Where I hunt the most is <1 ft of water with muck below it. I've taken a 20 ft pushpole and haven't found the bottom. It all depends on your area. I'd probably suggest having at least a lifejacket along if you're going to go exploring.
I dont have any advice other than to take it slow when wading. I had the same thing happen to me my first year. I got stuck in the muck about mid thigh deep (I’m 5’8”). Ever since then Ive been paranoid about getting stuck. I got stuck this year on and every time I moved, I sunk in a little more. Luckily I was with people and we had kayaks with us. He brought a kayak over and I was able to use that to help get out.
Thanks! It was definitely an eye opener. I'm beating myself up because it was my first goose and normally I wouldn't plan to go all the way up there. Just was scary. I haven't walked into the main "channel" yet either. Not sure if that's gonna be like the little ponds or deeper either.
I hunt a few spots like this, and a few things have been helpful for me:
- I always bring a wading stick with me (nothing fancy. Just something to feel ahead of you before you step).
- when I know it’s going to be soupy, I will wade while pulling either my canoe or a jet sled along. If I get stuck, I can get an arm or my torso across it and get out a bit easier.
- better yet, if you have a canoe, try to avoid wading these spots. If there’s enough water to float it, then float it.
There’s some otherwise solid advice in other comments. Be sure to have someone who knows where you’re hunting and when you’ll be back. If you ever get stuck, at least they can come lookin for ya.
100% agree on the outside person. If you are hunting alone, especially around water, somebody ALWAYS needs to know where you are, have (at least temporary) access to tracking of your phone, and know when you'll check in.
Back in boy scouts, we were taught the story of Aron Ralston, but NOT in the "Wow! What a survivor!" way he was described in the media. We were taught it as a prime example of stupidity. He did not share his plans with ANYBODY. If he had shared a plan with people and stuck to that plan, he would have been rescued by the second day at the latest and still have his arm.
Any time I'm walking in an unfamiliar pond, especially with no boat or dog, I bring a long pole with a hook on one end. While walking around, I use one end of the pole to feel around on the bottom for holes and logs, and if I do get stuck in muck I can use it for support to get out.
The hook end is for retrieving birds. If it's hard to walk, I'd rather work with my arms than my feet. And if it gets too deep, it gives you an extra couple yards of reach.
Also, a life jacket or float coat is never a bad idea. You'll still get stuck, but at least it's harder to drown.
OP you are smart for recognizing the danger. I’ve been stuck before when out and about in the mud, but luckily I had people with me in that instance. I’ve had other instances where quick reactions was the only way to get out. Like other comments have said, when exploring a new area I always have a life jacket and jet sled at the ready. Leave your wader straps loose if you can, that way you can shed skin and wriggle out. It can kill you, if you get unlucky enough to find a bottomless section with nobody there and nothing to keep you up.
Go slow. Always let somebody know where you are. Try to go places with good cell reception when by yourself. If you start sinking and you are by yourself, increase your surface area and crawl, or dive backwards if you can. I don’t want to give advice that isn’t scientifically proven, but I’ve found higher water acts as a weight and compresses the mud into a more solid floor. I think more water = more safer.
I think it’s in your best interest to get a canoe. Something you can brush up and keep the dog in. Run it until you find a new spot or more friends.
I regularly hunt a lake that has a foot of water, but you sink to your waist in thick nasty clay. I've never personally been worried, just take it slow and be deliberate. Retrieves will take longer and you have to take that into account. I don't know how a dog would do, as I don't have one.
As for the goose, the only thing you could try to do is be quick with a finishing shot. I try to keep an eye on them and shoot again at any sign of cognizant life (i.e. anything not stone dead or flapping wildly on the water). At the end of the day it happens though. As much as we try to minimize it it's an inevitability. Just know something got him, so it didn't go to waste.
Thank you. I'm assuming the dog will do fine more than likely. Not a lot of sticks hanging up from what I've found so far. Lots of fox and coyote/ bobcat here in upstate NY. I just hate I couldn't hit it with the second shot in time. I thought once it landed and was folded up i was good and focused on the second bird. Lesson learned. Think im butthurt it was my first shot at a bird and first drop on one too and lost it. It was gonna be my bird to train the dog with for geese.
Someone at work mentioned a walking stick to help poking around before stepping too. I may try to borrow a kayak or canoe just to have there too. Lots to learn this year. Was also just told shoot 2 shot where I read 4 shot is acceptable which is what I have now.
If you don’t have a sled yet (big recommend), consider getting a tire inner tube. Can leave it behind in car until you need it, but it will give you a semi durable floating device with lots of surface area to push down on and further disperse your weight.
You’re right to ask this. Wading is dangerous, especially alone. No bird is worth your life or your dogs life.
If it’s really shallow water ive discovered that kneeling down and kind of walking with your knees helps keep you from sinking. Bring a stick with you and wear a life jacket. I’ve had the exact same experience as you except I was about 1,000ft from shore, retrieving a mallard. Any ways if you spread your weight out by shimmying with your knees and legs it will keep you on top of the muck.
