steve adeletti
New member
One guy still in critical condition. I was planning on going but I decided to stay in bed when I heard the wind. I hunt the same waters. Be safe guys.
Lost 2 duck hunters yesterday in CT
- Thread starter steve adeletti
- Start date
Bob B
Well-known member
Todd,
this was local to me as you know. Still no word on the names. Thinking of the families. Its a hard one. Have had a few calls and checked on a few friends myself. Even with the warmer air temps the water up here is still very cold. There is still ice in the brackish salt coves. The location at Bluff Point state park has no sheltered return once the cove where they were hunting is departed to return to the boat ramp. The large Ferry boat that crosses to Fishers Island every day all winter had to take a big jog down to the West on the AM run to keep a comfortable ride yesterday morning. That indicates a pretty big wave set for that large boat. Again thinking of the families and their loss.
Bob
this was local to me as you know. Still no word on the names. Thinking of the families. Its a hard one. Have had a few calls and checked on a few friends myself. Even with the warmer air temps the water up here is still very cold. There is still ice in the brackish salt coves. The location at Bluff Point state park has no sheltered return once the cove where they were hunting is departed to return to the boat ramp. The large Ferry boat that crosses to Fishers Island every day all winter had to take a big jog down to the West on the AM run to keep a comfortable ride yesterday morning. That indicates a pretty big wave set for that large boat. Again thinking of the families and their loss.
Bob
"Lord bless these families who grieve. Bless the man who is in critical condition with life. And give us all the razor sharp wisdom so that our sport does not also bring our demise and great grief to our own families. Amen."
Larry
Larry
Tod,
Like you,myself and my hunting partner had thought about launching,but pulled the plug
after looking at the wind forecast. There still is a lot of ice around,add wind and it makes for dangerous conditions. We hunt down the coast from where this happened. The families are in my thoughts and prayers.
Like you,myself and my hunting partner had thought about launching,but pulled the plug
after looking at the wind forecast. There still is a lot of ice around,add wind and it makes for dangerous conditions. We hunt down the coast from where this happened. The families are in my thoughts and prayers.
Bob B
Well-known member
Lary
I am replying here for those that did not see it initially. The CT DEEP is in charge when there is a water fowling boat accident as far as I know. I have read Coast Guard Accident reports in the past on commercial marine accidents and I expect this incident report will be just as detailed.
There is a lot of speculation going on in this local area and a lot of anti hunting heat on FB about these three young men during a hunting trip for birds.
Most non waterfowlers do not understand or have any idea what we do when we hunt.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families.
The take away list might be long but here are a few.
Phones don't work in the ocean marine environment when wet. Waterproof floating VHF is likely a better bet on the coast. Tod has spoken of this often.
Life Vests of an off shore rating are likely a minimum for enough buoyancy if you get in trouble. Commercial crews are required to have immersion suits on board in most cases, working in temps encountered during this incident. (These are not mobility enabling if you have ever had one on)(donning or putting one on is not easy either.) Insulation that works when wet is also a factor. (There is good safety info from a Canadian researcher, on youtube, on Snow mobile and lake ice failure immersion survival incidents)
Time for a response for help may be more than what you need. Even before conditions hamper a crews time getting to you.
This boat swamped very close to an active volunteer fire boat maintained by a local fire department in a non iced up cove and only a bit farther from a manned coast guard station with fast response boats(up to 50 mph) and teams. (Not many hunts have that capability in close proximity.)
Neither was close enough, given the water temps that were encountered.
There was a call to dispatch from a shore observer very early on. The hunting spot and accident is close to homes on the coast.
I am sure experienced guys here can offer their thoughts.
At this point there are one or two funding pages set up in the name of the young son of one of the hunters lost. Jim Gavin posted that link. I have no knowledge of the administration of that, but am working on getting it distributed to my local sportsman's club.
This is a terrible loss for the families of two young men who were on a hunt that would be described by most of us as a great end to the season till the ride home.
Bob
I am replying here for those that did not see it initially. The CT DEEP is in charge when there is a water fowling boat accident as far as I know. I have read Coast Guard Accident reports in the past on commercial marine accidents and I expect this incident report will be just as detailed.
There is a lot of speculation going on in this local area and a lot of anti hunting heat on FB about these three young men during a hunting trip for birds.
Most non waterfowlers do not understand or have any idea what we do when we hunt.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families.
The take away list might be long but here are a few.
Phones don't work in the ocean marine environment when wet. Waterproof floating VHF is likely a better bet on the coast. Tod has spoken of this often.
Life Vests of an off shore rating are likely a minimum for enough buoyancy if you get in trouble. Commercial crews are required to have immersion suits on board in most cases, working in temps encountered during this incident. (These are not mobility enabling if you have ever had one on)(donning or putting one on is not easy either.) Insulation that works when wet is also a factor. (There is good safety info from a Canadian researcher, on youtube, on Snow mobile and lake ice failure immersion survival incidents)
Time for a response for help may be more than what you need. Even before conditions hamper a crews time getting to you.
This boat swamped very close to an active volunteer fire boat maintained by a local fire department in a non iced up cove and only a bit farther from a manned coast guard station with fast response boats(up to 50 mph) and teams. (Not many hunts have that capability in close proximity.)
Neither was close enough, given the water temps that were encountered.
There was a call to dispatch from a shore observer very early on. The hunting spot and accident is close to homes on the coast.
I am sure experienced guys here can offer their thoughts.
