Hunted near Ashley last weekend. Found open small water near larger water holding ducks. Had great hunts Friday and Saturday, but the water froze over night Sat. night. I broke open a small patch of ice and set out the decoys. The birds wanted to come in but I had a problem. The water was too deep to wade for the ducks and I had no boat. The ice was too thin for the dog to get to 'em.
My solution - I only shot the ducks coming straight in low, and they bounced/slid into shore on the clean ice. Got four ducks that way. The other two I shot over land behind me. Never been in that situation before, but it was the easiest retrieve I've ever had.