by the deer, but underneath there is a labyrinth of trails and highways for the pheasants. I can see it would be fun and much more successful to hunt this with another hunter or two and 1 or 2 more dogs. I think the scent is all over under there and easy for the bird to outflank the dog, but we're both having fun. It's also fun to watch his nose come up out of the reeds like a periscope sniffing the air. I'm 59 and I feel like a teenager out there (with a few aches and pains like the saturday morning after a football game), I am having a blast. I wish I would have had friends or relatives to get me hooked 40 years ago! This is only my third year hunting pheasants. Hoping for many more!

[Bossman27]

I just got back from SD where -18 was the overnight low all three nights I was there. On Saturday I was walking in some cattails totally unaware that i was even on ice since I was only about 10 yards from mowed grass, I fell through just above my knees. It was certainly scary and unexpected.

Be careful in the sloughs!

[DSemple]

I wish I would have had friends or relatives to get me hooked 40 years ago! This !

Good that you saved it for now!

[Mark Newman]

It is hard to believe we can find thin ice at this time of year when they are driving trucks out on the ice to fish! But these sloughs must have springs working the ice. Another good reason to hunt with a partner but I go when I can without much heads up time for someone else to get ready. Thank you "oilcan" and I'm also happy you are ok and that it was only knee deep (still cold). Maybe I need to get one of those hand grips with the nails at the end to hang around my neck.

[Mark Newman]

I wish I would have had friends or relatives to get me hooked 40 years ago! This !

Good that you saved it for now!

Well, I still have the strength to keep going out there. Maybe I have another 20 years out there in the fields.
I like your quote, especially the added bonus of the wife, house and job.

[Wildirishman64]

Wow that was a cold day, glad you both got out ok, Cock pheasant love those hiding places unless you are fearless or your dog is? Have a great season!

[AWSjr]

Warm Springs will ruin your day....Alaska experience.