With Alabama’s abundant waterways, hunters can sometimes only access their hunting territory via a certain type of boat or vessel. This applies not only to waterfowl hunters, but also to deer and small game.

When the weather is cold and the water temperature is low, the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) is crucial for safety in the event of an accident and hunters ending up in the water. Drowning is not the only risk. Hypothermia sets in within minutes in freezing water.

Paul Barnard is a 35-year veteran in the United States Coast Guard (USCG) with 20 years of active duty, including stints at Dauphin Island and Brookley Field. Currently as a boating safety specialist stationed in the 26-state district of New Orleans, Barnard urges all hunters and boaters who take to the water at this time of year to do use caution and wear PFDs.

Barnard leads the USCG’s Operation Artemus Borios, which aims to keep hunters and boaters safe during the winter.

“Artemus was the Greek goddess of the hunt, and Borios is the god of cold, wintry winds,” Barnard said. “The goal of the program is to reach hunters and all boaters who operate in cold weather to discuss the dangers of these activities. It is an operation of sensitization and repression. Enforcement is not a ticketing operation. In fact, we engage people on the dock before they get started. The application focuses on the preventive aspect.

Last year, two young duck hunters went missing while hunting on the Mississippi River. The two hunters were never found after extensive search efforts.

In 2009, two hunters used a canoe to access areas of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta to go squirrel hunting. Their canoe was found half submerged. The body of one of the hunters was found in January 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.

In 2013, a 16-year-old duck hunter drowned on Lake Martin after his canoe capsized.

In February 2014, two brothers died while fishing on the Coosa River after their canoe overturned.

In January 2021, three duck hunters got into the water when their boat capsized on the Tennessee River. One of the hunters drowned.

Barnard said the boats used for hunting are generally smaller with little freeboard and are frequently loaded with hunting gear, from climbing stands to blind gear and dozens of duck decoys. Additionally, hunters often wear thick coats and waders to deal with the cold. Barnard said the combination of these factors poses a high risk of capsizing and drowning.

“Ducks often fly when the winds howl,” Barnard said. “Cold fronts can pass during hunting trips and bring with them dangerous conditions. Combine that with heavily laden small boats, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Watch the weather carefully. Avoid large waters when winds are strong or expected to be strong.

Barnard said putting on a PFD before leaving the dock is best practice. It may be too late to try to put on a life jacket when the boat is taking on water or has already capsized.

“Wear a life jacket,” he said. “Do it. Modern PFDs are comfortable, unconfined and affordable. Some of the inflatable PFDs come in camouflage. They are camo when worn, but the bladder is bright yellow when inflated for visibility. They can easily be adjusted to fit bulky hunting gear There are many other approved life jackets and floatation jackets on the market For boaters who will not be wearing a PFD, their PFDs should be easily accessible. can’t be buried under a mound of blind material and a bunch of decoy bags. Personally, I always wear an inflatable on my belt. Others wear the vests. It’s about finding the middle ground between comfort and protection.

“The cold kills. Cold water and cold air kill. Cold water shock can set in when the water temperature is 70 degrees and below. People naturally and uncontrollably pant when immersed in cold water. If you’re underwater without a PFD when you’re taking this reflective breathing, you’re in big trouble.

Barnard said the 1-10-1 rule applies to most people when they find themselves in cold water. It takes a minute to master your breathing. Those in the water get about 10 minutes of useful motor control. Once out of the water, expect an hour of reduced physical capacity.

“The danger of hypothermia persists when we’re out of cold water,” he said. “Having a change of clothes in a dry bag can be a lifesaver. The 1-10-1 rule is a general rule. The colder the water temperature, the greater the effect of cold water shock and the onset of hypothermia.

Vance Wood, an Alabama freshwater fisheries and wildlife conservation officer, said the majority of hunters he and his colleagues see without PFDs are younger.

“They didn’t have the mentorship of older, experienced hunters,” Wood said. “They are new to the game and sometimes they feel invincible. But they are not. Wearing waders in deep water is a great example. They are made for shallow water. In transit to and from your hunting area, you may cross bodies of water 30 or 40 feet deep or deeper. Don’t wear your waders. Wait until you arrive at your seat to put on your waders. A PFD may not be enough to keep you afloat if you are wearing your waders. When you factor in the hypothermia effect, you need every ounce of buoyancy you can get.

Hunters often visit their duck caches or hunting areas in low light conditions. Getting to these areas may involve meandering through narrow waterways. Barnard advises maintaining boat speeds that allow the driver to stop in time to avoid an accident.

“Boaters should expect other boaters to bypass these blind turns and waterway intersections and slow down,” he said. “GPS is not radar. It can show you where you need to go, but it won’t show other boats. Allow plenty of time to travel at a safe speed. And always carry the kill switch which will kill the engine if you lose control of the boat.

A method of communication with the Coast Guard or friends and relatives is also crucial in the event of a problem during excursions.

“Most hunt skiffs don’t have a VHF radio installed,” Barnard said. “In most coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico, a portable VHF radio will have the power to reach Coast Guard antennas. In more inland areas, you won’t have that VHF coverage. other reliable means of communication.

“A PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) can provide emergency communications in areas without VHF coverage. Commercial satellite communications devices by subscription are also on the market at a reasonable price. Too many hunters rely exclusively on a telephone cell phones. Major hunting areas are often out of cell phone range. The kind of accidents that require hunters to call for help can also find their cell phone wet. It’s always a good idea to keep phones in a waterproof case I keep a VHF radio, PLB and my cell phone in a waterproof case when I’m on the water.

Barnard also recommends carrying an emergency kit that includes items that will be visible to search and rescue units. The kit should include flares, fire starter, flashlights, glow sticks, orange bandanas and signal mirrors as well as insect repellent, sunscreen, multi-tool, first aid supplies from base, ropes, communication devices, emergency blankets and everything else. which could help hunters stay warm and dry or help attract attention.

“As hunters, we dress so we can’t be seen, so having something that helps us be seen can be vital,” he said. “Silver survival blankets help keep you warm and are highly visible.

“And file a detailed flotation plan. Every year overdue boater reports come in with very little information about the trip or the boat. Many floating plans are available on the Internet. Hunters should complete one and leave it with a responsible person who can call the authorities if they do not return in time.

Most waterfowl hunters have a canine hunting companion, and it’s important to take care of your dog as well with a neoprene vest that provides some flotation and extra warmth.

“Our dogs are pretty tough,” Barnard said, “but they’re subject to the same environmental hazards that we are.”

David Rainer works at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.