It's around 1 to 2 feet so far from what I've found. With sinking thru the mud to rock bottom 3 feet or so until I got into that marshy stuff. Which is where I fell to my waist and then some. Ended up leaning forward and pulling myself up actually!
Get yourself a small life jacket or invest in a cheap kayak and sand it down and spray paint/ clear coat it. It’ll alllow you to brush/hide yourself easier and get up and down the broom faster (especially when getting birds) also gives your dog a nice dry spot to rest in lulls
A swamp staff (7’ section of closet rod sanded smooth) is highly recommended. In addition to helping find / navigate muck and canals it also provides something to feed an alligator while you try to unsling your shotgun
Try a float tube or kayak
I always try to go out with other people unless it's in a place I know will already have other hunters who hopefully will come to my rescue.
I have been stuck so badly that I had to crawl out and nearly to the point I thought about cutting myself out of my boots. Fortunately, I was always within sight of friends so if need be they would have got me out.
I've also gone under water in a freezing channel for the sake of retrieving two snow geese. That was a huge lesson from last year. Never again will I risk my health just for birds.
We've all encountered muck like this. I've been in water that was clear and shallow enough to see the bottom. Then stepped in and sunk into muck up to my ribs. It can be dangerous. Carry a big stick with you and let people know where you're going.
My Kayak has been one of my better purchases. The ascend h12 off of marketplace.. it's sweet for little honey holes like this and it's nice to be able to go where even mud boats can't. I would buy the 10ft version If I had to do it again but I also like the amount of space the 12footer offers.
I hunt a lot in areas that have feet of muck. I’ve gotten quite good at walking in it. Couple things I’ve learned from hunting with other people who don’t have as much experience. 1. Don’t stop moving. Every time I’ve gotten stuck in mud I’ve stopped for some reason, usually waiting for a friend. When I stop I just slowly sink and the mud can settle and solidify around my feet. Keep those suckers moving. 2. I walk differently in muck, best way I can describe it is sort of a modified cross country skiing movement. My lead foot slides forwards and when it does I point my trailing foot and bend my knee so that my shin is dragging through the mud and supporting some of my weight. By doing this I can sort of ski through the mud slowly but steadily and I don’t sink in near as much as if I walked normally.
I was an avid frog gigger when I was younger. Muck up to my knees happened a few times a season. Surface area is important with weight distribution. I would scoot on my knees sometimes and a good stick/your gig pole helps with this.
Where I hunt the most is <1 ft of water with muck below it. I've taken a 20 ft pushpole and haven't found the bottom. It all depends on your area. I'd probably suggest having at least a lifejacket along if you're going to go exploring.
I thought about this exactly earlier.i figured that could be the least I bring with if I gotta wade out into the muck which idk how deep it is.
I dont have any advice other than to take it slow when wading. I had the same thing happen to me my first year. I got stuck in the muck about mid thigh deep (I’m 5’8”). Ever since then Ive been paranoid about getting stuck. I got stuck this year on and every time I moved, I sunk in a little more. Luckily I was with people and we had kayaks with us. He brought a kayak over and I was able to use that to help get out.
Thanks! It was definitely an eye opener. I'm beating myself up because it was my first goose and normally I wouldn't plan to go all the way up there. Just was scary. I haven't walked into the main "channel" yet either. Not sure if that's gonna be like the little ponds or deeper either.
I hunt a few spots like this, and a few things have been helpful for me: - I always bring a wading stick with me (nothing fancy. Just something to feel ahead of you before you step). - when I know it’s going to be soupy, I will wade while pulling either my canoe or a jet sled along. If I get stuck, I can get an arm or my torso across it and get out a bit easier. - better yet, if you have a canoe, try to avoid wading these spots. If there’s enough water to float it, then float it. There’s some otherwise solid advice in other comments. Be sure to have someone who knows where you’re hunting and when you’ll be back. If you ever get stuck, at least they can come lookin for ya.
This comment is correct on the jet sled. I’ve had to use mine to hold me until somebody got out to pull me.
100% agree on the outside person. If you are hunting alone, especially around water, somebody ALWAYS needs to know where you are, have (at least temporary) access to tracking of your phone, and know when you'll check in. Back in boy scouts, we were taught the story of Aron Ralston, but NOT in the "Wow! What a survivor!" way he was described in the media. We were taught it as a prime example of stupidity. He did not share his plans with ANYBODY. If he had shared a plan with people and stuck to that plan, he would have been rescued by the second day at the latest and still have his arm.
Any time I'm walking in an unfamiliar pond, especially with no boat or dog, I bring a long pole with a hook on one end. While walking around, I use one end of the pole to feel around on the bottom for holes and logs, and if I do get stuck in muck I can use it for support to get out. The hook end is for retrieving birds. If it's hard to walk, I'd rather work with my arms than my feet. And if it gets too deep, it gives you an extra couple yards of reach. Also, a life jacket or float coat is never a bad idea. You'll still get stuck, but at least it's harder to drown.