At this point there are one or two funding pages set up in the name of the young son of one of the hunters lost. Jim Gavin posted that link. I have no knowledge of the administration of that, but am working on getting it distributed to my local sportsman's club.
This is a terrible loss for the families of two young men who were on a hunt that would be described by most of us as a great end to the season till the ride home.
Bob
Thanks bob for the perspective and update.
I don’t know exactly what happened, but time in water played a role if one made it and two didn’t. I’ll repeat something that I’ve said many times here. A life jacket is nearly pointless under the cold water conditions that many of us gun in. A float coat is superior and gives you a little more time before you are chilled and keeps you functional I little longer. I know it gives you time before you are saturated and chilled - I’ve experienced that and sometimes a little time is all you need. I’d encourage everyone to consider one and wear it.
I don’t know exactly what happened, but time in water played a role if one made it and two didn’t. I’ll repeat something that I’ve said many times here. A life jacket is nearly pointless under the cold water conditions that many of us gun in. A float coat is superior and gives you a little more time before you are chilled and keeps you functional I little longer. I know it gives you time before you are saturated and chilled - I’ve experienced that and sometimes a little time is all you need. I’d encourage everyone to consider one and wear it.
Troy Fields
Well-known member
Such sad news, thoughts are with the families and friends.
Here is a 24' SeaArk that ended up on the rocks here in southern Maine. Five guys were very lucky...they were able to go from boat to rocks without any swimming. The story is they were chasing a crippled duck in close and lost power.
View attachment 017.JPG
Here is a 24' SeaArk that ended up on the rocks here in southern Maine. Five guys were very lucky...they were able to go from boat to rocks without any swimming. The story is they were chasing a crippled duck in close and lost power.
View attachment 017.JPG
http://www.academia.edu/151354/Drowning_Survival_in_Icy_Water_A_Review
A frequent contributor among male boaters (duckhunters) is falling overboard while attempting to urinate. Carry a pee can or bottle on board. Walk through your safety gear routinely (Particularly prior going out in rough conditions to ensure you have it at hand and know where it is and what you need in sequence to survive.) until the drill becomes so familiar it is fully committed to memory-keep it functional and updated. Practice in cool water: floatation foam stiffens-up considerably when it is cold; make sure you're not fighting your safety clothing when trying to get to shore or back on board. Time how long it takes to put a life jacket on if you are not wearing one...is this interval realistically achievable in cold water where ten minutes immersion can induce major muscle contraction and function issues. Put your hands in ice water and practice trying to engage in tasks that require dexterity. I was wearing Sealskinz gloves when I went in this past fall; hands were cold but I could still use them to unzip an re-zip my outer garments to put them back on wet after I drained my waders of most of their contents and pulled them back up. Having them on the outside of the wader top opening enabled them to drain water away from me rather than into my boots as I walked the mile-plus out to find safety. I still had to stare at my feet to ensure I was making the correct foot plant to remain stable near the end of my trip back to the cabin. Fleece garments weigh less when you go through an immersion, improving your rate of movement once on shore, shortening the time interval to gain shelter or seek refuge. A windproof body heat reflective tarp or body boot should be in-hand. If you have to move with it on, cut a head hole in the bag and wear it like a poncho. Cinch-up your wader belt as tight as you can stand when it is rough and you are traveling in waders on land, or in the boat; pull your knees up to your chest on immersion if you cannot stand, trapping air and aiding in floatation.
If you are wearing waders that are full or near-full of water, once you get out of the water they will hinder your balance. You will have to drain their contents as well as you can to minimize further heat loss, eat, and get moving to generate heat as your muscles rub against each other during movement. Building a fire is the last resort, particularly if you are in a remote area and the wind is howling.
A frequent contributor among male boaters (duckhunters) is falling overboard while attempting to urinate. Carry a pee can or bottle on board. Walk through your safety gear routinely (Particularly prior going out in rough conditions to ensure you have it at hand and know where it is and what you need in sequence to survive.) until the drill becomes so familiar it is fully committed to memory-keep it functional and updated. Practice in cool water: floatation foam stiffens-up considerably when it is cold; make sure you're not fighting your safety clothing when trying to get to shore or back on board. Time how long it takes to put a life jacket on if you are not wearing one...is this interval realistically achievable in cold water where ten minutes immersion can induce major muscle contraction and function issues. Put your hands in ice water and practice trying to engage in tasks that require dexterity. I was wearing Sealskinz gloves when I went in this past fall; hands were cold but I could still use them to unzip an re-zip my outer garments to put them back on wet after I drained my waders of most of their contents and pulled them back up. Having them on the outside of the wader top opening enabled them to drain water away from me rather than into my boots as I walked the mile-plus out to find safety. I still had to stare at my feet to ensure I was making the correct foot plant to remain stable near the end of my trip back to the cabin. Fleece garments weigh less when you go through an immersion, improving your rate of movement once on shore, shortening the time interval to gain shelter or seek refuge. A windproof body heat reflective tarp or body boot should be in-hand. If you have to move with it on, cut a head hole in the bag and wear it like a poncho. Cinch-up your wader belt as tight as you can stand when it is rough and you are traveling in waders on land, or in the boat; pull your knees up to your chest on immersion if you cannot stand, trapping air and aiding in floatation.
If you are wearing waders that are full or near-full of water, once you get out of the water they will hinder your balance. You will have to drain their contents as well as you can to minimize further heat loss, eat, and get moving to generate heat as your muscles rub against each other during movement. Building a fire is the last resort, particularly if you are in a remote area and the wind is howling.