Crossing water ways (rivers)

[TauntoHawk]

Just returned from my first Merriam hunt on the Niobrara River will try and get some time to post up pictures and stories but for now I want to ask about the main challenge we faced, The River itself. A daily occurrence was glassing up or hearing birds on the opposite side of the river, in fact finding them across the way was much easier than finding them on our side because of how the view and sound across was unobstructed. The River was running pretty good this spring and try as well might neither Ranch we hunted on had a suitable crossing. We scoped it out the first day thinking maybe we could just take our boots off and wade across. The water was freezing, the rocks were slick, the current was stronger than it looked, and places with sand bottom were too deep. The next day we thought maybe the old wear rubber boots and rain pants using rubber bands at the ankle to improvise home made waders but everywhere we tried we would get part way and find a hole or channel that would take us up over the waist line of our pants if we went any further. I'm not afraid to get a little wet but I wasn't sure even if we sucked it up and went across anyway that I could keep my footing that deep in the current and swimming clothed with a 20 gauge and a zip lock bag holding my calls didn't see like the finest idea. We tried to call birds across the river to use but either they had enough hens or were too far off on the other side for us to make it happen in the particular scenarios we were faced with.

Next year we plan to take waders and a dry bag and hope the water level just isn't as high as this year but I also got wondering about something like an inflatable kayak? taking a canoe on a 3000+ mi road trip plus hauling it down into the bottoms doesn't sound appealing but I wondered about something inflatable and a rechargeable pump might work.

Anyone ever do something like this or do you simply stay on your side and hope birds will cross or you find one already there. The water was pretty cold and our day break temps were 43,30,31 so it wasn't exactly swimming weather at first light. If the water was below the knee I've just sucked it up and crossed barefoot several times even on frost covered mornings but I don't trust deeper water on numb feet for balance in current.

[bluegill68]

I have run into similar situations and on three different occasions ended up renting a kayak/canoe to get me on the birds. 

[spaightlabs]

I've slogged across, froze my nutz in the cold water and filled my boots.  Don't do it if it looks hairy - you are correct in your assumption that it ain't too safe - if you get knocked off your feet and slammed into a snag or other debris you might pay the ultimate price.  Not worth it for 5 pounds of turkey meat.

[TauntoHawk]

I looked at inflatable kayaks and you know they aren't too bad $$$ wise, they have ones that fit in in bags with backpack straps come with a foot pump and weight like 22lbs.. that seems like a great way to deal with a river crossing.

[spaightlabs]

That's what the guests on the SS Minnow said before they left for their 3 hour tour.

[Rzrbac]

Do be careful.  I've had the bright idea I would get turkeys all to myself by wading/swimming creeks before daylight after a hard night's rain.  First of all I should have known better, I wasn't using a light and could tell by the sound that water was swift. I've been lucky a few times and I'll never try it in the dark again!  I have often thought a kayak would be the route or in my case just wait until the creeks go down in a few days. I cut up and joke about a lot of things but crossing swift water can get you killed. 

[kjnengr]

A lot depends on the height and swiftness of the river.  I know of a refuge around here where people use waders or hip boots to get across a deep ditch and then undress when they get to the other side and put their regular boots back on. 

My cousin told me of stories where they used to have to cross rivers like that duck hunting.  They tied a zip line across the river and used the inner tubes that fly fishermen use to get across.  Of course they had waders on at the time. 

Maybe a cheap set of thin breathable waders could be used and stowed in a pack or at the base of the tree if necessary. 

[deerhunt1988]

Inflatable raft and 4 D-battery portable air pump. Carried it in a mile to cross this river.

[TauntoHawk]

Inflatable raft and 4 D-battery portable air pump. Carried it in a mile to cross this river.

Yeah that's what I'm thinking, thanks for the share looks like it worked like a charm

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[spaightlabs]

Sure, til a spur punctures the boat on the way back.   

[TauntoHawk]

Sure, til a spur punctures the boat on the way back.   

I guess I need to stay away from the birds with the sharp ones huh just to be safe

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[Marc]

If the water is not that deep, I would use waders...  Pack them up, put them on and cross the river, take them off again and start hunting.

I have used stocking foot waders, and it is a  bit uncomfortable on the feet, but they are far easier to pack...  In my situation, there was only one place to cross, and being on private property, I left them rolled up in a tree on the bank I was hunting (so I did not have to carry them around with me).

If the water is deeper, but slow, I might consider a float tube (with waders).  From personal experience, a float tube is a horrible idea with fast moving water (I'd rather not talk about it)...

[Lucky_Strutter]

Hunting these MS swamp birds can be a challenge sometimes if they are on the other side of a slough or the river is up so we keep a little 10' flat bottom boat just for those situations, have paddled up on gators bigger than my boat a few times.

[tha bugman]

If I know I am going after wet birds I wear my hip boots.  I also mark high water foot logs throughout the year with my gps but as an earlier post said Be Careful!  It's just a bird and not worth losing your life over. 


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