RI hunt w/ a sad Wrangler twist

Scott Farris

Scott Farris

Well-known member
I met Dave Morton at 4:45 AM, 2+ hrs. before daybreak, 2 hours since I pissed off the blk dog by leaving him home. After launching his home built duckboat, and loading four bags of hand carved decoys and the rest of my gear on board we headed out onto the open Narragansett Bay. For the last week of December, we were lucky, it was on the plus side of freezing if not by much. After a couple of mile run we reach the point we planned to hunt. All was dark so we started setting out decoys from the boat (it was almost peak high tide with an expected 2.5 / 3 ft drop). Divers, Golden eyes and Buffies out front, Blacks to the right and Brant down the shore to the left. But about half way through the decoys a red light lit up on the other side of the point. Thinking it was another group in way too close of proximity in the very shallow tidal marsh behind us we continued to deploy the blocks and stake claim to “our” spot. They didn’t move on and shortly we heard a subdued, fairly continuous horn sound from their location.

When we finished with the decoys we beached the boat to transfer our gear to the rocks to hunt from shore. From the added elevation of the rocks the “other party” turned into a submerged wrangler. We walked over to the marsh shore and saw that every electrical thing was going on the wrangler. Apparently, the switches are on the ground side and the salt water had made the ground connection. Submerged head lights, wipers, horn taillights were all going strong even though the water was up onto the hood. Well this didn’t last all that long, maybe as much as 10 minutes before everything went silent and dark. I pointed out that Dave being the local, the host and a former wrangler owner should wade out and check for anyone trapped or deceased in the jeep. Luckily for our hunt the jeep was empty! So on with the hunt.

The hunt was slow and while we saw ducks and brant they apparently have been hammered hard from that point and probably the whole area, they were smart birds. We did eliminate the two less intelligent brant that came in together but they were the only ones to come in, beyond a hen buffy that swam in. Not being proud, I stood up and yelled at her and she jumped up off the water, but before I could mount my shotgun, she had landed back into the decoys and proceeded to swim away. I am too proud to water swat a duck, D’oh!

Here are a series of shots taken as the water dropped.
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This is the route they drove in:

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Mid tide:

Midtide_zpszmcwkplc.jpg


Low tide - similar to the conditions they drove out in but it was a lot darker at midnight ;^)

DownnMuddy_zpslxfvpmov.jpg


Lowtideentry_zpsgo8odsx7.jpg



About 11am the Jeep’s owner showed up with a friend, hoping to start her and then jack her up out of the mud, and recover her. We listened in as they talked; first as they arrived, they were concerned that the back window was unzipped (by Dave to ensure it was empty), then that it wouldn’t start. So, we walked over and filled them in. That we had unzipped the window, and that the water had been up over the edge of the hood – pictures were shared. Apparently, the guys didn’t understand tides and that they cycled every 12 hours – low at midnight, high at 6 and again low at noon. Around midnight he had driven out, following a buddy who knew enough to stay up on the high gravelly ground but this guy wanted to do a little mudding and got stuck on the mud flat. Not understanding tides, he left her locked up with plans to recover her in the morning. They left to regroup, then came back an hour later with a couple of more guys. We listened in as talk went to recovery and who to call. AAA didn’t want to leave the road. They left hoping an acquaintance with a “real” wheeling capable rig would leave work and come pull him out for $200.


We called it a day and picked up and left. By the time we left, the tide was coming back in and no one had shown up with a recovery vehicle. Yeah, I kept my mouth shut that my Xterra was parked at the ramp with winch and recovery gear. No way I want to risk her to deep salt water, not for $200 or even $2000 which is much closer to what I believe it’s going to cost him to recover the now probably totaled 2015 Wrangler.


And no I don’t understand, it must really be a jeep thing! How can you live in RI and not know about tides.

Happier pictures: Dave watching the decoys:
View attachment DaveontheRocks.JPG


B&W Decoy rig:
View attachment decoys1.JPG


Brant, with the sleds too close together - to deep to wade to much hassle to launch the boat.

View attachment decoys2.JPG



Happy New Year All!


Scott
 
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If he has insurance I hope it is not my insurance company. At times, I think there should be a clause in insurance for stupid. Other time I remember sliding off snow covering ice on the road and remembering that my insurance covered stupid (driving too fast for the conditions is stupid).
 
