Okay, I'm going in the water!

[kristin6]

Originally Posted by SilverTip

As for waders, you can purchase a pair of neoprene waders from Cabelas for around $50. As they are stocking foot waders, you can wear an old pair of running shoes with them, or if is not too mudy, get the water shoes from Walmart (less than $10.00).
Neoprene fits tight to your body as opposed to the older rubber waders. They do not fill up with water and allow one to move through the muck etc much easier. -This from an experinced waterfowler who haunts cattail marshes!

Awesome tip! That sounds like a great option for this location since I have no intention ever in going out during the cold months.

[MakeMeShutter]

You are my new super-hero, I admire your nerve!
Go Kristen, Go Kristen whoot whoot!

SAFETY FIRST!!!

[res]

Hi Kristin,
I will try and keep this short. I am about three and a half hours north of you in Michigan and spend a good deal of time in the swamps around here.

First, I have an ice fishing sled that I use to transport my gear.

http://www.shappell.com/sleds.html

I currently have the jet junior. IT floats like a tiny boat as long as I load it correctly. Inside the sled I can set my underwater kinetics case. (pelican style case) With the lid closed, it is waterproof and will float. Got it used from KEH for under $50. This allows me to wade and pull the sled without worry of keeping things dry. I personally do not carry my camera on my shoulder while wading. TO MANY THINGS CAN HAPPEN. You will not sneak up on much of anything in a swamp as others have mentioned so I go in, find a spot to set up, and sit. Besides, about the time a duck jumps and you go to shoot, you may take a step you did not check out first and take a dunk. I will walk swamp edges with a pair of lacrosse alpha lights on my feet but they are only 18" high and leak like crazy when you step in 26" water!! On the swamp edge, I will carry my camera but still very careful where I place my feet. Your biggest issue most of the time is muskrat and beaver trails that are underwater. They create channels in the swamp bottom which they can use during the winter under the ice. I carry a 6' stick and test the water ahead of me to be sure there are no sudden drop offs. Very common in good waterfowl habitat. Also, floating mat vegetation can be a major problem. If you are walking and things feel bouncy, stop, and see if you can ram your stick through. If it goes through, you might be surprised at how deep it goes!!! Again, your camera gear will sit on top just fine it is your body weight with such a small point of pressure that will break through. I also prefer the neoprene waders but I am also considering a pair of the featherlite footy waders. May not hold up to a lot of brush but they breath and do not trap body heat like the neoprenes will do.
A second thing to consider, if you are wading in areas that you can hit water that is definitely over your head, I would invest in an inflatable life preserver. They can be had very easily for $100-150. Let's face it, you can insure your equipment and get it replaced but all of the money in the world will not save your life after you are gone.

http://www.cabelas.com/inflatables.shtml

The automatics inflate when they get wet. So if you go under, they blow up. You do not need to deal with the bulk of a life preserver when moving but if something goes wrong, it kicks in.

Just remember, there is no walking in wading. You PLACE one foot in front of the other. Even river fishermen walking on hard sand will trip and fall from current if they do not deliberately place each foot.

One last observation, I do not go into a swamp with out first sitting the edge for a couple of days. From that, I can learn what areas the ducks frequent (yes, they do avoid some areas), you can see what you can use for blind areas, etc. As for a blind, I just use a die cut sheet thrown over me and the camera. Once in the swamp and waste deep in muck, ducks and things do not see you much as a human and may even get curious.

Have fun and use a LOT of mosquito repellent!! Oh, and after 30 years out doors, I am still trying to find my first rattler!! Now, water snakes are non-poisonous but they are known to take after you. Thus another good reason to carry a stick!! Have only had that happen once but with a good rap, he decided to retreat. I have seen them cornered by dogs before take after them and send the dog running. Again, no poison but they are mean.

[BirdBoy]

^That's not short

[recrisp]

Originally Posted by BirdBoy

^That's not short

Maybe not "short", but good knowledge is hard to do quick.
This is VERY helpful stuff, I know that I really appreciate what he said, I had no idea about the sleds, we don't use them down here in the South, I guess.

Randy

[BirdBoy]

Originally Posted by recrisp

Maybe not "short", but good knowledge is hard to do quick.
This is VERY helpful stuff, I know that I really appreciate what he said, I had no idea about the sleds, we don't use them down here in the South, I guess.

Randy

If you think I was criticizing his post you are very wrong. I was merely poking fun at his first statement. There was no negative feedback in my post...the "" was there for a reason

[kristin6]

Originally Posted by res

Hi Kristin,
I will try and keep this short. I am about three and a half hours north of you in Michigan and spend a good deal of time in the swamps around here.

