What an Adventure!

For all your hunting related posts! If we get enough traffic here there will be other sub forums: Turkey Hunting, Deer Hunting, Duck Hunting...
Image

Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels

User avatar
MudDucker
Site Sponsor
Posts: 6664
Joined: June 22nd, 2005, 3:07 pm
Location: Valdosta, Georgia

What an Adventure!

Post by MudDucker »

My daughter and her boyfriend have been dying for me to take them duck hunting using decoys rather than just shooting woodies. So, when she finally finished her hunter safety program on Thursday, there was no more reason for delay.

Checked all the likely spots and no fresh water ducks other than woodies, so I decided to take them coastal. Checked weather and tides and it looked like no way to hunt except a lunch to dusk hunt. With the predicted winds, I looked for a protected spot to avoid them getting wet. Settled on one that I hunted last week with some success. Figured since the birds had not been harassed all week, they would come closer to the shoreline. Loaded up and left at 7AM, but not before dolling out warm clothes for both, including more cloths than the weather really called for.

Wind was up but not too bad. Picked out the deepest point and put out about half of the decoys to see what birds would do. Parked the boat in a creek behind the point (mistake!) Built a palm frond blind on the point, pulled out chairs and we settled in for a comfortable hunt. Only had one group of buffies swing through. They both missed. Then had a stud blue bill drake swing into the decoys. I let them both shoot twice and then I killed it. Birds were flirting 500 yards out front, but there were white caps, so I was no go to set up out there. I mentioned about 4 that it would be a good time to head in and at least get a good supper. The tidal charts showed that the low should be 1.6 above normal low. Water was not moving out much and the boyfriend wasn't ready to leave until he caught up with me. About 4:30, he decided we needed to move to another spot. As he went to pick up decoys, I began loading the boat to leave. That is when I noticed that the tide, which had been slack, had really started moving out, long after the predicted movement. Tried to move the boat out of the creek and no go. We all tried to move the boat, but a sandbar at the entrance to the creek has about an inch of water and it was too low to move over it. I told them to go back to hunting and that the tide would turn and we should be able to move out by 9PM at the latest due to the predicted good high tide at midnight.

I wasn't concerned, we had snacks, beverages and the wind died and after shooting hours. We gathered palm fronds and started a fire. After we had cleaned out the point of palm fronds, we laid in the bottom of the boat out of the wind looked at the gorgeous display of stars and they watched netflix on my phone while I tried to take a nap, since I'd been up since 3AM.

At 9, we still didn't have enough water, but it was still flowing in, albeit, slowly. At 9:30, we tried again, but we were 3" inches shy of enough water. Unbeknownst to me, my daughter had taken off her insulated bib to put on her waders to help push and she was now complaining about how cold she was getting. I figured if she got out of the waders to put the bibs back on, she would get too cold before she could get the bibs back on. Her boyfriend looks at the water and say it is flowing back out. This is over 2 hours before predicted high tide. I found a mark and 15 minutes later realized that he was right. I looked at google earth and there was no way we were walking out. Fearing hypothermia for my daughter if we stayed much longer, I called 911 and asked them to send an airboat to get us. Talked with a FWC officer and he said they would get the boat and come get us. Called SeaTow to let them know I would need assistance the next day to retrieve the boat. Joel Singletary was great. He said if we hadn't heard that FWC was coming with an airboat within an hour, he would round one and come get us so that we didn't have to spend the night. She kept getting colder and it took FWC about 1 1/2 hours to get to us. What a grand sight to see that airboat coming our way. He could only take 2 at the time so I told them to take my daughter and boyfriend and I would wait with the boat and be buttoning it down for the night. Otherwise, he would be meet me at the ramp at 1:30PM the next day when the tide should be the highest. The FWC officer came back to get me and said he was thinking about pulling me off, but my prodigy was just too heavy. I thanked him and loaded our guns on the boat and took a chilly ride to the ramp.

When I got there, they had my daughter in their truck with the heater roaring and a deputy had taken the boy friend to get the truck. By the time they got the boat on the trailer, the boy friend was back with the truck. I thanked them all for their help, loaded up in the truck.

We had not had supper, but on 98 there was the new circle K market. It was nearly midnight, but she graciously cooked us a deluxe pizza and made fresh coffee. The daughter and the boyfriend had joked about whether a guaranteed pizza delivery company could get us pizza on the water earlier in the evening. Filled the truck and lit out for home, arriving at 2:30 AM, just shy of 24 hours from when I got up the morning before. We all bundled up and had a good nights rest.

Got up and drove to the ramp and as promised SeaTow met us there. They carried me to within 75 yards of the boat and I could see the bow moving in the waves. I had on my waders and my trusty walking paddle, so I lit out to the boat. Pulled the anchor and moved it easily over the sandbar. There was about 3" more water than we tried last. Just 3" trapped us for the night. Cranked the motor and running 30mph over the flats, I was back at the ramp within 15 minutes. Joel helped us load the boat and my ride was covered by my membership.

I can tell you folks, I thank God for light show and keeping us safe, the 911 dispatch for being so kind and helpful, the FWC for coming out on a cold night and taking such good care of my daughter and Joel at SeaTwo for being so accommodating!
Its a wonderful day in the neighborhood!
Salty Gator
Site Sponsor
Posts: 3437
Joined: April 17th, 2010, 7:23 pm
Location: Tallahassee

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by Salty Gator »

Glad y’all are ok
Catholic girl pray for me, you’re my only hope for heaven
silverking
Site Sponsor
Posts: 5113
Joined: June 29th, 2003, 6:31 pm
Location: Panhandler

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by silverking »

As you know, these winter tides combined with north winds can really be tricky.

