Hunters braving the brutally cold temperatures the next few days are urged to be careful, especially if they are looking for geese or fish and plan to use frozen lakes and rivers.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism says no ice is safe, but there are some hints as to just how strong ice may be:
New, clear ice is strongest, with white ice possibly only half as strong as its clear counterpart and honeycombed ice also considered much weaker.
At least four inches of clear, hard ice is considered safe for people walking. Six inches or more is needed for ATVs or snowmobiles. Vehicle use, meanwhile, is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Hunters are told to pack safety gear wth ice picks, rope and a throwable floatation device. They are also told to travel with at least one partner because survival chances are higher with several people in a hunting party.
When ice fishing, augers are the best method to cut a hole. Those holes can’t be bigger than a foot in diameter.
KDWPT urges hunters and fishers to do their utmost to avoid falling into icy water because hypothermia can overcome a person in just a few minutes.
More information is available online at www.ksoutdoors.com.
