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Almost drowned fall 2018 #6720311
01/07/20 10:49 PM
01/07/20 10:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline OP
trapper
Bruce T  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
I have since sold all small boats and now use a 16 foot StarCraft.
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Penobscot
Stranded Maine duck hunter relied on years of hunting experience to survive 12 hours in waist-deep water
Bruce Thibodeau poses Sept. 27 with the duck boat he retrieved from the Sawtelle Deadwater, after he capsized there two days earlier. The hunter stood in waist-deep water for 12 hours until a game warden found him.
Courtesy of Bruce Thibodeau
Bruce Thibodeau poses Sept. 27 with the duck boat he retrieved from the Sawtelle Deadwater, after he capsized there two days earlier. The hunter stood in waist-deep water for 12 hours until a game warden found him.
By Callie Ferguson, BDN Staff
September 29, 2018 1:00 am
Updated: September 29, 2018 9:46 am

Related Stories
Maine duck hunter stranded in waist-deep water waited 12 hours for rescue
Duck hunter Bruce Thibodeau had been standing on the hull of his capsized boat with cold water up to his waist for nearly 12 hours when he heard sirens cry out in the darkness.

That’s when he knew his gamble had paid off.


After his boat had flipped earlier that afternoon, stranding him alone in the swampy Sawtelle Deadwater in northern Penobscot County, the 57-year-old outdoorsman decided to stay put instead of swim to shore, believing he’d freeze to death if he attempted to paddle through the thick vegetation and muck.

“I’m thinking, Jeez, what should I do?” Thibodeau of Silver Ridge said in an interview two days after he was rescued in the early morning hours of Sept. 26.

“I just relied on all my hunting experience — relied on that and all my knowledge,” he said. “I always read where people, if they swim, they only make it 30 or 40 yards, and they die of hypothermia.”


“Well, my best bet’s to stay just where I’m at,” he thought.

Earlier that morning, he had left a note for his wife on the kitchen counter, explaining that he decided to forego field hunting for ducks and would instead head for the Sawtelle Deadwater, a marshy lake between Herseytown and the unorganized territory of T7-R7.

Thibodeau is a certified Maine guide, Baxter State Park ranger, and has hunted, fished and trapped all his life, he said.

Courtesy of Bruce Thibodeau
Hunter Bruce Thibodeau fishes his submerged duckboat out of the Sawtelle Deadwater on Sept. 27. Two days before, it flipped over while he was duck hunting, stranding him in the swamp water for 12 hours.
After parking his truck along the shore of the deadwater, he motored about a mile into the swamp aboard his brand-new Beavertail Final Attack duck boat — a small hunting vessel, only about 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. He killed the engine and retrieved his shotgun.

At around 2 p.m., he hadn’t shot any birds, and he turned to leave. Leaning over to turn on the engine, his weight rocked the vessel and it suddenly flipped — briefly trapping him underneath.

He kicked himself free, and quickly realized there was no righting the overturned boat, which remained bobbing near the surface, kept slightly afloat by the foam affixed to the inside of the hull.


He didn’t think he could make it to shore without succumbing to the freezing cold water. The distance was too far and the water was swampy — full of deep muck and dense with vegetation, he said.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d make it,” he said. “But I was just trying to keep my head level and [think about] what my options were.”

His best bet was to stay warm and wait, he decided. He also thought, “Don’t panic.” He pushed the boat to shallow water, stuck a paddle in the mud to stabilize himself, and climbed on the submerged hull.


The water came up to his waist. He managed to keep himself warm with a neoprene life jacket and a warm hat, knowing that heat leaves the body quickly through the upper body and head. He never hunts wearing waders, so there wasn’t much he could do to keep his legs warm except to shift his weight, he said.

He stood there waiting for the next 11 hours, moving only to keep his back against the wind and the rainy drizzle, and to lean against the paddle.

“Of course, I’d lost my shotgun when I went overboard,” he said. That meant he couldn’t fire a signal to alert other hunters or cars traveling on nearby Scraggle Lake Road. “I was thinking, come morning, if no one had showed up, I’d have to try to do something.”


It had been dark for hours when he finally heard the sirens. With his shotgun somewhere underwater, the hunter reached for the only thing he had to signal his whereabouts: his goose call.

He honked three times, and the siren answered. This repeated a few more times until Thibodeau saw a game warden appear on the distant shoreline.

“I said, ‘Hey, my boat sunk.’”


It took another hour for wardens to come for him in their boat. At that time, Thibodeau learned that his wife, Joan, hadn’t seen his countertop note, but when he didn’t come home on Tuesday night, she called the authorities and gave them every guess as to where he might be.

On Thursday, after a good night’s sleep but with extremely sore legs, Thibodeau went back to retrieve his gear and capsized boat. He made sure to bring his bigger boat.

“I’m done with small boats,” he said.

