How to hunt in thick mud without getting stuck?

[Diga]

Hello everyone.

I want to hunt a very muddy area that I know will have a lot of jewelry. Problem is, it's impossible to walk on without getting stuck, so how do I do it?

Just before writing this post, I did find a product called "Mudders" that look like they would do the job. Here's a link to their web site that has a short video called "Mudders in action". Does anyone have experience with this product, or have any other suggestions?

Mudder Boots | Boots For Mud and Snow

Mudder Boots — durable and waterproof boots for mud and snow . Shop men’s, women’s, and kids' styles built for every muddy adventure.

mudderboots.com

BTW- The site is in fresh water that ranges from ankle high to waist high, and I do have the experience and gear for in water hunting.

 

[Diga]

I misread the cost of those Mudders. I now see that they are an outrageous $450. Screw that!

I'm now thinking of making something that would attach to my boots. Something like a thick plastic or metal "pan" in which the edges protrude upward a few inches. Perhaps a cooking pan.

 

[Cupajo]

Something like this downspout spreader might be modified for your purpose. They are listed in different designs on Google at a wide variety of prices and materials. Heavy rubber pads, straps etc. are available to attach to the plastic base with stainless washers, etc. to serve as the flexible wings.

Interesting project!! let us know how you make out.

Good luck,

CJ

 

[Diga]

Thanks for that suggestion Cupajo

The important factors will be the surface area for weight distribution, and rim height. I don't think the spreaders will work well, due to the low rim height, and no rim at all at the back and front. I was thinking of adding quick release straps to something like a thick plastic storage container that is around 12" square, with the sides being around 3" to 4" in height.

 

[KOB]

If ya want to go cheap , here it is. You could also recoup your investment by selling Bigfoot prints to the tabloids that you spotted one !

 

[Diga]

I already tried all that KOB.

 

[KOB]

I already tried all that KOB.

Those mudder boots I saw were $150 , seems expensive to me. Interesting video though testing at the Salton Sea.

 

[Diga]

It turns out that they are $150, not $450. Someone in the reviews said they cost him $250. Well, even at $150, I find that to be crazy overpriced for what it is. I won't buy them just on principle. Plus, I'm certain that I can easily make something that will work even better than those Mudders for around $20.

 

[EmuDetector]

Any debris in the mud? Growing up in a Florida swamp, it's easier to walk mud without shoes on honestly

 

[Diga]

Any debris in the mud? Growing up in a Florida swamp, it's easier to walk mud without shoes on honestly

That was my first consideration, but the mud and water is way too cold for that. Thanks for the suggestion though

 

[EmuDetector]

That was my first consideration, but the mud and water is way too cold for that. Thanks for the suggestion though

Is it hard enough to snowshoe it and stay on top

 

[GroundSweeper]

I agree interesting video - maybe more research into those might pay off. If the "lake" is really a reservoir, look to see if they lower the water in anticipation of winter rains, because they do that here - I still get stuck in the mud sometimes but can usually break free, and if I wait a few days the mud isn't as bad - but I want to beat anyone else to the golds

 

[metaladdict]

I think the gold would sink out of reach in my mud.

 

[Diga]

Is it hard enough to snowshoe it and stay on top

Snowshoes would work ok, but only if they had an outer edge that extended upward a few inches. Without that extension, the mud will ooze over the shoe and get it stuck.

I agree interesting video - maybe more research into those might pay off. If the "lake" is really a reservoir, look to see if they lower the water in anticipation of winter rains, because they do that here - I still get stuck in the mud sometimes but can usually break free, and if I wait a few days the mud isn't as bad - but I want to beat anyone else to the golds

The site is indeed a reservoir to which the water has been lowered significantly. More specifically, it's a public beach on private property, that is now closed for the season. It has steel construction fencing at the entrance, and I managed to get permission to hunt it anytime I want. The mud starts about 10 feet away from the shoreline. That mud should dry up fairly well, but most of the area is still under the water. That water is as low as it will go right now, and of course, the mud under that water won't be drying up.

In the swimming season, that water area was about 10 ft deep at its deepest. It's an area where a lot of the adults swam, were using floaties while paddling with their hands, and were on all sorts of other stuff that they fell off of. So ya, there should be some good jewelry in there. Now that the water level has dropped, I would estimate that the area at its deepest would be about waist level. The shoreline is now where the water was about 6 ft deep.

 

[Diga]

I think the gold would sink out of reach in my mud.

I've wondered about that as well.

There's just no way I can determine how quickly gold will sink in that mud. It could sink so quickly, that I might only find fairly recent drops.

 

[LongJohnSilver1]

I've wondered about that as well.

There's just no way I can determine how quickly gold will sink in that mud. It could sink so quickly, that I might only find fairly recent drops.

Is it silt, or is it clay. Silt is a super fine materila that'll build up over the gold. Clay is dense and sticky, and will trap gold.
Is there a hard botton, maybe you can do some test holes to see if you can find a bottom

 

[Diga]

Is it silt, or is it clay. Silt is a super fine materila that'll build up over the gold. Clay is dense and sticky, and will trap gold.
Is there a hard botton, maybe you can do some test holes to see if you can find a bottom

It's dense, sticky, and gray. Yet, soft enough that when I step on it, it only takes 2 or 3 seconds for my boots to be enveloped and covered by about 6" of it. That was as long as I spent in there, because even in that short time, the suction was immense, and I had a tough time getting out. I pulled out of my boots, and kind of half rolled and half crawled my way out of there . Oh man, the things we do for gold!

Since you mentioned it, it seems to be very similar to wet modeling clay.

 

[Cfmct]

I misread the cost of those Mudders. I now see that they are an outrageous $450. Screw that!

I'm now thinking of making something that would attach to my boots. Something like a thick plastic or metal "pan" in which the edges protrude upward a few inches. Perhaps a cooking pan.

I just wear a felt bottom boot... no issues mud hunting most of beaches where I hunt are mud bottom in water... I hunt mainly the rocky slopes and maybe 10 feet into water that is about it... I also wear muck boots with the aggressive cleat bottoms in mud... again no issues... what you call sticky mud we call suction mud...

Joe and I hunting when the mud grabs his boot and he falls over...

 

[KOB]

I just wear a felt bottom boot... no issues mud hunting most of beaches where I hunt are mud bottom in water... I hunt mainly the rocky slopes and maybe 10 feet into water that is about it... I also wear muck boots with the aggressive cleat bottoms in mud... again no issues... what you call sticky mud we call suction mud...

Joe and I hunting when the mud grabs his boot and he falls over...

I've seen that clip about 15x now. Still hilarious. You show him a find and it blows him out of the water. You're standing there like , What the hell are you doing ?

 

[Diga]

Craig,

When I'm in the water with my chest waders, shoulder gloves, and all my gear tethered to me, I feel like an astronaut, about to take a fall. Anyway, what was said in the video?

Moon walk fall: