I take along complete change and then some, including extra footwear and lots of socks and gloves. I have even started taking comfy slippers along for the drive home, whether or not my boots get wet. When we look back, we certainly felt invincible as young guys. When I was in my late teens, Dad and I were hunting the Bow River, south of Calgary, AB. We got lots of ducks in that spot. I dumped one near the river bank but in the water. I had waders on, so headed out to get it. I had the right angle on making my retrieve; however, the current shifted the bird a little further out. As it came by, I took an extra step and grabbed it but lost my footing. So.......... duck, Jack and the Savage 755A got dunked and the current caught me. The river is fairly shallow with boulders and gravel bottom and a current around 12mph. I played in the river as a little kid and kind of knew how to handle myself, but I had never been in at this spot, nor in the winter. I ended up bumping my way down stream and made it to the opposite bank about 150 yards across. I was drenched head to toe. I had read that a good response in such a situation is to strip and wring out the clothes and get back into them as quick as you can. So I did that. Dad thought I was a goner and all I thought was I'm just gonna get wet. He had to drive about 15 miles to be able to retrieve me, my duck and his auto loader. I kept walking and shivered a bit but, all in all, wringing out the clothes and continually moving warded off hypothermia. I still have that old autoloader. Dad mounted the duck for me but, over the years, it disappeared. The only specimen I still have is my first rooster taken on the wing. Would sure like another day afield with Dad but........so I take out his guns every once in a while and shoot a rooster for him and remember good times.
Cheers,
Jack
__________________
Hunt ethically. Eat heartily.
|