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how would you cross a water obstacle

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tahtah

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Oct 26, 2017
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Mid-TN
I have a new water obstacle for bow hunting. There was previously a natural bridge that no longer exists. I'll be carrying my summit stand, backpack attached to stand and bow in hand. It's about 10-15 yards wide and I'm guessing 3-4 feet deep at the deepest. There's dense vegetation on both sides that I have to wrestle through to get to either bank. Both banks are relatively steep and muddy. It's probably 6-8 feet from the water surface to the top of the bank. I'm also walking about a 1/2 mile to get there, then another 1/4-1/2 mile after I've crossed.

I'm thinking chest waders would be my best option. However, I've never owned or worn a pair. I have no knowledge of chest waders other than the obvious. They seem like they'd be bulking, hot and heavy to walk very far in.

What suggestions do you guys have for getting across this water without getting wet or getting my gear wet?

Thx in advance.
 
Chest waders are the way to go but they are indeed hot if you're walking on dry land.

Might try a cheap pair of hip waders that you can leave in a cache next to where you cross. Wear them only to cross back & forth but otherwise leave them there so you're not packing them in & out every time.

Sometimes you've got be creative in problem solving. It can make the difference in getting the buck or not. I once bought chest waders so I could go after one particular buck. I'd walk inside the stream almost 1/2mi to get to my tree that was on the edge of a straight up cut bank. I had a rope with knots to pull myself up the bank edge and then climb right on straight up into the tree. Taking the creek was the only way to get close to where he was bedding without being detected, and it worked.
 
tahtah said:
I have a new water obstacle for bow hunting. There was previously a natural bridge that no longer exists. I'll be carrying my summit stand, backpack attached to stand and bow in hand. It's about 10-15 yards wide and I'm guessing 3-4 feet deep at the deepest. There's dense vegetation on both sides that I have to wrestle through to get to either bank. Both banks are relatively steep and muddy. It's probably 6-8 feet from the water surface to the top of the bank. I'm also walking about a 1/2 mile to get there, then another 1/4-1/2 mile after I've crossed.

I'm thinking chest waders would be my best option. However, I've never owned or worn a pair. I have no knowledge of chest waders other than the obvious. They seem like they'd be bulking, hot and heavy to walk very far in.

What suggestions do you guys have for getting across this water without getting wet or getting my gear wet?

Thx in advance.
Click to expand...
I have a jet sled for hauling deer out of the woods. it also floats...
 
I like the idea of inetek inflatable kayak in this spot. drop it off and add camo and bury it in a cache nearby the crossing.
IMG_2060.webp
IMG_2059.webp
 
swampbadger said:
I like the idea of inetek inflatable kayak in this spot. drop it off and add camo and bury it in a cache nearby the crossing. View attachment 249551View attachment 249552
Click to expand...
these boats take 5 minutes to inflate/ and deflate are fairly durable, but i have popped one before, I'm rough sometimes. these fold up and roll small enough to fit in a ruck sack or a large duffel or decoy bag. might be easy enough to find on marketplace used for similar price pair of waders.
 
Great conversation and a couple of things I hadn't considered. Please keep the ideas coming.

Here are a couple more details I had left out. This is public land. I can't build anything or feel good about leaving anything. Although I like the inflatable canoe or raft idea.

I do hunt alone and being safe is a major concern. I hadn't thought of bibs filling up.

I have some cheap hip waders. This is definitely too deep for them.

I have a jet sled. I would float a deer back across, but doubt I'd stay dry trying to get across myself in it.

I'm not afraid of getting wet. I'm thinking about colder temps.

Due to the vegetation on both sides and the walking distance to get there a canoe or kayak are not feasible.
 
I'd look for a better place to cross, or a different way in so I didn't have to cross. That down, cross, and back up will wear a man slap out with all that gear, and you don't know how deep the mud goes or obstacles under water you can't see.
 
tahtah said:
I have a new water obstacle for bow hunting. There was previously a natural bridge that no longer exists. I'll be carrying my summit stand, backpack attached to stand and bow in hand. It's about 10-15 yards wide and I'm guessing 3-4 feet deep at the deepest. There's dense vegetation on both sides that I have to wrestle through to get to either bank. Both banks are relatively steep and muddy. It's probably 6-8 feet from the water surface to the top of the bank. I'm also walking about a 1/2 mile to get there, then another 1/4-1/2 mile after I've crossed.

I'm thinking chest waders would be my best option. However, I've never owned or worn a pair. I have no knowledge of chest waders other than the obvious. They seem like they'd be bulking, hot and heavy to walk very far in.

What suggestions do you guys have for getting across this water without getting wet or getting my gear wet?

Thx in advance.
Click to expand...
If you've never owned or used waders don't do it for that
 

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