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Nevada bound
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720322
01/07/20 10:56 PM
01/07/20 10:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17,693
Central Oregon
AntiGov Offline
trapper
AntiGov  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17,693
Central Oregon
Dang !

Glad you made it


Report a post club - Non member


Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720330
01/07/20 11:01 PM
01/07/20 11:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
trapper
MnMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
You are lucky to have survived that without succumbing to hypothermia. I knew a local fella who had the same thing happen to him on a shallow lake where walking to shore was an option. He tried to walk to shore and he did not make it ...hypothermia got him. He was not wearing waders and had a similar boat.


I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720331
01/07/20 11:02 PM
01/07/20 11:02 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,117
Northern Wisconsin,Rhinelander
Hodagtrapper Offline
Muskrat Master
Hodagtrapper  Offline
Muskrat Master

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,117
Northern Wisconsin,Rhinelander
Wow! Glad you made it and too bad your wife did not see the note. Writing a detailed note like that was a good idea, though!

Chris


>>In God we trust<<
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: MnMan] #6720342
01/07/20 11:08 PM
01/07/20 11:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline OP
trapper
Bruce T  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
If I had panicked and trued to swim I would not be here today.Had one of those small final attack boats.


Nevada bound
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720345
01/07/20 11:10 PM
01/07/20 11:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
Glad your back we have been wondering where you went.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720360
01/07/20 11:21 PM
01/07/20 11:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline OP
trapper
Bruce T  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
My new boat
[Linked Image]


Nevada bound
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Hodagtrapper] #6720373
01/07/20 11:26 PM
01/07/20 11:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline OP
trapper
Bruce T  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
The part that really hit me was at 11:30 at night when my legs were totally numb at that point I said outload Joan you have got to call someone or I'm not going to be here come morning.At 1;30 in the morning when rescued the first words from the warden were we don't know why your wife waited so long but she called at 11;30..…...


Nevada bound
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720458
01/08/20 12:33 AM
01/08/20 12:33 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,492
New Hampshire
N
Nessmuck Online content
trapper
Nessmuck  Online Content
trapper
N

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,492
New Hampshire
Glad your ok....holy crap.....Did you kick the old lady out yet ?


It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720480
01/08/20 12:51 AM
01/08/20 12:51 AM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
trapper
Posco  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Good to see you back, Bruce.

Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720518
01/08/20 01:25 AM
01/08/20 01:25 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,002
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,002
Oregon
Took her until 11:30 to read the fine print of your life insurance policy (probably not enough to make it worthwhile)! laugh

Glad you you're OK man!


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720522
01/08/20 01:28 AM
01/08/20 01:28 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
You gotta be careful out there.No cell service out there?or did your phone get dunked.
Good to see you back Bruce.

Last edited by Boco; 01/08/20 01:29 AM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720531
01/08/20 01:35 AM
01/08/20 01:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline
"Minka"
James  Offline
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Good thinking. I'm glad you survived.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720572
01/08/20 03:16 AM
01/08/20 03:16 AM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
trapper
Posco  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
I work with a young fella that survived a nighttime boating accident. Two of the guys with him didn't. The wardens were surprised he survived the frigid water as long as he did.

Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720596
01/08/20 06:15 AM
01/08/20 06:15 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,665
PA
W
w side rd 151 Offline
trapper
w side rd 151  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,665
PA
I have been to Maine fishing in the middle of July . I would not want to spend that amount of time in the water in the summer time .Thankfully you maintained you common sense and help found you alive

Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720601
01/08/20 06:35 AM
01/08/20 06:35 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
great to hear you made it Bruce , how was your trapping this fall

Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720783
01/08/20 10:24 AM
01/08/20 10:24 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,426
Missouri
ol' dad Offline
trapper
ol' dad  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,426
Missouri
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you're alive and hear to tell it. I think one of the most important lessons learned here, is to not panic in a water involved accident. Easier said than done, but its normally what kills most people.

ol'dad


"I season my food with hunger"
Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720810
01/08/20 10:50 AM
01/08/20 10:50 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 199
NH
T
thebeaverguy Offline
trapper
thebeaverguy  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 199
NH
Bruce, were you more mad at yourself for rolling over or were you scared? I've got a few duck hunting stories myself (I hunt with a canoe), and like you, have taken a dunking in cold water and weather conditions.

Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720813
01/08/20 10:51 AM
01/08/20 10:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,930
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,930
SEPA
Glad you survived your ordeal.


Eh...wot?

Re: Almost drowned fall 2018 [Re: Bruce T] #6720823
01/08/20 10:55 AM
01/08/20 10:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,517
Nebraska
Trapset Offline
trapper
Trapset  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,517
Nebraska
Glad your ok. Lots of good lessons, thanks for sharing.

I have lived on the river nearly my whole life and run in or on it year round for the most part, have had several close ones. None as close as yours. Most times when things go wrong, it seems like over reacting is far more deadly than under reacting and staying calm. Well done!

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