Glad everyone is OK and good to hear positive feedback about FWC law enforcement. Joel/Sea Tow always goes above and beyond for his members!
"Sun rise and sun sets. Since the beginning, it hasn't changed yet." Little Feat
User avatar
MudDucker
Site Sponsor
Posts: 6664
Joined: June 22nd, 2005, 3:07 pm
Location: Valdosta, Georgia

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by MudDucker »

silverking wrote:As you know, these winter tides combined with north winds can really be tricky.

Glad everyone is OK and good to hear positive feedback about FWC law enforcement. Joel/Sea Tow always goes above and beyond for his members!
I've been fishing and hunting in the gulf for nearly 60 years and this is the first time I've ever seen the tide turn early in a mild wind, especially as quick as it turned and took about 8" off the top.

My experience with FWC has always been good. Better than most of the Georgia boys.
Its a wonderful day in the neighborhood!
silverking
Site Sponsor
Posts: 5113
Joined: June 29th, 2003, 6:31 pm
Location: Panhandler

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by silverking »

Must have been another sign of global warming. :wink:

Buddy and I were fishing the Content Keys one time and within minutes the tide dumped off the flat, leaving us about 30 yards from floatable water. Spring time, so no worry about cold, but we did waste 5.5 hours waiting for water to come back in. Skiff was dry on the turtle grass. Finally able to float the hull (16 Dolphin Super Skiff) and we could get on plane. Ran wide open all the way back to Bahia Honda state park ramp where the ranger had to unlock the gate to let us out. Worse thing was there wasn't a breath of wind that day and it was perfect for sight-fishing for bonefish. The next day it was blowing 15 to 20. Always an adventure out there on the water and thankfully most end without serious incident.
"Sun rise and sun sets. Since the beginning, it hasn't changed yet." Little Feat
User avatar
zload
Site Sponsor
Posts: 749
Joined: September 8th, 2011, 12:57 pm

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by zload »

Glad things turned out well.
2008 Key West 196 Bay Reef
2008 Yamaha 150
User avatar
onefishtwofish
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1268
Joined: February 21st, 2010, 9:39 pm
Location: Quincy

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by onefishtwofish »

Glad y'all are okay and you kept a clear head. We had to change our plans this weekend as the tides never let us get where we wanted to go. Ended up fishing instead.
Ducks, turkeys, flats fishing. Who has time for golf?
eightwt
Posts: 315
Joined: November 29th, 2014, 9:11 pm

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by eightwt »

Was good you had cell coverage and battery life
User avatar
MudDucker
Site Sponsor
Posts: 6664
Joined: June 22nd, 2005, 3:07 pm
Location: Valdosta, Georgia

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by MudDucker »

eightwt wrote:Was good you had cell coverage and battery life
I carry a backup battery and a vhf handheld. We had means to communicate.
Its a wonderful day in the neighborhood!
Blue spinner
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1941
Joined: May 23rd, 2011, 8:26 am
Location: Pelham Ga./Econfina

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by Blue spinner »

sound like y'all had fun
good all turned out OK
One thing about the speed of light it gets here too early in the morning
tailwaters
Posts: 220
Joined: January 30th, 2017, 4:50 pm

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by tailwaters »

I've had some really good hunting and fishing trips over the years that I barely remember. It's the trips that went a little south that never get forgotten. Your daughter will probable be telling her kids this story is 30 years. With a smile on her face too!
tidewatcher
Posts: 3
Joined: January 3rd, 2008, 11:09 pm
Location: Live Oak Island

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by tidewatcher »

Wow!! Thanks for posting this adventure...I live on Live Oak Island and was wondering what was going on that night...was a lousy night to be on an airboat for sure..I watched from my loft and could see the FWC making a couple trips and could see your light at the boat/blind and thought it might be this scenario..I've been grounded at that blind myself..luckily not at night and in that weather..can be walked out but gotta know the way. Glad it worked out for everyone and thanks for solving the mystery.
Geno67
Posts: 235
Joined: July 12th, 2017, 7:57 am
Location: Tuscaloosa/Tallahassee

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by Geno67 »

That is an adventure! Glad everyone and everything is okay.
User avatar
Big Bend Brian
Posts: 345
Joined: May 15th, 2002, 8:00 pm
Location: Ponte Vedra/Cedar Key

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by Big Bend Brian »

Glad everything turned out all right!
Brian
Image
Quality Time
User avatar
MudDucker
Site Sponsor
Posts: 6664
Joined: June 22nd, 2005, 3:07 pm
Location: Valdosta, Georgia

Re: What an Adventure!

Post by MudDucker »

tidewatcher wrote:Wow!! Thanks for posting this adventure...I live on Live Oak Island and was wondering what was going on that night...was a lousy night to be on an airboat for sure..I watched from my loft and could see the FWC making a couple trips and could see your light at the boat/blind and thought it might be this scenario..I've been grounded at that blind myself..luckily not at night and in that weather..can be walked out but gotta know the way. Glad it worked out for everyone and thanks for solving the mystery.
I looked on google earth and really didn't see a good way out. My daughter was in borrowed waders that were too large for her, so that played into the walking out plan as well.
Its a wonderful day in the neighborhood!
Post Reply