First, I have an ice fishing sled that I use to transport my gear.

http://www.shappell.com/sleds.html

I currently have the jet junior. IT floats like a tiny boat as long as I load it correctly. Inside the sled I can set my underwater kinetics case. (pelican style case) With the lid closed, it is waterproof and will float. Got it used from KEH for under $50. This allows me to wade and pull the sled without worry of keeping things dry. I personally do not carry my camera on my shoulder while wading. TO MANY THINGS CAN HAPPEN. You will not sneak up on much of anything in a swamp as others have mentioned so I go in, find a spot to set up, and sit. Besides, about the time a duck jumps and you go to shoot, you may take a step you did not check out first and take a dunk. I will walk swamp edges with a pair of lacrosse alpha lights on my feet but they are only 18" high and leak like crazy when you step in 26" water!! On the swamp edge, I will carry my camera but still very careful where I place my feet. Your biggest issue most of the time is muskrat and beaver trails that are underwater. They create channels in the swamp bottom which they can use during the winter under the ice. I carry a 6' stick and test the water ahead of me to be sure there are no sudden drop offs. Very common in good waterfowl habitat. Also, floating mat vegetation can be a major problem. If you are walking and things feel bouncy, stop, and see if you can ram your stick through. If it goes through, you might be surprised at how deep it goes!!! Again, your camera gear will sit on top just fine it is your body weight with such a small point of pressure that will break through. I also prefer the neoprene waders but I am also considering a pair of the featherlite footy waders. May not hold up to a lot of brush but they breath and do not trap body heat like the neoprenes will do.
A second thing to consider, if you are wading in areas that you can hit water that is definitely over your head, I would invest in an inflatable life preserver. They can be had very easily for $100-150. Let's face it, you can insure your equipment and get it replaced but all of the money in the world will not save your life after you are gone.

http://www.cabelas.com/inflatables.shtml

The automatics inflate when they get wet. So if you go under, they blow up. You do not need to deal with the bulk of a life preserver when moving but if something goes wrong, it kicks in.

Just remember, there is no walking in wading. You PLACE one foot in front of the other. Even river fishermen walking on hard sand will trip and fall from current if they do not deliberately place each foot.

One last observation, I do not go into a swamp with out first sitting the edge for a couple of days. From that, I can learn what areas the ducks frequent (yes, they do avoid some areas), you can see what you can use for blind areas, etc. As for a blind, I just use a die cut sheet thrown over me and the camera. Once in the swamp and waste deep in muck, ducks and things do not see you much as a human and may even get curious.

Have fun and use a LOT of mosquito repellent!! Oh, and after 30 years out doors, I am still trying to find my first rattler!! Now, water snakes are non-poisonous but they are known to take after you. Thus another good reason to carry a stick!! Have only had that happen once but with a good rap, he decided to retreat. I have seen them cornered by dogs before take after them and send the dog running. Again, no poison but they are mean.

Wow! Awesome information. This is very helpful. I'll keep that in mind about the neoprene vs. the feather lites.

The auto inflate life vest makes me a little nervous. I would be concerned about possible entrapment situations. But a manual inflatable might be good.

That's funny about the snakes. The things you forget. I've been attacked by non-poisonous snakes as a kid in New England and they might not kill you but they can draw blood.

So you keep your camera in the sled as you wade out? or you keep it in the pelican case? Are you using a tripod in chest high water? What do you wear for clothing?

I've been going to this little spot for a couple of weeks and getting to know the lay of the land. I think I'll keep it simple and just sit at the side of the marsh laying on my belly and I'll go in by degree's.

[kristin6]

I think this tread is invaluable for anyone looking to start getting closer to
water fowl.

If anyone on this thread who lives near Chicago wants to visit this spot just PM me. It won't look like much to anyone who really lives in the wild (like RES) in beautiful Michigan, but its pretty good for something 40 minutes from Chicago. I've seen only the usual suspects so far, Canada goose, mallard, mourning dove, tree swallow, RWBB, grackle, cow bird--but all nesting within reach of my little lens.

[recrisp]

I wasn't either, I just didn't use a smiley face, but all I meant was that it was helpful, and really, you can take what I said two ways, but I wasn't judging you at all. Inflection, it can sometimes come back and bite you.

Randy

Originally Posted by BirdBoy

If you think I was criticizing his post you are very wrong. I was merely poking fun at his first statement. There was no negative feedback in my post...the "" was there for a reason

[watt100]

Originally Posted by kristin6

I think this tread is invaluable for anyone looking to start getting closer to
water fowl.

if you have a Jetski or "personal watercraft" you can get even closer (faster!)

