Duck hunter saved by lifevest

Capt Jeff Kraynik

Capt Jeff Kraynik

Well-known member
Police find, rescue man floating motionless in Choctawhatchee Bay

January 02, 2010 7:37 PM
Jeff Barker
Daily News

CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY – A 55-year-old man was rescued after his boat overturned while duck hunting, according to a Walton County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Around 7:30 a.m. Friday, the Marietta, Ga., man was duck hunting from a 14-foot boat on choppy seas in the Choctawhatchee Bay, the press release said. The man told rescuers that his boat began to sink and it suddenly flipped over and threw him into the water.

Sheriff’s office deputies and South Walton Fire Department paramedics used a sheriff’s office boat to rescue the man, the press release said. The responders found him about 300 yards east of the U.S. Highway 331 bridge, floating motionless with a life jacket on.

The man was showing signs of hypothermia and was unable to move his arms and legs, the press release said.
He was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Miramar Beach and later released. Deputies recovered the man’s boat and most of his belongings, including his shotgun.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/...whatchee-police.html
 
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I still haven't made up my mind about the Classic Bomber Jacket or the Classic Float Coat. I would like to wear it in the blind on shore as well as in the boat. I don't know if people wear other clothes under it or over it. I wonder how it is to shoot with it.

A life jacket not worn is useless.
 
Pete,

I have the Mustang float coat and I wear it to and from the spot I hunt in the harbor on a given day. Once the decoys are set and the Estuary is anchored, I swap it for a regular jacket and do my shooting with that. Last week I forgot to swap and shot with the float coat on and found it easy enough to do. The extra padding took most of the kick out of the Benelli. As for warmth, the float coat is quite warm. I wear the same layers under the float coat as I did the regular jacket before I got the coat. Warmth is not likely to be an issue for you. When I purchased the float coat last year, I was worried about sizing. My float coat is the same size as my regular coat and works fine. XL unfortunately

Best,
Bill
 
I wear my Mustang float coat with normal clothing under it... The shotgun feels different inthe shoulder... at least when in a layout boat.
 
That is great news on the rescue.

I wore a Mustang Floater Coat in camo for years whenever I was hunting in very cold water. It was not ideal as it was bulky, stiff and really changed the feel of the gun on the shoulder. I think they have improved over time as mine was from 30 years ago.

I now wear a camo life jacket with mesh in the shoulders. I put it on when I get into the boat and would not consider running the boat without having it on. I usually take it off when I settle in to shoot because it is still bulky around my already bulky waist. I can shoot with it on and often do especially when hunting from a canoe or if I am hunting where I need to run the boat to retrieve birds.

I am seriously considering buying an inflatable vest. I figure I could just put it on and leave it on. Does anyone use one of these?
 
Thanks for the replies. In warmer weather, we do get some in early season. I will probably take it off in the blind. In late season leave it on. It seems it's water proof so it could take the place of a rain coat ? The Bomber Jacket is shorter might be more comfortable to sit in ? This is my Christmas present so I should get trucking. As you noticed I don't rush under the tree any more......
 
I don't know about others, but I wear those self inflating suspenders. They supply 35 pounds of flotation and I wear them over my hunting coat. When I get where I am going (shore, beached, whatever) I take them off. I don't hunt divers so I never hunt in very deep water. I used to wear them all the time, but I would forget and wade too deep when retrieving my decoys and I would set them off and inflate it. That costs about $25 every time that happens. I also wear neoprene waders which are somewhat boyant. I wear those over my coat. I used to wear them under my coat, but my gloves (in the pockets) kept getting soaked.
 
Cpt Jeff, Is there any infromation on the make and model of the boat? As a builder I like to keep up on this kind of thing.

Thanks
Howard
 
I have been using an inflatable for a couple years now and thankfully have never needed it. But it sure is comfortable so I never take it off in the boat. Also I am religious about a tether switch, never been tossed out but it makes everyone more comfortable especially my wife.;_0
 
Tom the reason I am thinking about the mustang is if I get thrown in the water when the water is cold it increases your survival time. If the duck hunter had one on he would have been smiling and smoking a cigarette when they rescued him instead being passed out from hypothermia. With a regular life vest after a period of time it becomes a body rescue.... well it gives you more time... A tether switch is a good idea one of my motors doesn't have one so I have to be extra careful. My work environment was usually hazardous to life and limb so I developed certain habits. Think about what could go wrong and then action. When training newbes lesson number one.
 
Cpt Jeff, Is there any infromation on the make and model of the boat? As a builder I like to keep up on this kind of thing.

Thanks
Howard
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Not in the story but a couple guys up that way said it was a (14) fourteen foot aluminum v-hull.
 
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