Missing MS Duck hunters -Vicksburg

Anyone heard any updates about the 2 young men that went missing just south of Vicksburg on a duck scouting trip. Boat was found upright, motor cowling was off and in the boat, life jackets and a gear bag found on shore near the boat along with an empty gun case. As of Sunday, they had not been able to locate the two hunters or their 2 labs that were with them on the scouting trip. Cajun navy and volunteers were searching the river and and the local F&W and Sheriffs dept were searching the woods where it appears they may have gone ashore. Guys appeared to be in their early 20's and in good shape from the pics, supposedly both experienced woodsmen. Havent heard or seen anything about it since Sunday morning.

That does not sound good. Hopefully they made it out alive.

Prayers for a safe return. If I was hunting out of a boat like I used to, I would probably have a EPRIB on me at all times. You just never know.............................

Heard about it while we were over that way this weekend. Hope they turn up ok.

Saw an update that they have suspended the land search and are now questioning whether they made it out of the water so for whatever reason, they have reason to believe now that they went into the water. Said something about the motor was damaged and boat was upright but the hull was dented up. Sounds to me like they hit something running and might have been thrown out of the boat. Also, some additional info was provided: they were on a scouting trip down around Davis Island about 4 miles south from where they launched and have been missing since Thursday night. Today was day 4 of the search. Definitely not a good situation.

That’s horrible. Not a good sign

Saw it on FB. Doesn’t look good and praying for the best.

Doesn’t sound good. You can never be too careful on the water in winter. Had my share of close calls suck and deer hunting on the Tombigbee. Last one about 4:30 in the morning almost running in to a barge shook me up. Praying and hope they find these guys

Does not sound good.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Praying

Any updates on this.

I’d bet they turn up somewhere sooner or later. It’s plausible they could have fallen out of the boat and drowned but those labs didn’t. Hoping for the best.

My thoughts also.

Google shows nothing new. Really hard to believe. My daughter said she heard they found one of the dogs but I can’t find that in the news. Anybody have anything new?

There’s probably not any new information.

If they had on waders would that not act like weights and hold them down??

Not necessarily, Neopreme would add some floatation, but make it harder to swim.

alive or dead????

Whack n stack, not a duck hunter here at all, but wouldnt they fill with water if they went in water?

Just watched youtube video, interesting didnt know that.

Old style waders can be a deathtrap if you get in deep water or step in a hole. Neoprene is basically like a slightly looser wet suit and much safer for the wearer IMO. Havent seen anything about them finding either one of the labs which to me is the strangest part. When my lab was in her prime, you couldnt have drowned her if you tried. Maybe if you wrapped a bunch of chain and some cinder blocks on her but then again she may have just towed it to shallow water. Labs dont just drown.

Dang things nearly drown me in 14'. If a buddy hadn't got to me I'd be gone.

The current could hold the dogs under long enough to drown them if they were in the mighty Miss. or they got caught up on something that caused them to drown thats the only way I see in shape hunting labs drowning. I would also say they more than likely stayed with their owners as long as possible

I know some folks that won’t put waders on until they get to the hole for fear of this very thing.

Dr. B

Smart. I bought my boys (who love to duck hunt) a set of the inflatable life jackets.

She heard they found one of the dogs alive from her boyfriend who is a big duck hunter and knows people in the area. Can’t confirm in any way though

If they found the dog alive, that’s a real good indicator they probably won’t find the two men alive. Dog wouldn’t have left his master.

Had a cousin die when his boat over turned in the late 70's. Two others lived but didn't have wadders on.

No one rides in my boat with their waders on unless they wear a life jacket.

Nothing scares the hell outta you like sitting in the boat at the hole in the dark and having your sleeve catch on that little rip cord and inflate the vest. I bout shat myself.

Been thinking a lot about these boys. I hope their families have peace. I pray they recover them.

Dr. B

There have been people drown on the river in Decatur duck hunting back when we had ducks on the river channel. There was some AL Football player that drown in the 1960's right under the railroad bridge and my Dad passed them headed down river at almost the same moment he said if it hadn't been dark when he looked back he would have been able to see the boat had turned over. Overloaded is what he said was the issue and most of the time that is the issue.

I have picked up several hunters out there with boat trouble that were cold and hungry before cell phone and 1 commercial fisherman who luckily had a wetsuit or he would have probably froze to death he had been out there since the prior day I picked him up about 7:00 the next morning when I went to chase down the dog in the current I saw him waving and retrieved him as well. It can get nasty out there when the wind is right and cold enough to kill you.

Just be careful no matter where you are hunting on the water.

People think they would be able to swim if something would happen to the boat. Just ask the next person who tells you that "how often you swim with a jacket and boots on?". You don't know if you'll be injured or unconscious when you hit the water either. Always wear a life jacket guys. At the least, wear it when its dark or cold outside.

I hope we hear something soon, and positive, but it does not look like it. Damn, makes me think of the crazy crap I did in a boat back in the 80/90s.

I had an old pair of RedBall waders when we used to hun powerhouse lake in Leesburg. Used to walk out on the old roadbed that lead to pinecone marina. Guy I hunted with, his neighboor was a guard at the powerhouse and wrote us permission so we could park and walk over the earth part of the dam. One morning I was not paying attention and found the downstream side of the old culvert under the road. Over my head I went. I was lucky and was able to crawl out. Scared the hell out of me.

Any new info.

Have not heard any updates. Hitting the cold water unexpected this time of year is not good. Had a sister in law drown when she fell out of a canoe one winter. It’s a shock when you hit the water and you suck in water in when you hit it. Not good. I’ve done my share of stupid crap in a boat duck and deer hunting in my younger years. At that age you don’t take safety as serious either

Even if you don’t drown hypothermia will get you a lot quicker than you think this time of year.

Any updates on this?

Updates?


God Bless,
David B.

??????????????????????????????

Damn, this has been a while now. They just give up looking?

Doubtful, probably still looking is why there’s been no word

https://www.wjtv.com/news/local/digital-first-duck-hunters-recovery-search-continues/ Not yet found

So sorry for their families ; very little hope they will ever recover their bodies. River will just get higher and faster as spring nears .

I don't get it. Where did the dogs go? They just swim around trying to find owners and drown too? Seems like first instinct would have been get to land.

I believe they found one dog

Mine fell out of the boat one morning running 20mph and that's what she did. Went straight to land. Didn't even look back to see if I was coming to get her.