Waders and deep water

[tunica]

Here's the burr that gets under My skin. Why do grown Men wear waders duck hunting on a lake. The biggest burr are those same grown Men that let there young sons wear them also....I watched this weekend 5 different boats come in and at least one in every boat had waders on. Now before ya start thinking I am stupid heres a little more detail...Tunica cutoff had over 21 feet of water at the ramp, unless you run your boat all the way thru the trees to the bank and get out on the edge of the woods waders are rather useless. Even if you plan on hunting the edges Why in gods name would you cross open water in small boats loaded to the max with a good chop on the water. I really do hate to think that some feel they can float with waders on well ya can if your feet can breath for ya. and as far as tryign to stay warm well rather be a little cold than wet and dead. So fellow posters whats your thoughts.

[timber-hunter]

tunica I have seen the same things before and I even got the nerve up one day to ask some men the question of why are yall wearing waders? The response I got was "Man you have got to wear waders when duck hunting." Some people have this perception I guess from TV that you have to wear waders to hunt. But you would think that common sense would take over in this equation but it doesn't. So just help a fellow hunter out by letting them know the little things it might just save their life one day.

[Bodean]

Tunica --

I think wearing neoprene waders in the boat while duck hunting is a good idea even if you are not going to be wading. Are you saying that you believe even the neoprene waders pose a risk of filling up with water? I am interested in your thoughts on this topic.

By the way, what do you think of the new weir? The weir needs a depth gauge on it for safety purposes.

[tunica]

I dont think wearing anything that will trap water and air at the same time is a good thing to wear. The wier will be a good thing. I aint sure what your getting at about the depth gauge at the wier. I do know that since the wier was finished there's been water where there was dry land last year, true it aint ever going to be deep everywhere but its holding enough water now to put the fishing where it used to be before the runout was completly opened a few years back. Although in time we will lose alot of trees because of standing water I think its a winner for those that use the cutoff year round.

[SoftCall]

I wear my waders when in a boat to keep me warm and dry. My dogs sure sling a bunch of water when they skake off. I NEVER ride in the boat without a life jacket on and I advise everyone else to do the same.

[Dutch Dog]

Hey tunica which ramp were you at? That was us in the big war eagle with the merc 90 on it. If you payed any attention to us at all you noticed that all 3 of us were wearing life jackets (buckled) and there wasn't a pair of waders in the boat! Did y'all kill any birds? we had too many twirlie users around us to do any good.

[judge jb]

are you kidding, i wear my waders in the deer stand.... warm and keep my big butt dry....... plus they feel soooo good on my feet.....

judge jb

[Doc & Nash]

Tunica,

I think the real question is why do hunters get in boats with out a life jacket on. The wader issue to me is a personal preference, but I think it is just plain stupidity for a individual to get into a boat with out a life jacket on. I do not get into my boat with out it, nor do I allow any body to hunt with me in my boat until the life vest is on their person. I have gotten into several arguments one even with my own father.

I think the best thing DU has done is put the new commercial about duck hunters not floating on the air.

I encourage each of you to think about this issue. If you think that the vest will hinder your hunting then think about how much you being dead will hinder your hunting. Not to mention the hinderence you family would face with out you around.

I think Mississippi ought to make it a law that you have to wear the vest the entire time you are in the boat and if you or anyone in your party is cought with out one on, then they ought to confiscate the boat.

And just in case you are wondering, yes I can swim.

[featherduster]

I watched a deal on the outdoor channel late one night with a guy going in over his waders intentionally. He made some good points, the main one being if you don't struggle and fight you don't sink. The air trapped by the water coming over the top of the waders helps with bouyancy and if you don't thrash around you don't let the air out. Now I ain't going out and dunking myself to try it, but this was a full grown fella and he did it in canvas waders with a belt on.

[tunica]

Hey dutch if you would please reread my post I mentioned 5 boats and call the attention to 2 boats that had a grown man and 3 kids. I hunt out of charlies camp if you'd like t o chew da fat some time. Ask Charlie who I am if I'm not hunting with him.

[Newtduck]

A friend of mine capsized on the Cumberland River in bitter cold conditions. He said that his neoprene waders in conjunction with his parka saved him from getting wet and made him more bouyant.

[H2OFowl]

With the neoprene waders we have now, I wouldn't go duck hunting in a boat without 'em. Believe it or not neoprene has some bouyant characteristics and you'll be less likely to get hypothermia in wet neoprene than you would in wet cotton or wool.

[Bodean]

Tunica -- I hunt periodically out of what was once JT & Joyce's Bait Joint. The weir needs a water depth marker on it for safety purposes. Explanation: I want to know how much clearance above the weir is available on any given river level. If there is only a foot or two of clearance or if the river is dropping, it would not be a good idea to run over the weir to reach the river. Just my thoughts. Have a great New Years! Bodean

[MAKEMBLEED]

I second H2O I wish I had had them in 1968.

[Wildfowler]

With the neoprene waders we have now, I wouldn't go duck hunting in a boat without 'em. Believe it or not neoprene has some bouyant characteristics and you'll be less likely to get hypothermia in wet neoprene than you would in wet cotton or wool.

I've always thought the same thing about neoprene. I always wear mine. Besides, it's inevitable that I'll need to be in water up to my knees sometimes when launching/loading the boat even if I am never going to get out of the boat to hunt.

You won't sink like a brick if you are submerged while wearing waders. I've got first hand experience of being up to my ears with waders on. Try it for yourself this Summer. Gradually walk into deeper water until you are up over your waders. You'll see that once they fill up, there is no pressure and they don't weight you down. Obvioulsly they are bulky, but you can swim with them on.

The more clothes that you have on in the boat, the more "weight" you will experience if submerged. We should always keep that in mind, a life vest is a MUST WEAR, particularily in deep water. But if you don't like the idea of wearing them, then by all means don't.

Just my opinion.