doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hunting tragedy this weekend

Terrible... can't imagine what the family is going through... hope the boy is indeed alive and just out in the woods somewhere...

I used to have my waders secured with a tight broad belt about waist. It's the kind is used to carry ammo in, so it served double purpose. As I found out a couple of times, if you go into too deep waters, the setup keeps water from filling the waders all at once, and you still have a couple of seconds to get back to safe depth. One time, I waded back fast enough that my jeens stayed dry! However, some more exprerienced hunters pointed out, that belting the waders is dangerous, because the air in the legs might float your bottom end up so that it is impossible to get up or even lift your head above surface level. Bottom line - gotta include 2 shooting-friendly vests into WTB hunting gear list.

George: We all hope against hope that this unfortunate incident turns out well. We are all reminded how fragile life really is. When I was seventeen I was "indestructible" as well and could have "bought the farm" on several ocassions. Our prayers are with the family and also the rescuers.

Best......George

Geo,

My prayers are with the families of these young men.

Pete

Terrible tragedy! My prayers go out to the family of the boys, and prayers for the best possible outcome.

Years ago, I was commercial salmon fishing on the Kuskokwim river with a friend, in his 18 ft Lund. The wind was howling, with some serious whitecaps on the river. We got greedy and loaded the boat up with silvers. With very little freeboard, we headed in to the buyer to sell. A wave came over the bow, and then another, swamping the boat. It rolled on us and we grabbed the seat cushions and jumped for it into the river. Both he and I had hip boots and Healy Hansen rain gear on. Although the seat cushions would have been sufficient to keep us afloat, I had a Stearns float coat on. I always wore it thereafter while out on the river, and also while out duck/goose hunting on any water. It is blue in color, so I'd take it off when we got into the shore blind and cover it with camo netting or stuff it into a decoy bag. It can happen too quickly not to be wearing some kind of PFD!

Three days of searching a lake of 700 acres open water...still nothing. I'm just hoping at this point for a recovery soon to give the family some closure. Someone here said it best "Sorrow; Profound Sorrow". The Good Lord answers all prayers; sometimes he just says "no"...Geo

George, what lake was this? Banks Lake?

Nah, it was Ocean Pond, about a 1,400 acre lake including the substantial marsh located down near the Florida line. It's a private club owned by a few 3rd or 4th generation members. Shares trade now and then. I bought a share 30 years ago, but my Grandfather had shares, so I've duck hunted and fished on the lake all my life.

It was started back in the late 1800s and accessed then by the members who came by rail to the town of Lake Park which borders part of the lake, and then by a steam launch over to what they called 'Paradise Island' where the present clubhouse was built in 1904. When I was little they still had 'boat paddlers' who lived with their families in 'shotgun houses' on the premises.

A good friend of mine used to scuba dive the lake and he found the wreck of the steamer on the bottom. We still have the anchor and flywheel in the yard at the clubhouse.

Shades of Nash Buckingham, Wapanoca and Beaver Dam...Geo

Geo,
You have my/our prayers, hopes and all the good vibes I can muster up to hopefully bring some finality to this tragic situation.

I've been through Lake Park and seen that lake. It is beautiful, with the cypresses and all. Thanks.

Please let us know any further word on the missing young man.

Stan

Still no sign of him, Stan. Maybe they'll locate him soon, before they have to suspend the search and let nature take its course. I don't know how long it will take a body to float in this cold weather, but I'd guess we only have about a month before the reptiles wake up hungry. I cannot believe I just typed that, but I reckon it is a valid, if grizly observation.

I got your private message and I believe you are thinking about Banks Lake that you may have seen traveling through Lakeland, GA instead of Lake Park. That's another nice South Georgia wetland!

If you travel South on I-75 toward Florida, look to your left just past the Georgia Welcome Center and you'll see Ocean Pond. If you'd like to catch a ten pound bass, look me up and I'll take you down there this Spring...Geo