Have you ever heard the story from 1961, just outside of FORT RICHARDSON up in Alaska? Three friends were out- duck hunting in a salt marsh flat, near a creek during the September's early season for ducks and geese, when one of them- got stuck out on a tricky section which is still quite dangerious even today. It was a mud flat, and he just couldn't get his feet unstuck. Certainly a story for the ages...once in which needs to be discussed to this day and time. You know mud? Well this is much worse than anything you may have in your state or county. It is really quite hard to comehend. Quite sad, as the signs are posted to STAY AWAY...from certain areas. Do you read all the signs posted? Do you normally follow those guidelines?

He worked deeper and deeper in the mud until he was well above his knees, and he couldn't get out.

Initally his friends laughed and thought it was funny, but they changed their tune when they realized their buddy really couldn't get out, one of his friends ran a few miles to a phone to call for help, and a SAR Helo was launched, however they didn't get the location correctly, and the helo went searching in another location.

Another duck hunter was a few miles away waterfowl hunting with his sons, and they had an airboat, and a plane flew over them, and got lower and keep circling their blind,and tried to get their attention, and even went so far as to cut their engine off while circling low overhead, and yelled out to these fellows in their blind a few miles away that a "hunter was stuck in the mud flats and needed help". Those duckhunters got out there using their airboat and they tried to rescue the fellow, but did not arrive until the tide was coming in. The fellow's friends were sitting on the shore not too far away, but were afraid to get out there in the mud flats to help their buddy. The duck hunters in the airboat were unable to get the fellow unstuck in the mudflat, and the tide came in and he died.

It goes to show you that you got to be extra careful when you are out duck hunting in any weather or conditions.

There are enough accidents every year across the country, and many people go into areas that they are unaware about the dangers. Stay safe out there this season. Ensure someone in your family knows where you are going if going by yourself.

Always wear a life preserver when operating your boat, and be prepared for bad weather, and always have a emergancy kit and cell phone and emergency radio in your boat.

I guess what I don't understand is why the guy didn't just unbuckle his waders and swim. I understand even in September it would still be cold in Alaska but it beats the hell outta drowning. Just a thought.

Take some knee boots put them on and fill them up with water. They do not come off very easy. I went under with hip boots did not think I was goin to make it.

I have been stuck bad enough I had to crawl out. The guy i learned to duck hunt from told me he had to climb out of his waders once to get out. Never heard of anyone dieing before but a heart attack has crossed my mind.

It's happened more than once here in the Cook Inlet, just outside of Anchorage. You don't make the news if you can "unbuckle your waders and swim out". When you get in deep enough your stuck and the only way out is the local rescue squads getting out there in time and flushing you out with with pressure hoses .....floating you out. Time is the problem, cause when the tide comes in it's fast and might be 30 feet deep. High water levels change every 12 hours and that change can be over 35 feet deep on big swings. Stay off the flats unless you know what your doing. Duckdon

I heard of a story in cook inlet abt a guy being pulled in half by chopper bc he was stuck bad. Nt sure if it's true bt when I was driving by cook inlet there are signs that say no wading or no fishing something to that extent

If you wear waders, hip boots or even knee boots always strap on a knife outside of your outer most garment so you can at least cut a hole in the boot part on top of your toes to eliminate suction so you can remove your boot whiles in water. Or if that fails, cut them off. Don't panic. Wear life vest; it's easier to survive with one on.

/\/\/\ i will not put waders on without havin a knife