I think when he left the pavement he was SOL.

If I drive out on the ice my policy doesn't cover recovery:)
 
How do you explain that one to Flo the insurance lady LOL ?

Where you able to shoot any ducks? Brant?
 
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Great Post Scott !! Thanks for sharing that hunt with me , i know i say it all the time but hunting with you and those world class hand carved birds is always fun even though we were on the short end of the ducks . This is one hunt that will live in my mind for sometime .
 
My experience with tides could be put in a thimble. We do have a nice ice fishing season here tho and every year without fail, at least one vehicle goes thru the ice. My understanding is usually the insurance will cover the vehicle and certain dollar amount for recovery. What it will not cover is any DNR fines for pollution and such.

Even tho one has obviously left the roadway, driving on the ice (for the purpose of icefishing) is considered to be "normal and expected". Now if you were running from the law and cutting across the lake, you may not be covered.

Either way, I'll bet he guy in the Wrangler never does that again!
 
Well, that guy learned a harsh lesson! When I lived in New Zealand, there was a particular surf spot that could be driven to at low tide-it was nice to do as it saved you about a 2 mile walk. Problem was that the tides in that part of the world are huge, and if you didn't make it back around the point before the tide rose too high then your vehicle was screwed-you would pass the rusting tops of a few cars that didn't make it on the trip over the reef at low tide. That was always a reminder to me to get my butt in gear no matter how good the surf was!
 
Craigslist Ad: 2015 Wrangler, one owner, no pets or kids, never been mudding, no known mechanical or electrical issues, recently detailed...
 
I worked as a lifeguard for a few summers at a Maine state park beach. The far end of the beach had an informal "from the beach" launching area, and with a permit from the town you could park your vehicle on the sand.

One day while sitting in the lifeguard stand we looked down the beach with binoculars to see a Toyota Corolla half floating in the water. It slowly filled with water and settled on the bottom in about 3 feet of water. We called the town police who arranged a tow to pull it back up on the beach, where they left it for the owner with a note and the bill for the tow.

We left at the end of our shift and the owner had not yet returned, but the vehicle was gone the next morning when we arrived for work. We never did find out what had happened. The working theory was the car had been parked in neutral and rolled down the slope into the water, and the rising tide did the rest.

As for "off the road" and insurance, here in Maine there is a huge network of private logging roads in parts of the state with no public roads. I've always dreaded the day I need a tow "to the nearest service location" as covered by my insurance, and I need to explain that I am 60 miles from pavement on an unpronounceable private logging road. (Many road names up there are of Native American or French-Canadian origin. Spelling and pronunciation can vary a lot.)

Assuming I can find cell service--far from a safe assumption--here's how it might go.

"Sir, what is the nearest interection?"

"Well, I'm about 15 miles up the Caucomgomoc Road, heading south from the Aurelie Road."

"Thank you sir. And what town are you in?"

"T7 R15 WELS."

"What was that again?"

"Township 7, Range 15, West of the Easterly Line of the State."

"Right. A tow truck will be right with you. We're dispatching it from Caribou, so expect them sometime tomorrow."

LOL.
 
Scott-how are the brant to eat up that way. Down here in Jersey once they get on the lettuce the table quality deteriorates quickly. Although I have had some over the years that were excellent. Nice looking area to gun.

As far as the jeep, I feel sorry for the guy. Almost everybody makes a dumb mistake now and then, this poor dude has lost his jeep. And trying to start it was the worst thing he could have done with the engine.

Every once in a while in October we get some really big tides, sometimes 2-3 feet over normal, and the road to the ramp I use floods with a foot or so of water. Before the parking area and ramp were redone several years back, the parking area was not a uniform height. There were high spots and low spots. One day me and a buddy came in from hunting after the water had gone back down on one of these king tides. We had parked in a high spot and were fine, but the Honda Civic with the boat trailer that was there had not. There was a recently retired guy there and told us that all of the lights and everything were on when he got in, and his car wouldn't start. I asked him if his seats were wet, and he answered yes. Then I had to tell him what had happened with the tide while he was out, and that his car was at best completely shorted out, but was likely worse than that. We then took him back to our shack, put him in front of the heater(he was wet and cold), pumped a little bourbon into him, and had him call his son who could come and pick him up. We were able to get his boat and leave it at our place until he could make arrangements to come and get it, then helped him with triple A. I knew they wouldn't go to his car if he told them where it was, but the road was fine and there was no reason a tow truck couldn't or shouldn't go, but it's their way out. So I had him tell them that he didn't know the name of the road, but to come to our place and pick him up and he would take them there. And so they did, and he did, and they were hopping mad, but once you get on that road with a tow truck you can't turn around until you get to the end, at which point the car is right there and the surface was fine, and they would go ahead and put a hook on the car, which they did.
 