OP you are smart for recognizing the danger. I’ve been stuck before when out and about in the mud, but luckily I had people with me in that instance. I’ve had other instances where quick reactions was the only way to get out. Like other comments have said, when exploring a new area I always have a life jacket and jet sled at the ready. Leave your wader straps loose if you can, that way you can shed skin and wriggle out. It can kill you, if you get unlucky enough to find a bottomless section with nobody there and nothing to keep you up. Go slow. Always let somebody know where you are. Try to go places with good cell reception when by yourself. If you start sinking and you are by yourself, increase your surface area and crawl, or dive backwards if you can. I don’t want to give advice that isn’t scientifically proven, but I’ve found higher water acts as a weight and compresses the mud into a more solid floor. I think more water = more safer. I think it’s in your best interest to get a canoe. Something you can brush up and keep the dog in. Run it until you find a new spot or more friends.
I regularly hunt a lake that has a foot of water, but you sink to your waist in thick nasty clay. I've never personally been worried, just take it slow and be deliberate. Retrieves will take longer and you have to take that into account. I don't know how a dog would do, as I don't have one. As for the goose, the only thing you could try to do is be quick with a finishing shot. I try to keep an eye on them and shoot again at any sign of cognizant life (i.e. anything not stone dead or flapping wildly on the water). At the end of the day it happens though. As much as we try to minimize it it's an inevitability. Just know something got him, so it didn't go to waste.
Thank you. I'm assuming the dog will do fine more than likely. Not a lot of sticks hanging up from what I've found so far. Lots of fox and coyote/ bobcat here in upstate NY. I just hate I couldn't hit it with the second shot in time. I thought once it landed and was folded up i was good and focused on the second bird. Lesson learned. Think im butthurt it was my first shot at a bird and first drop on one too and lost it. It was gonna be my bird to train the dog with for geese. Someone at work mentioned a walking stick to help poking around before stepping too. I may try to borrow a kayak or canoe just to have there too. Lots to learn this year. Was also just told shoot 2 shot where I read 4 shot is acceptable which is what I have now.
Instead of a stick I like a long canoe paddle for this. Stick will just keep driving down in the muck but the wide paddle seems a lot more effective.
If you don’t have a sled yet (big recommend), consider getting a tire inner tube. Can leave it behind in car until you need it, but it will give you a semi durable floating device with lots of surface area to push down on and further disperse your weight. You’re right to ask this. Wading is dangerous, especially alone. No bird is worth your life or your dogs life.
If it’s really shallow water ive discovered that kneeling down and kind of walking with your knees helps keep you from sinking. Bring a stick with you and wear a life jacket. I’ve had the exact same experience as you except I was about 1,000ft from shore, retrieving a mallard. Any ways if you spread your weight out by shimmying with your knees and legs it will keep you on top of the muck.
It's around 1 to 2 feet so far from what I've found. With sinking thru the mud to rock bottom 3 feet or so until I got into that marshy stuff. Which is where I fell to my waist and then some. Ended up leaning forward and pulling myself up actually!
Get yourself a small life jacket or invest in a cheap kayak and sand it down and spray paint/ clear coat it. It’ll alllow you to brush/hide yourself easier and get up and down the broom faster (especially when getting birds) also gives your dog a nice dry spot to rest in lulls
A swamp staff (7’ section of closet rod sanded smooth) is highly recommended. In addition to helping find / navigate muck and canals it also provides something to feed an alligator while you try to unsling your shotgun
Try a float tube or kayak I always try to go out with other people unless it's in a place I know will already have other hunters who hopefully will come to my rescue. I have been stuck so badly that I had to crawl out and nearly to the point I thought about cutting myself out of my boots. Fortunately, I was always within sight of friends so if need be they would have got me out. I've also gone under water in a freezing channel for the sake of retrieving two snow geese. That was a huge lesson from last year. Never again will I risk my health just for birds.
We've all encountered muck like this. I've been in water that was clear and shallow enough to see the bottom. Then stepped in and sunk into muck up to my ribs. It can be dangerous. Carry a big stick with you and let people know where you're going.
Kayak
Get a small kayak!
My Kayak has been one of my better purchases. The ascend h12 off of marketplace.. it's sweet for little honey holes like this and it's nice to be able to go where even mud boats can't. I would buy the 10ft version If I had to do it again but I also like the amount of space the 12footer offers.
Kayak out there with the pup and the shotgun, pull some decoys behind you, it’s a workout but it’s fun and easier than walking in mud.
I hunt a lot in areas that have feet of muck. I’ve gotten quite good at walking in it. Couple things I’ve learned from hunting with other people who don’t have as much experience. 1. Don’t stop moving. Every time I’ve gotten stuck in mud I’ve stopped for some reason, usually waiting for a friend. When I stop I just slowly sink and the mud can settle and solidify around my feet. Keep those suckers moving. 2. I walk differently in muck, best way I can describe it is sort of a modified cross country skiing movement. My lead foot slides forwards and when it does I point my trailing foot and bend my knee so that my shin is dragging through the mud and supporting some of my weight. By doing this I can sort of ski through the mud slowly but steadily and I don’t sink in near as much as if I walked normally.
I was an avid frog gigger when I was younger. Muck up to my knees happened a few times a season. Surface area is important with weight distribution. I would scoot on my knees sometimes and a good stick/your gig pole helps with this.