RedactedNarrative: On the morning of december 23, 2022, two individuals set out on creek boats on belews lake to duck hunt.  The hunters went out before daylight on two separate vessels, launching from the pine hall boating access area.  The vessels were operated by an electric trolling motor.  The individuals hunted a peninsula on belews lake.  The weather conditions began to worsen throughout the morning.  
  
  Approximately 09:30, one hunter took the creek boat out from the shoreline to begin picking up decoys.  He began having issues with steering cables on the vessel freezing up.  The other hunter got into the other creek boat and went out to try and assist.  
  
  They were approximately 300 yards from the shoreline.  The operator was able to fix the issue and he went back to the shoreline.  When he made it back to shore, he began to retrieve duck decoys.  He then looked back for the other hunter and noticed he was still out on the water and not coming back.  
  
  It appeared the boat was taking on some water due to the waves.  He attempted to call his friend but his phone was left on the shoreline.  The hunter went to assist the other vessel but by the time he got to the area that he last saw him, the vessel and operator were gone.  
  
  Sustained winds were in the double digits and gusts were well over 25 mph.  It appears that the small open vessel was swamped by water and caused it to sink.  The operator was wearing neopreme chest waders and did not have on a pfd.  It appears that the operator went under water at that time and drowned.  Crews performed searches and three days later, the victim was located using sonar and an underwater remotely operated vehicle.  The victim was located in 60 feet of water.
  
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