Greg,

The brant are hit or miss for quality. Like all my late season coastal divers and sea ducks, they become poppers, heavily marinated, wrapped in bacon and cooked over charcoal. I think shoe leather would be good cooked that way.

With respect to they're trying to start the Jeep, I doubt they did any additional mechanical damage, nothing happened, the engine didn't turn over. After the electronics ran to failure at high tide, I doubt there was any power to do further electrical damage either.

Best,
Scott
 
Scot
Interesting story. What are the details and history of that stone wall in the picture. Looks like it took major effort. do you know the purpose?
Thanks
Ken
 
Scott, seeing & hearing the story of the Jeep wrangler getting swamped . I have to tell you of A simulere experience i had back in the 60'S when we did not have any cell phones.I will call it an unfortunate mistake also some what stupid. i do not have any photos but when i describe the accident you will clearly in vision how i LOST A CAR WITH LESS THEN 10,000 MILES ON IT .WAS A 1961 CHEVY STATION WAGON. TOWED TWO BBSS ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER .WE RENTED A PRIVATE BEACH & STORAGE PLACE TO LEAVE THE BOATS THERE AFTER EACH HUNT ,WAS IN Brigantine N,J,. IT WAS A GATED PRIVATE BEACH THAT WAS A COMMERCIAL CALMER PROPERTY SO THE LAUNCHING AREA WAS HARD & SOUND TO DRIVE A CAR ONTO & LAUNCH OUR BOATS . WHERE WE PARKED THE CAR WAS ON HIGH GROUND SAVE & SOUND. That DAY WE HAD A 30 MPH WEST WIND 25 DEGREES EARLY January WITH OF WHICH WE NEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A N,W BLOW OUT TIDE. PERFECT PUDDLE DUCK DAY,WE HAD A BANNER SHOOT SHOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. WE LAUNCHED ON A HIGH TIDE ABOUT 8 AM IN THE MORNING THE TIDE IN THAT AREA DROPS ABOUT 8 FT.BECAUSE WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF WATER WHERE WE WERE, SO WE DECIDED TO QUITE WE HAD ARE LIMITS ON ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF BIRDS BRANT ,BLACKS, PINTAIL, MALLARDS, GADWALL, SNOW GEESE, & OTHERS YOU NAME IT IT CAME TO US. ONE OF THOSE DAYS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.AS WE STARTED BACK IN WE NOTICED THE TIDE WAS SEVERELY LOW NO MATTER WHAT WAY WE TRIED TO GET BACK TO OUR LAUNCH AREA.THIS WAS NOW 3PM .WHEN WE GOT BACK TO LAUNCH AREA, HAD A LEAST A 100 YARDS OF MUD FROM THE BEACH, WHERE WE COULD LOAD THE BOATS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH WATER TO BACK THE CAR DOWN & GET LOADED WITH BOTH BOATS WE NEW IF WE HAD TO WAIT TILL THE TIDE CAME BACK IN WE WOULD BE THERE TILL 8PM THAT NIGHT. EVEN WITH ALL THE ANCHOR LINES TIED TOGETHER WE COULDN'T REACH THE BOATS TO PULL THEM ACROSS THE SOFT MUD.THE ROPES WE HAD HAD IN BOTH BOATS WERE NOT ENOUGH THEY COULD NOT REACH THE BOATS TO PULL ACROSS THE SOFT MUD TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO PUT BACK ON THE TRAILER, SO MY PARTNER i DECIDED , LETS SEE HOW FAR I CAN BACK THE CAR & TRAILER DOWN TO REACH THE BOATS & USE OUR LINES. WE GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO HAVE OUR LINES REACH & PULL THE BOATS & LOAD THEM ON THE TRAILER ,NOW IT WAS GETTING DARK 4;30 IN THE AFTERNOON.EVERYTHING SEEMED ALRIGHT UNTIL i PUT THE CAR IN GEAR & TRIED TO PULL OUT, ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL FOUR WHEELS WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE CAR FRAME , THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF GETTING OUT OF THE SOFT MUD , SO WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN INCOMING TIDE TO GET HELP & GET OUT BEFORE THE