WindCheck Magazine Safety on the Ice – Barely and Very Carefully

Here’s how the story goes. In the dead of winter, two duck hunters and their trusty hunting dog drive their brand-new Range Rover out on to the ice of (choose: [a] Long Island Sound, [b] Moriches Bay, [c] Shinnecock Bay, [d] Great South Bay, [e] body of water of your choice) and, seeing that there were no open leads to entice migratory birds to land, take out a stick of dynamite, light it and throw it as far out on the ice as they can. The plan is simple. The dynamite blows a substantial hole in the ice; they get back in the car and run the heater until the migratory birds arrive. They step out with their shotguns full of bird shot and bag much of the flock.

So, as the dynamite stick is flying through the air, the dog takes off after it, thinking that a game of fetch is exactly what will make his day. Grabbing the lit stick of dynamite in his mouth, he turns and starts running back to his master and fellow hunter. This of course alarms the hunters to no end. Seeing that waving their arms wildly and shouting, “No! no! no!’ isn’t working, they fire in the general direction of the charging dog – striking fear into a bewildered Fido, who turns to his only source of cover – the car. Running under the car to hide, all is fine until he burns his rump on the still-hot exhaust pipe. As he yelps and takes off running again, the dynamite stick, left behind with the yelp, explodes. This sends the brand-new Rangie, in many pieces, to the bottom of (choose: [a] Long Island Sound, [b] Moriches Bay, [c] Shinnecock Bay, [d] Great South Bay, [e] body of water of your choice.)

Funny – but only apocryphal as every Coast Guard station north of the 40th degree of latitude was telling that story a couple of winters ago, swearing that one of the locals swore to them that they knew somebody that was related to somebody who knew the dog owner.

But some of us do fish and/or hunt on the frozen lakes, creeks and bays of the Northeast. Please heed the following from the U.S. Coast Guard:

Ice is unpredictable and dangerous. While the Coast Guard understands winter recreation on the ice around our area is a tradition, it is important to take safety measures:

• Always check the weather and ice conditions before any trip out onto the ice. Ice thickness is not consistent, even over the same body of water.

• Always tell family and friends where you are going and when you are expected to be back and stick to the plan.

• Use the buddy system. NEVER go out onto the ice alone.

• Dress in bright colors. Wear an exposure suit, preferably one that is waterproof, and a personal floatation device.

• Carry a whistle or noise-making device to alert people that you are in distress; carry a cell phone and/or a VHF-FM radio to contact the nearest Coast Guard station in the event you see someone in distress.

• Carry two screwdrivers or a set of ice awls. If you fall through the ice, you can use these items to help get yourself out. They are more effective than using your hands.

Remember, hypothermia is a killer, and it sneaks up on you in woolen slippers. Cold water safety presentations by the USCG Auxiliary are available to local organizations and can be arranged by contacting the Coast Guard Auxiliary District Public Affairs Officer via their website.

If you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at JoinUSCGAux@aol.com or go directly to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary “Flotilla Finder” at cgaux.org/units.php and we will help you “get in this thing . . .”

The Captain of the Port and Sector Commander for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound is Captain Elisa Garrity. CAPT Garrity is responsible for all active-duty, reservist, civilian and auxiliary Coast Guard personnel within the Sector. As a Commodore in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary First District, Southern Region, Vin Pica works closely with CAPT Garrity and her staff to promote boating safety in the waters between Connecticut, Long Island and 200 nautical miles offshore. Sector Long Island Sound Command Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 203-468-4401.

Editor’s note: Weekly updates for the waters from Eastport, ME to Shrewsbury, NJ including discrepancies in Aids to Navigation, chart corrections and waterway projects are listed in the USCG Local Notice to Mariners. Log onto navcen.uscg.gov, scroll to “Current Operational/Safety Information,” click on “Local Notice to Mariners” then “LNMs by CG District,” and click on “First District.”