2 hunters drown in White River.

[driveby]

Please pray for the families.

Two men drowned today when a boat carrying eight duck hunters sank in the White River, Arkansas officials said.

Police identified the men as Rodney Roberts, 39, of Pontotoc, Miss., and Matthew Miller, 25, of Millport, Ala.

The men drowned after the boat, for an unknown reason, began taking on water and eventually submerged south of Maddox Bay in the White River National Wildlife Refuge, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s deputies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission responded to a call from the area, but were unable to arrive in time.

According to a statement from the sheriff's department, the incident remains under investigation, but is being considered an accident.

[msbigdawg1234]

Thats horrible ...hope they were in a big boat thats alot of guys in a duck boat when ya consider all the other stuff they probally had with them...prayers and thoughts are with all the family and friends.......

[Buckwabit]

A sad story for sure!!! It sure can happen quick..and it could happen to any of us

[MudHog]

certainly a sad story.


Another reason to wear a PFD. The above didn't mention if they did or didn't, but either way you better your chances of living by simply wearing one.

[outlaw josey wales]

another horrible accident . the river is no place to go without being prepeared. still havent figured out why they had 8 in one boat. i have a pretty big boat and for an 1860 all u can handle is maybe 5. the water has fallen so much it makes the river change daily . that is terrible but you gotta take it serious when you go over there it is not a place to play and do crazy things. prayers go out to the familys

[lipsplitter39654]

it is horrible. WEAR A FREAKING LIFE JACKET. Very few people die in inland waters from drowning with a life jacket on. Not sure of the facts of this accident but it is likely that they didnt have 8 life jackets. If they had 8 people in a boat with all the gear it takes 8 people to duck hunt then there is not room for 8 life jackets.....

[mfalkner]

Rodney was a friend, the whole town is in shock.

[duckguide357]

The game and fish recovered the boat yesterday it looked to be an 18 or 20 foot cabboat with a 115 hp motor and there were 6 life jackets inside, from what was said no one had one on.

I feel for the families that lost loved ones but thankfully there were other hunters close enough to hear their screams for help and were able to save the others.

[Faithful Retrievers]

prayers sent.

They know what caused it to sink?

[driveby]

This is from someone on another forum:
"we had a local Methodist preacher get killed yesterday.
He and his father were going to enjoy a good rainy morning of duck hunting when they realized they'd left the plug out of the boat ( simple right, we've all done this). They decided to turn around and go back to the boat landing and drain the boat. When they tried to turn the boat, it capsized and the son (who was wearing waders) drowned. Point is, hunting can be dangerous even when you've done it a million times. Climbing a treestand or riding your boat, be careful for youself and your family.
Please pray for the family, church and community. "

[outlaw josey wales]

that is a crying shame that a simple mistake took 2 lives . i always tripple check myself and then ask someone to go behind me . i have been out there backing into some woods to hunt and had a stick knock plug out . you just cant panick and keep a calm head when stuff goes wrong . i know i could not live w myself if something happened to someone in my care out there over a mistake i made. i watched the hypothermia deal on tv and most people dont make it over 5 mins in water above 59 degrees. and the river is cold as hell and current too. i still cant imagine that 8 people were in the boat that just sounds like way too many from my boat knowledge and probaly a big factor in boat sinking. 5 is usually max in something that size

[TODO]

Nothing to say about it but unfortunate. Small mistake snowballed. There must have been a hell of a lot of water in the boat if it capsized. Normally running on plane with no plug will drain it, ive pulled the plug on purpose many a time to drain water. Anyway, we can armachair it all day long, just goes to show you can never be to careful paying attention to the details.

[lipsplitter39654]

probably hard to get the boat on plane with 8 folks all their gear, a cab and any amount of water. Probably dark, trees and other hunters in the area likely they couldnt get room to run fast. I have an 1860 with a 115 and i wouldnt think of putting that many folks in it. Not sure it would plane out with all the weight of people gear etc.

[randall25x]

I think everybody needs to quit speculating what actually happened. To my knowledge there has not been an official word on exactly what happened. All this about overloaded boat, broken transom, missing plug, etc... Until we know exactly what happened there is no need in casting stones. What we do know is two men lost their lives and there families need our prayers. JMO

[lipsplitter39654]

i am not casting stones. i am just making some observations. i dont know of many duck boats that will SAFELY carry 8 people and all their gear in the White River. I dont know of many people that have drown in fresh water with a life jacket on. It is a tragedy either way. We should all learn from the mistakes that were made.