About lost my hunting buddy tonight!!

I know for a fact that Grandpa was watchin out for me tonight......... I miss you Grandpa!!

WOW!!! That scared the livin HELL outta me!!!.... I ran out tonight 15 minutes before shootin hours ended, for a look to see if there were any ducks that had dropped in the pond by home, the lake was froze over except for in the inlet so I snuck over there and jumped 15 or 20 blackjack and 5 Canvasback...long story short I dropped 1 Bull Can and 1 black jack drake onto the ice 35 yards from shore. I sent BOO after them, and right before he got to the Can he broke through the ice....no vest on my dog (wont happen again while hunting ice) and no clue what to do. I started callin to him, but he couldnt get onto the ice .....after a few minutes I tried to walk out on the ice but I broke through 10 feet off shore.....SHIIITTTTTTTT!!!! I made a call to my good buddy Lance and told him to haul ass to the pond with a rope...I am goin in after my dog!!.. it had been about 15 minutes and it started gettin dark as I waited and Boo started whimpering and whinin..finaly!!! I saw head lights a half mile off, hoping it was Lance I started out. I dont know if it was the temperature that had dropped or that God just knows all to well that I aint leavin my dog to die, but after I broke through the ice out to 15 feet I was able to get on the ice and SLOWLY walk, I have not been scared like that for awhile. I had found a 20' length of rope in the truck so as I shimmied towards Boo I tied a loop and prayed that I could rope him from as far back as possible....throw #1 was unsuccessful, so I moved closer throw #2 the same...I inched closer til I felt the ice bowing under my feet, I was still 15 feet away and as I tossed the loop again Boo went under the water. I yelled and cussed thinkin he was gone..., then Boo was back up. I looked to shore and saw Lance was there with a rope, so I dove for Boo. I was able to grab the skin on his back and his collar and pull him onto the ice,,,... I am still thankin God that I wasnt submerged, the ice had bowed and filled with water but never let me through. I got Boo back to the truck and put him in the cab with the heater on and wrapped him in my duck coat to try to warm him. When I got him home I called my Veterinarian buddy to get some info for hypothermia.....after I dryed him off, I wrapped him in a heating pad and blanket. I hope we are outta the woods now that he has stopped shivvvvvvvering. We got ducks to kill in the morning, but I will have to get into the blind late in the mornin cuz I got a couple ducks to retrieve first thing.
..... I have been known for doin some dangerous things when hunting and retrieving game, but I think when my wife says " its a dog you dumbass what the hell are ya thinkin!!??!!!" this might be a topper... well........ close to it!!
THANKS again to Lance, for always answering my SOS's, you are the true meaning of a PAL!!
AO

 

We got vests...just didnt put it on him tonight. He wont be hunting without one on ever again agian. Also makes me think to put a vest in the truck box for myself.....just in case ???
AO