CAR GOT SWAMPED. NOW REMEMBER I AM IN A TOWN THAT BRIGANTINE BLVD ARE MOSTLY SUMMER HOMES CLOSED UP FOR THE WINTER I WALKED AT LEAST A MILE BEFORE I COULD FIND SOME ONE HOME TO USE THEIR PHONE AND CALL A WRECKER TO TOW US OUT.THE WRECKER MET ME AT THE HOUSE I CALLED FROM TO SHOW HIM WERE WE WERE. THE WRECKER MET US THEIR ,BY THEN THE WATER WAS UP TO THE DASH BOARD , THE WRECKER GUY SAID I AM NOT GOING TO GET MY ASS WET TO TIE A CABLE TO THE FRONT END TO TRY & GET THE CAR OUT , SO I WENT OUT & PLAYED SKIN DIVER TO ATTACH A CABLE TO THE FRONT END SO HE COULD PULL US OUT. WELL IF YOU CAN IMAGINE i NEW WE WERE NEVER GOING TO GET THE CAR STARED TO GO ANYWHERE, . THE WRECKER GUY SAID I CAN TOW YOUR CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER THAT WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW & SEE IF HE CAN GET YOU UP & RUNNING WHICH WE DID . NOW I HAD TO CALL THE WIFE & TELL HER THE CAR BROKE DOWN, BUT OF COURSE NOT THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WITH SUCH A NEW CAR & WE WERE GOING TO BE VERY LATE GETTING BACK HOME . I THEN CALLED A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE TO COME & PICK US UP 2HRS NORTH OF WERE WE WERE .WE WALK TO A NEAR BY DINNER TO GET OUT OF THE COLD. BY NOW ITS 9PM AT NIGHT WHEN ALL THE DUST SETTLED .LEFT A NOTE ON THE CAR WINDSHIELD & TOLD THE SERVICE CENTER I WOULD CALL HIM IN THE MORNING & EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED,& SEE IF HE COULD GET IT RUNNING TWO DAYS LATER HE CALLED & SAID HE GOT IT RUNNING BUT BECAUSE OF THE SALT WATER IN THE ENGINE I WAS GOING TO HAVE FUTURE PROBLEMS . GOT A RIDE DOWN TO PICK THE CAR UP & BROKE DOWN ON THE WAY HOME I HAD TO GET TOWED IN AGAIN . WELL WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE CAR HOME & THE WIFE WENT TO USE THE SALTED CAR SHE WAS RATHER VERY UPSET AS TO WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS SHOT, WHICH IT WAS I HAD TO TRADE IT IN & GET ANOTHER CAR THE NEXT WEEK. FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAD THE NEXT WEEK . THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IT WAS THE MOST $$$EXPENSIVE HUNTING TRIP I HAVE EVER HAD ,BUT ALSO ONE OF THE FINEST DAYS GUNNING I EVER HAD.
 
I think it is a new kind of blind. Great idea to drive to your spot and not have to deal with a boat, trailer, launching, etc!
 
Ken ,

The stone walls are part of what used to be farms in the area , the entire area was originally part of a huge sheep farm which was later subdivided into house lots way back when , This spot is at the end of a river that runs west from where we were . As you can imagine it does get it's fair share of pressure but always worth a look .
 
Scott, Its a trip I will never forget. I must say i have enjoyed the hunting experience of the last 50 some yrs. now because of health reasons i have been forced to give up the sport. It just shocks me how the new generation has taken over with such carelessness & non respect for rough water a severe weather conditions ,surprized that their are not more fatalities among the so called the new breed.
 
My friends and I hunted that area back around Thanksgiving weekend. We noticed deep tire ruts in the "footpath" out to the point.

In the many years I've been going to the area this was the first time seeing that. From the looks of it whoever left the ruts back around Thanksgiving had gotten stuck then too, but nowhere near the saltpond.

If it was the same person you'd think they learned their lesson then.

Any indication these folks were duck hunters?
 
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