When I first saw this jack asses story, I tended to agree with Woodsman that the ice cowboy should pay the expenses occurred. Then I weighed it against say, a ice fisher that get's them self caught out on a ice flow, a hunter lost in the bush, or a boater broken down in the middle of the lake, that require rescue. Should they pay for rescue? maybe they do, I've heard it discussed before that they should.
But after some thought, there's is a difference, the incidences I mentioned above, the people in those situations want to be rescued. This guy didn't, he didn't call or signal for help, he wasn't reported over-do, and although I agree what he did was stupid, don't think he broke any law's so how can he be billed for something he didn't want?
Think it will have to be chalked up to, can't fix stupid