[res]

Originally Posted by BirdBoy

^That's not short

I know I know!!! I tend to be a bit long winded so I am told. It is amazing how it takes 3 pages to explain what can be said in 5 minutes. Thanks for the laugh

[res]

Originally Posted by kristin6

Wow! Awesome information. This is very helpful. I'll keep that in mind about the neoprene vs. the feather lites.

The auto inflate life vest makes me a little nervous. I would be concerned about possible entrapment situations. But a manual inflatable might be good.

That's funny about the snakes. The things you forget. I've been attacked by non-poisonous snakes as a kid in New England and they might not kill you but they can draw blood.

So you keep your camera in the sled as you wade out? or you keep it in the pelican case? Are you using a tripod in chest high water? What do you wear for clothing?

I've been going to this little spot for a couple of weeks and getting to know the lay of the land. I think I'll keep it simple and just sit at the side of the marsh laying on my belly and I'll go in by degree's.

Hi again,
Not sure about the auto inflate entrapment thing. If you understand their use, they hang deflated around your neck and strapped to your body. If you step in a hole over your head, the water activates them. You are underwater. The vest will bring you up and flip you face up for the most part. If you are unconscience due to a blow to the head or what ever, you will then be able to breath and not drown due to your face in the water. Again, know your area and swamp. Most small marshes do not really need this kind of protection as muck and shallow water is the norm. BUT, if you get into areas frequented by beaver and muskrat, it is a thought to consider as these fellers are great engineers and you can find their work the hard way!!

Yes, if I am in water headed for something deeper (let's say waste deep or greater) the camera is in the sled and protected. Most of the time that is in the case. There are also things called dry bags that you can get through Cabelas and Gander Mountain that you can use to put your camera in but they are NOT for extended submersion. They will work in a dunk situation where you get it out almost immediately but will not keep things totally waterproof. Kayakers and canoers know about these things. But if you want to walk and you are concerned about tripping and falling in the shallow water, it can be of help. As I see they were mentioned above, I agree, they are not convenient. Just remember, the bag will NOT float with your camera in it.

As for the tripod, it is dependent on the situation. Most of the time, yes, I use one. Yes, it is a pain but I like the safety of knowing that my camera is secure in a position. BUT, it limits your ability to use for flight shots. So if I have waded through some water to an island or a shallow area where I can be in shallower water, I will hand hold. I also have a quick disconnect system on the tripod so getting the camera off the pod in a hurry is not to hard and then it goes back on. That way if I doe something stupid and go into the water, well the camera stays on a more stable foundation!!

I do like the idea that was given to you about pre-wading without the equipment. I would bring a friend (they do not need to wade) and just test the areas you want to walk out. When you step into that deep muck it often times starts a slight panic reaction in people. The odd thing about muck, if you relax and think, you will do fine. If you panic and try to fight it, you will loose. Yes, as stated rocking your foot forward helps get loose of the suction created when you step into deeper muck. AND, moving slowly will help you not fall. Just get out and practice. It sounds bad here but once you get used to it, it becomes second nature.

I always wear a waste belt. What helps with Neoprene is that the snug fit does help keep water out if you go over the top of them for a brief period. BUT, if you submerse them for more then a few seconds, yes, they can still fill. I filled a pair in a river one time. Fell upstream of all directions and those puppies filled up fast. From that day on, I used a waist belt. If my wading is mainly in knee deep or less water, and I have not blind with me, I have a pair of camo pull over pants I can put over the waders. Most of the time in this situation, I just avoid anything over knee deep and just wear my other boots. Going into deeper water can be interesting. Waste deep or less, I wear a shirt or jacket in camo, camo hat, and most times, have a camo mosquito over my mouth and nose with only my eyes showing. IF I am in chest deep water, I have to find a way to tuck everything INSIDE the waders. A shirt will wick water quite rapidly so when wading chest deep and letting the shirt hang out will certainly get you wet at least to the arm pits in a very short time.

Remember, getting quality shots is not always an easy or even a convenient endeavor. Getting outdoors and into the places that the wildlife lives can take some planning and thinking. You need to know your own limitations. Some people want to get shots of wildlife but hate the bugs, hate the muck, and all things surrounding the wild. It might be best to go to a zoo. Nope, not against zoo shots at all but there is nothing worse then having someone in the outdoors who ignores their safety due to hurry and lack of understanding. From your posts, you sound quite committed to learning to get close to your subjects and trying to capture them in their natural habitat and activities. I applaud you. I am still learning as well. Enjoy the pursuit and stay safe. No camera is worth your life but just a bit of thinking and planning, negates the risk and can lead to a feeling of accomplishment when you get a shot that you only could have gotten as a result of your efforts.

[res]

Oh rats, that is a lot less short!!!!!!!!!!!